Dwayne Johnson has tasted the best of the world of professional wrestling and cinema. Furthermore, it’s a fact that the squared circle is still close to his heart. Interestingly, Johnson revealed his dream Tag Team partner during a conversation with Jason and Travis Kelce at the New Heights interview, where, on being asked about who his Tag Team partner in the WWE would be if he had to choose someone from Hollywood, the People’s Champion shared:
Easy, easy, Kevin Hart for sure. As a matter of fact, we’re getting ready to shoot Jumanji 3 in about a month. His nickname, I always joke about it, Kevin Hart’s wrestling nickname will be Honky Pete.
However, Johnson did not reveal how or why he came to that nickname for Kevin Hart inside the ring. That name for Kevin Hart has emerged as a major talking point, particularly because of the manner Dwayne Johnson has popularized it.
The Story Behind Honky Pete: Kevin Hart’s Superhero Alter Ego
The origin of Honky Pete is a rather amusing tale. During a promotional interview for Jumanji: The Next Level with Kim Taylor Foster, Dwayne Johnson was asked about Kevin Hart’s role in the fictional Jumanji ‘League of Superheroes’. Dwayne Johnson immediately answered that Kevin Hart would be Honky Pete. The two superstars could not control their laughter after the response in a scene that went viral with fans and wrestling enthusiasts alike.
Hilariously, the superpower that Honky Pete would have, according to Hart and Johnson, is that the superhero would have pockets. No other superhero has pockets, so that is how Honky Pete would differ from the rest.
This interaction was the beginning of the legend of Kevin Hart as Honky Pete. Dwayne Johnson’s recent remarks about Hart being his Tag Team partner in the WWE and the persona of Honky Pete are just an addition to that in this regard.
Apart from the discussion on Kevin Hart and Honky Pete, Johnson also talked about Jason Kelce’s WrestleMania appearance during the course of this conversation.
Dwayne Johnson Rates Jason Kelce’s WrestleMania Appearance
On Night 1 of WrestleMania XL, which was held in April 2024 in Philadelphia, Jason Kelce stunned the WWE universe by making an unexpected appearance on the grandest stage of the company.
He emerged on the scene with offensive tackle Lane Johnson, a former teammate of Kelce from the Philadelphia Eagles. They meddled in the Tag Team match between Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and Rey Mysterio, and Andrade. Rey Mysterio and Andrade won because of the interference from Johnson and Kelce. The duo wore Luchador masks with Eagles themes before revealing who they were.
On being asked about his thoughts on Jason Kelce’s WrestleMania XL appearance, during the same conversation, Dwayne Johnson shared:
I’ll give it a 9.9. Here’s what I love about that. Understand that in our world of pro-wrestling, even though pro-wrestling is global and it’s publicly traded these days. The idea that a celebrity and someone who is at the top of their game, who’s made it, who’s just the greatest like you, anytime, anyone just comes into the world of pro-wrestling, it’s the greatest thing to us.
Jason Kelce returned the favor by stating it was a complete honor for him and Lane Johnson to perform inside the squared circle. While Kelce had his share of experience inside the ring, it will be interesting to see when or in what manner Kevin Hart emerges and electrifies the world of professional wrestling, and if Honky Pete will have some say in his future WWE persona.
What are your thoughts on the remarks from Dwayne Johnson? Share with us in the comments below.
