The Smashing Machine
This article features content talk about self - harm .
With the release ofThe Smashing Machine ’s first trailer , writer - director Benny Safdie and A24 bring in many hearing to the heavy and heart - wrenching story of Mark Kerr.2025’sThe dash Machinedepicts Dwayne " The Rock " Johnson as Kerr , who fights his direction to the top of the earth of wrestling and MMA fighting in the nineties while battling drug addiction and trying to agree onto his relationship with his wife , Dawn Staples .
Based on thetrailer forThe Smashing Machine , Safdie ’s sports dramatic event tackles serious subject matter as it explore Kerr ’s life and vocation , much like the manager ’s previous films . However , unlikeGood TimeorUncut Gems , The Smashing Machinetells the tarradiddle of a real - life figure who shocked the macrocosm with his spectacular athletic achievements and his horrifying personal struggles , with Johnson breaking the mold by portraying such a strong but superimposed and vulnerable character .
The Smashing Machine Is Based On The True Story Of Mark Kerr’s Life
The Smashing Machine Tells The Story Of One Of The UFC’s Most Famous Athletes
The Smashing Machineis based on the real - life story of UFC fighter aircraft Mark Kerr , who gained worldwide recognition for his victory in the mob . His brutal but distinctive fight style eventuallywon him the sobriquet of " The Smashing Machine . "
HBO release a documentary of the same name about Kerr in 2002 , which is what first shined a public light upon Kerr ’s personal struggles . Safdie ’s picture even have-to doe with upon instances in Kerr ’s life explore in the former . Safdie’sThe Smashing Machineseems inspired by the 2002 film , based on its documentary - style of filmmaking , adding another tactual sensation of reality to its diversion of Kerr ’s life and career .
" You really interpret the fears , the love , the sadness , the felicity . If somebody ’s candid to doing that and blab about that stuff , then they ’re going to be able to give a great performance . Because of how physically stiff he is , I do n’t do it if a tidy sum of people give him that opportunity . "
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While star Dwayne Johnson made a name for himself as an player and a professional grappler , a serious biopic about a figure like Mark Kerr may seem out of his playacting field to some . However , when discussing the making ofThe Smashing Machine , Safdie give away in an audience withGQthathe be intimate Johnson could portray Kerr the moment they meet . founder Johnson and Kerr ’s excited struggle , it seems like the former has bring in much of his own life history into how he brought Kerr ’s to life on the heavy screen inThe Smashing Machine .
Mark Kerr’s UFC Career Explained
Mark Kerr Had A Legendary Athletic Career That Will Be Explored In The Smashing Machine
Mark Kerr ’s wrestling journey start when he was in eminent school . He became a state champion while studying at Toledo Waite and then rose up to be a Division I Champion at Syracuse University and a three - clip EIWA admirer . Kerr transitioned to a interracial warriorlike fine art career in 1997that last until 2009 . During that time , Kerr won four ADCC World Championships and became a two - time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and a World Vale Tudo Championship winner .
Hollywood has created many impressive sports films , but the best foreground the survival and perseverance of the human disembodied spirit through its characters .
However , public rebound against the UFC led to widespread bans , bringing it to the verge of failure . It also decrease Kerr ’s exposure as an athlete , forcing him to make a drastic career variety . He began fighting in the Pride Fighting Championships in Japan for a more sustainable career , with his success in the ring making him one of the openhanded athletes in the existence .
The Smashing Machine Explores Mark Kerr’s Addiction To Painkillers
Mark Kerr Will Fight His Inner Demons In The Smashing Machine
Like many real - life professional wrestlers , Mark Kerr clamber with health problem throughout his calling . This is stir upon in the laggard forThe Smashing Machine , which shows Mark becoming hook to painkillers , which were first prescribed to him so he could cope with the injury he corroborate in his career . ESPNeven stated that Kerr began injecting himself with dark - market opiate . His addiction created rubbing between him and Dawn Staples , sending him down a self - destructive path that nearly be him his life .
What Happened To Mark Kerr & Dawn Staples
Mark Kerr and Dawn Staples Fought In Their Relationship Outside The Ring
While Kerr ’s fighting career is a huge direction of 2025’sThe Smashing Machine , the film also explore the rocky romance between him and former exemplar Dawn Staples , who ’s played by Emily Blunt . As Kerr became such a vast principal and face severe health problems , Staples live struggles of her own . While Kerr was addict to drugs , Staples was an alcoholicwhose relapse into drinking put further straining on their kinship .
Kerr and Staples ’s intense relationship run to a brief separation . WhileKerr and Staples got back together , they keep to fight with each other . Kerr even say that Staples sheer her weapon system with a razor during one of their conflict , make it one of the problematical battles in both of their lives .
Overall , Kerr and Staples had an extremely tumultuous relationship . The mates wed the greyback in 2000 and had a Logos together . But by 2015,Sports Illustratedreported thatKerr and Staples were no longer with each other . According toThe U.S. Sun , Staples locomote on to become the owner of Final Touches by Design , an interior grace company in Arizona . Meanwhile , Kerr got wed a 2nd meter to seaworthiness adviser Franci Alberding .
In the destruction , Mark Kerr ’s life is an intense and emotional story that must be seen to be believe inThe Smashing Machine . As it explores Kerr ’s illustrious athletic calling , his downward coil into drug addiction , and his turbulent relationship with Dawn Staples , Benny Safdie ’s biopic evince the many ways that Kerr had to defend to make it through his aliveness in and outside the gang .
informant : GQ , ESPN , Sports Illustrated , The U.S. Sun
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