Dwayne Johnson Jokes He’s ‘Lookin’ Like Kevin Hart’ While Posing with Shaquille O’Neal

Dwayne Johnson had a hilarious reaction to his photos with Shaquille O’Neal.

After the two sports legends posed for photos together backstage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction on June 26, also alongside actress Emily Blunt, Johnson joked that O’Neal makes him look like he’s the same height as comedian Kevin Hart.

“Got me out here lookin’ like Kevin Hart 😂 Love U big brother,” Johnson, 53, commented on the post. O’Neal, also 53, replied with a laughing emoji.

The former NBA star shared four photos with Johnson from the event in his post, but didn’t write a caption, which is typical for the former O’Neal on social media.

The first two photos showed him and Johnson posing with Blunt, 42, in the halls of the arena. The second two photos were taken sans Blunt in what appears to be a VIP lounge at the venue.

Johnson wore an all-white suit for the event, while O’Neal opted for a grey suit jacket and black pants. Blunt stunned in a bright yellow dress.

O’Neal was in attendance at the UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony to introduce boxer Vitor Belfort. In an interview conducted years prior, O’Neal revealed that Belfort, 48, was the fighter who got him into boxing after Belfort approached the NBA star during a vacation.

Shaq/Instagram

Dwayne Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal at the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame ceremony
Belfort apparently old O’Neal he was a big fan and offered to give him tickets to an upcoming fight. “I had never seen a sport like that, and I’ve been a fan since,” said O’Neal.

Blunt was at the Hall of Fame inductions as a new fan of the sport. In an interview with MMA Fighting taken on the red carpet, the actress talked about her newfound respect for mixed martial arts after filming The Smashing Machine with Johnson.

Blunt said she was “so fascinated by the world and in awe of it” before taking the stage at the ceremony.

Johnson and Blunt paid tribute to Mark Kerr during the evening. “It was important to me and to Emily, to pay tribute to Mark because of the life he lived and as you said, know, MMA moves fast and it’s an accelerated sport and everyone is getting better and better and better every day,” Johnson told MMA Fighting.