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MN arm-wrestling champ tries movie-making with 'The Rock'
Jeff Dabe, a world arm-wrestling champion from Minnesota, is aiming to make a big impression on the silver screen on the set of "The Smashing Machine" with Dwayne 'The Rock" Johnson. FOX 9's Maury Glover has the full story.
STACY, Minn. (FOX 9) - The professional arm wrestler says director Benny Safdie follows him on social media and had been trying for a while to figure out what movie to put him in.
READ MORE: Minnesota man with sizeable arms becomes arm wrestling champ
'It was great'
Big picture view:
As someone who's been referred to as a real-life "Wreck-It Ralph," perhaps it's no surprise Jeff Dabe would land a cameo in a movie called The Smashing Machine.
"I was very nervous about it. Yeah, 'cause it's all new to me. I mean I'd done some little stuff but never a bigger movie, behind the scenes and so I was very nervous," said Dabe.
Experience of a lifetime
The backstory:
In the recently released biopic, Dwayne Johnson portrays wrestler and mixed martial artist Mark Kerr, as he struggles with addiction and the psychological toll of the sport.
Dabe says the film's director Benny Safdie invited him to visit the set in New Mexico last year, where he not only got the meet The Rock, but also shoot a scene with him.
"It was very cool. It kinda throws you off 'cause he has hair and he's got makeup and stuff to make him look more like Mark Kerr. You kinda know it's him but it kinda throws you off a little bit.
But he was very nice. Thanked me for coming down and all that," said Dabe.
Unfortunately, Dabe's scene ended up on the cutting room floor because Safdie didn't know how to fit it in the film, but Dabe did face off against the director in an arm wrestling match, which of course, Dabe won hands down.
"It was kind of a love-hate thing. It kinda takes a little pressure off me worrying about watching the movie and stuff." said Dabe.
‘I got a to learn a little bit’
What they're saying:
Dabe also shot a social media campaign for Ugly Estates Wine which is co-owned by Ryan Reynolds.
But despite hobnobbing with the stars Dabe says he has no plans to go Hollywood just yet.
"I'm just still gonna be me. I guess that's what got me where I'm at, so why change?" said Dabe.
The Source: This story uses information taken from interviews with the Minnesota arm-wrestling champion and previous FOX 9 reporting.