Overview
- Diesel posted the praise on Nov. 25, sharing a throwback photo and calling his on‑screen partnership with Johnson “one of the most dynamic pairings in cinema.”
- Diesel noted a personal tie to the film’s subject, saying Mark Kerr befriended him early in his career and trained him for 2002’s xXx.
- Coverage links the tribute to the pair’s reconciliation after years of public tension that began with Johnson’s 2016 Instagram outburst.
- Johnson’s return in a Fast X mid‑credits scene and his 2023 statement that the two had “put all the past behind us” set the stage for the renewed goodwill.
- The Smashing Machine has drawn strong festival reception, with reports of a lengthy standing ovation at Venice underscoring the attention to Johnson’s performance.