One of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s earliest acting roles was in a Star Trek: Voyager episode that played to his strengths as a WWE superstar.

WWE superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had a guest role in Star Trek: Voyager in the early years of his acting career. Dwayne Johnson is now one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, appearing in the Fast and Furious franchise, the DC movie Black Adam, and his biographical sitcom Young Rock. In the years before the Rock’s stratospheric rise through Hollywood’s ranks, the WWE legend joined the cast of Star Trek: Voyager in the wrestling-themed episode, “Tsunkatse”. The Rock was cast in Voyager as a network tie-in with their fellow UPN show, WWF Smackdown.

“Tsunkatse” wasn’t the only episode of Star Trek to feature a WWE star, as both Tommy “Tiny” Lister Jr. and Paul “Big Show” Wight would later appear in episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise. The Rock’s Star Trek: Voyager episode is also notable for being the only one to feature Star Trek actor Jeffrey Combs. “Tsunkatse” aired in February 2000, a year before Dwayne Johnson’s breakout hit The Scorpion King hit theaters and launched his hugely successful movie career.

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Star Trek: Voyager Role Explained

The Rock played the Pendari Champion in Star Trek: Voyager season 6, episode 15, “Tsunkatse”. The Voyager episode centered on a visit to Norcadia Prime, which held a brutal fighting competition known as Tsunkatse. Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and Lt. Commander Tuvok (Tim Russ) are captured by Penk (Jeffrey Combs) and the former Borg drone is forced to fight in the competition. Seven was pitted against the Pendari Champion, who was strikingly similar to the People’s Champion from the WWE. During the fight between Seven and the Pendari Champion, he arches the People’s eyebrow, and delivers a devastating Rock Bottom finisher on Seven.

Hilariously, Seven of Nine actress Jeri Ryan told Big Issue that she was completely unaware of The Rock’s status while filming with him. When Dwayne Johnson had finished filming his scenes for the WWE/Star Trek: Voyager crossover, he left her a signed picture of himself in character as The Rock.

“When I got to my trailer he had left a signed picture in character as The Rock – and it said ‘The Rock smells what you’re cooking’. Like, what?! It’s the weirdest thing I’d ever seen somebody write.”

It was up to the WWE fans in the crew to explain to Jeri Ryan just who The Rock was, and what his dedication actually meant.

Will Dwayne Johnson Return To Star Trek?

While it’s certainly possible that Star Trek 4 may want to secure Dwayne Johnson to boost its box office, it feels unlikely that he’ll return to the franchise. However, there are various elements of The Rock’s Star Trek: Voyager episode that could make a comeback in the modern franchise. Star Trek: Prodigy season 1 revealed that Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui) was part of a similar slave show, albeit one that was more stage-managed and less deadly than Tsunkatse. A return trip to the Delta Quadrant in Prodigy season 2 could, therefore, find the crew of the USS Voyager-A stumbling across more Tsunkatse matches.

The Pendari could also make a comeback in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, especially as “Tsunkatse” didn’t show the away mission to their home planet. While this may make a return appearance by Dwayne Johnson as the Pendari Champion easier to achieve as a voice role, his fee may be too high for the animated series. However, a visit to the Pendari home world in Prodigy season 2 could still update the story of Dwayne Johnson’s Star Trek: Voyager character.