Report: Some Within WWE Feeling 'Sting' Over The Rock's Comments On Tony Khan

Following the death of AEW star Pac — real name Benjamin Satterley — WWE star and member of the TKO board of directors Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson took to social media to pay tribute to the former Neville. In his Instagram video, Johnson not only expressed condolences for Satterley's family and friends, but also praised AEW and its president Tony Khan, calling the promotion a "phenomenal wrestling company."

It was reported in the days following The Rock's tribute that many within WWE were "surprised" by it, and according to a new report by Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, "not a week has gone by" without someone in WWE bringing up Johnson's video about Satterley's passing and his praise of Khan, who he called a "good friend."

Meltzer said that while no one is questioning the tribute to Satterley, to some within the company, the "sting still hasn't gone away" regarding The Rock's comments on Khan and AEW. Meltzer also noted that while The Rock was initially briefly advertised for the latest slate of WWE tryouts in Hawaii, a location special to the star after he spent time there growing up, he didn't end up appearing. The Rock hadn't been featured on ads for the tryouts for a while leading up to the event.

Meltzer added that he doesn't believe Johnson meant anything other than sending condolences to the AEW locker room and Khan, due to the wrestling industry being a big part of his life. Johnson hasn't addressed the situation further, and AEW did not bring it up his comments during their tribute episode to the late Satterley, "AEW Dynamite: A Tribute to Pac."