In a candid and wide-ranging interview, WWE Hall of Famer and AEW commentator Mark Henry delivered his take on the evolution of wrestling legends, the incomparable value of a Roman Reigns vs. The Rock dream match, and the formula for creating the perfect hybrid athlete.
From Heartbreak Kid to Head Mentor
Mark Henry offered a deeply personal reflection on his relationship with fellow WWE Hall of Famer, Shawn Michaels. Henry admits he initially had issues with Michaels due to his backstage reputation, stating, “I didn’t at first but, once he got saved and he realized that there was something greater than him then, I was all over it.” Henry’s perspective changed, and he now sees Michaels as an ideal mentor: “I knew he could be a teacher, he could be a mentor and be somebody that was giving… once that dude got saved, he became one of those people that I grew to respect a lot.”
When discussing Michaels’ legacy in the ring, Henry prioritizes emotion and storytelling. He cites the series of matches Michaels had with The Undertaker at WrestleMania as “The ULTIMATE stories,” comparing the arc to a “really well done movie.” However, the match that moved him most was Michaels’ first retirement match against Ric Flair: “Bro… I was actually crying because Ric Flair was crying, Shawn Michaels was crying and everybody in the front row was crying… it was an emotional match.”
Building the Perfect Athlete: Shaq’s Power, Dantley’s Finesse
Transitioning to basketball, Henry unveiled his blueprint for the ultimate player, combining the skills of two NBA greats:
“Man, I would give myself Shaquille O’Neal’s ability combined with Adrian Dantley’s.”
Henry reminisced about a young Shaq’s untapped agility, lamenting that “the athleticism had left” before he fully utilized his potential. He then praised Dantley’s footwork and triple-threat skill: “He would fake it and drive, he would fake it and then post you up and it was NOTHING that you could do.” Henry believes if Dantley were the size of LeBron James, he would be universally considered a top-three player in history.
Henry also offered a stern warning to explosive young stars like Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, urging them to study a veteran template. He warned that being “overly explosive” is “killing their careers” by breaking their bodies, and stressed the importance of emulating LeBron James as a “template on how you play in the NBA as a great athlete” who uses controlled gear-changing instead of constant explosion.
A Half-Billion Dollar Match and Wrestling’s Modern Era
Roman Reigns vs. The Rock: The Biggest Ever
Henry believes the potential showdown between Roman Reigns and The Rock would generate unprecedented revenue, arguing it would be “the BIGGEST match in wrestling history.”
“I’m not talking about a couple of hundred million. I’m talking about a half billion. You might get $700,000,000 out of this.”
Henry says the implications surrounding the “Bloodline” story and the Samoan heritage make the match too big for just WrestleMania, suggesting it may require theater screenings globally. He likened the ticket demand to the days of Mike Tyson, predicting that some ringside seats would fetch between “$50-100,000.”
Triple H’s Leadership and the DX Days
Henry voiced full confidence in Triple H taking over the creative reins of WWE, calling him “more than adequate for running the company and being the boss.” He declared, “I never met anybody that was more passionate about pro wrestling than he was.” Henry praised his leadership for “fixing all of those things” that the fanbase had been frustrated with under previous management.
Reflecting on the Attitude Era, Henry said if D-Generation X and The Nation of Domination had social media, the world would have been in chaos: “It would be RIDICULOUS!!… the world would know it as it happened.” However, he noted the negative side would be the public finding out things that were not “always pretty” about their lifestyle.
Wrestling’s NBA Parallels
Mark Henry expertly drew parallels between the wrestling and basketball worlds, based on skill, impact, and character:
Henry asserted that Rey Mysterio is the Steph Curry of wrestling, not for his athletic size, but for his disproportionate success. “The storytelling and just his mental ability is greater than his physical ability,” he noted of the 5’4” veteran.
For the John Cena of the NBA, Henry chose LeBron James. This comparison was rooted in their impeccable moral standing and humanitarianism. “He covers it all. You don’t see mistakes,” Henry stated, contrasting James’s clean record with the controversies surrounding other athletes. He emphasized Cena’s record-breaking work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, noting, “like, that’s LeBron.”
Finally, on Ben Simmons, Henry cautioned against comparing him to Magic Johnson or LeBron James, despite Simmons’ size and athleticism. Henry pointed out that Simmons is “kind of his own” because he lacks the “shooter’s clutch gene”that defines the other two all-time greats. When comparing the two legends, Henry gave the nod to Magic as the better “passer and a better floor general,” but placed LeBron closer to Michael Jordan in skill set because he would ultimately choose to take the final shot.
The Ultimate Dream Match
To conclude, Henry revealed his one career dream match that never happened: a battle against the late Andre the Giant in both men’s prime.
“I would love to go in the ‘way back’ machine and go wrestle Andre the Giant…Of course Andre would’ve won because he’s the Giant! He was the GREATEST of all time.”He also expressed a desire to see former NBA player Dwight Howard enter the pro wrestling industry, stating his notoriety would “add strength to our industry,” and offered his help: “man, I’m easy to find.”
