Karl Anderson Regrets Calling Wrestlers ‘Marks’ for Taking Photos With The Rock

Karl Anderson has walked back a comment he made about his fellow wrestlers seeking out photos with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson backstage.

On a 2025 episode of his Talk N Shop podcast, Anderson recalled a scene that stuck with him from his time in WWE — talent rushing backstage at the Gorilla position to get pictures with The Rock. In his own words at the time, he described seeing people “running up to The Rock backstage at Gorilla and ask for pictures. In Gorilla,” adding that the sight made him want to leave, saying, “This ain’t for me.”

Now, Anderson has expressed regret over referring to those wrestlers as “marks” for doing so — a term in the wrestling business traditionally used to describe fans who don’t understand the inner workings of the industry, and one that carries a pointed sting when directed at fellow performers.

It’s a candid moment of self-reflection from Anderson, who has never been shy about sharing his opinions on the wrestling business through Talk N Shop. The Gorilla position — the staging area directly behind the entrance curtain — is generally considered a professional space, and seeking autographs or photos there has long been seen by some veterans as a breach of locker room etiquette. That said, The Rock’s status transcends wrestling, and it’s easy to understand why even seasoned performers might lose their composure around one of the most recognizable entertainers on the planet.

Anderson’s willingness to revisit the comment and admit he went too far speaks to the kind of candid, unfiltered conversation that has made Talk N Shop a reliable outlet for backstage perspective.