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According to Marty Garner, The Rock wanted him to receive more opportunities in the WWE spotlight.
Garner wrestled sporadically for WWE between 1994 and 1998 before competing in another four matches for the company between 2006 and 2008. He is arguably best remembered for the time he received a botched Pedigree from Triple H during a match in 1996.
On the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast, Garner told several stories about his days working as The Rock's personal assistant on movie sets. The veteran wrestler also recalled a conversation he had with the WWE legend's stunt double:
"His stunt double told me, he said, 'Look, man, Dwayne wouldn't tell you this, but he thinks WWE should have given you a shot a long time ago,'" Garner stated. "He says, 'So he wants you to come work with us on a movie coming up in June in Vancouver.' He said, 'But act like you don't know that. I want to give you some good news, man, because you've had a lot of bad luck lately.'" [52:18 – 52:36]
Garner, also known as Cham-Pain, broke into the wrestling business alongside two of his best friends, Matt and Jeff Hardy. While The Hardy Boyz went on to succeed in WWE and elsewhere, Garner mostly wrestled on the independent scene.
Details on The Rock's conversation with Marty Garner
One night, Garner was wrestling at an independent event when he received a phone call from The Rock.
The eight-time WWE Champion asked for his social security number ahead of a party in Los Angeles. In reality, Garner knew his long-time friend wanted the details as part of a background check.
As the conversation went on, the movie star invited Garner to work with him on the 2004 film Walking Tall in Vancouver:
"I'm at a wrestling match in Fayetteville, North Carolina, one night and Rock calls me," Garner continued. "He says, 'Hey, bro. You ain't never asked me for nothing. I appreciate that, man. You've always been a friend to me. Everybody that knows me wants something from me but you.' (…) He says, 'I want you to come work for me, man, on a movie. Would you wanna do that?'" [52:58 – 53:25]
Garner said he earned $2,500 per week as The Rock's personal assistant. He also traveled to Prague to help his former WWE co-worker on the 2005 film Doom.
Do you have any memories of Marty Garner in WWE? Let us know in the comments section below.
Please credit the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.
