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Vin Diesel Praises Dwayne Johnson’s ‘The Smashing Machine’ Performance, Reinforcing Reconciliation

His message points to a personal bond with Mark Kerr, who trained him for xXx.

Overview

  • On Nov. 25, Diesel posted a throwback photo on Instagram lauding Johnson’s turn as MMA pioneer Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine.
  • He wrote that “Dwayne really did it… he brought us back in time and shined doing it,” and called their past on‑screen pairing “one of the most dynamic.”
  • Diesel said Kerr was among his first California friends and helped train him for the 2002 film xXx.
  • The post follows a yearslong rift that eased after Johnson’s 2023 Fast X cameo, when both said they had put the past behind them.
  • Coverage notes strong critical notices for Johnson in Benny Safdie’s A24 drama and reads Diesel’s praise as a fresh sign of détente, with some speculation about a possible Fast 11 reunion that remains unconfirmed.