WWE’s influence continues to reach far beyond the wrestling ring, with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase confirming that one of his signature touchdown celebrations is inspired by none other than The Rock.

Chase, one of the NFL’s most explosive playmakers, has developed a recognizable post-touchdown gesture in which he grabs his elbow and extends his arm. During an appearance on the Nightcap podcast, former Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco initially believed the pose was a reference to Spider-Man. Chase quickly set the record straight and identified the WWE legend behind the move.

“It’s the people’s elbow. We on they head with it.”

The brief explanation made the connection clear. Chase’s gesture is a nod to The Rock’s famed People’s Elbow, one of the most recognizable finishing sequences in professional wrestling history. While the NFL version understandably does not involve removing an elbow pad, bouncing off the ropes, or dropping an elbow across an opponent’s chest, the arm motion has become enough of a visual cue for wrestling fans to immediately recognize the tribute.

For more background on this topic, read WWE Main Event Set for Exclusive Rumble Move Beginning October 14.

The Rock’s Signature Move Remains a Pop-Culture Staple

The People’s Elbow has long stood apart from conventional wrestling finishers. The move was never presented simply as a technical maneuver. It was spectacle: The Rock would typically build anticipation, remove his elbow pad, toss it into the crowd, run the ropes and finally drive his elbow down on a fallen opponent. The dramatic routine became inseparable from The Rock’s connection to the audience, with the name itself emphasizing his status as “The People’s Champion.”

That larger-than-life presentation is a major reason the move has retained its popularity outside WWE. The People’s Elbow is immediately identifiable even when an athlete only recreates a piece of it. It has appeared in sports celebrations for years and has also been incorporated into Madden games, making it familiar to football fans who may not follow WWE programming every week.

For Chase, the homage is a fitting choice. The receiver’s job is built around creating explosive moments, and touchdown celebrations give NFL stars an opportunity to put personality behind those plays. A subtle reference to The Rock allows Chase to tap into a piece of entertainment history while also putting his own spin on it.

The gesture also carries an extra layer of meaning in the context of Chase’s description. His line, “We on they head with it,” captures the confidence attached to a touchdown celebration. The People’s Elbow was as much about attitude as it was about the move itself, and The Rock’s swagger was always central to why fans reacted so strongly to it. Chase’s version reflects that same sense of momentum after getting into the end zone.

Chase Is Producing on the Field

The celebration has arrived during a productive start to the season for Chase. He has scored two touchdowns in two games for the Bengals, including a highlight-reel reception against the Houston Texans.

Chase has established himself as one of Cincinnati’s defining offensive talents, capable of changing a game on a single reception. When a player with that kind of big-play ability crosses the goal line, every celebration is likely to receive attention. His clarification about The Rock adds a wrestling angle to those moments and gives WWE fans another reason to watch for what happens after the score.

Sports and professional wrestling have shared a relationship for decades, particularly when it comes to celebrations. Wrestlers have regularly borrowed from football, basketball, baseball and combat sports in their presentation, while athletes have brought wrestling poses, catchphrases and signature taunts into stadiums and arenas around the world. The crossover works because both forms of entertainment thrive on crowd reaction, charisma and memorable moments.

The Rock, in particular, has become one of the most influential figures in that crossover space. His standing as a WWE superstar, Hollywood star and prominent public figure means references to his work often reach audiences well beyond wrestling’s traditional fan base. Athletes who imitate the People’s Elbow are not just acknowledging a wrestling maneuver; they are referencing an enduring pop-culture symbol.

Ochocinco’s Wrestling Interest Adds to the Conversation

Chase’s conversation with Ochocinco was especially appropriate given Ochocinco’s own affection for professional wrestling. The former Bengals standout has previously expressed interest in stepping into the ring with Seth Rollins.

That interest has made Ochocinco a visible wrestling supporter among former NFL players. His playful misidentification of Chase’s celebration as a Spider-Man-inspired pose created the opening for Chase to explain the actual influence, but it also highlighted how often wrestling imagery can overlap with wider entertainment culture. A motion that could be read in several ways ultimately came back to one of WWE’s most famous crowd-pleasing routines.

A hypothetical Ochocinco appearance in a WWE ring remains just that, but his stated interest in facing Rollins underlines the appeal WWE still holds for elite athletes from other sports. Rollins is among the company’s most accomplished active performers, while Ochocinco built his football reputation on confidence, flair and memorable celebrations. The personalities alone make the idea easy for fans to imagine.

For now, Chase is the Bengal directly bringing a WWE reference to the field. His People’s Elbow-inspired pose is less elaborate than The Rock’s full performance, but that is part of what makes it work in an NFL setting. It is quick, visible and unmistakable once the inspiration is known.

Why Wrestling Celebrations Work in Football

Modern touchdown celebrations have become a form of performance in their own right. Players use them to celebrate teammates, acknowledge personal interests, respond to current trends or create a moment that travels across social media. Wrestling references are naturally effective because WWE has spent generations creating instantly recognizable character traits and physical gestures.

The most successful wrestling-inspired celebrations need little explanation. A player can signal a championship belt, imitate a famous pose, deliver a familiar hand gesture or recreate part of a finisher, and a significant portion of the audience understands the reference immediately. Even viewers who cannot identify every detail generally recognize that the athlete is borrowing the energy and theatricality associated with wrestling.

The People’s Elbow is especially suited to that environment. It is celebratory rather than confrontational, theatrical without requiring a complicated setup and strongly connected to a performer whose appeal spans multiple generations. The arm extension used by Chase condenses the essence of the move into a brief on-field moment.

There is also a natural overlap between The Rock’s old WWE persona and the mentality of a top receiver. “The People’s Champion” was built on confidence, rhythm and an ability to command attention whenever he entered an arena. Top skill-position players in football frequently bring similar confidence to the field. They want the ball in major situations, expect to deliver when it arrives and understand that a huge play can shift the energy of an entire stadium.

Chase’s touchdown celebration does not need to be a carbon copy of The Rock’s routine to capture that spirit. In fact, adapting it is the point. The receiver has taken a piece of a classic WWE moment and made it work within his own sport, in his own way.

A Small Gesture With a Clear WWE Connection

Chase’s comments remove any doubt about what fans are seeing after certain touchdowns. The elbow gesture is not a Spider-Man reference. It is a salute to The Rock and the People’s Elbow.

As the Bengals continue their season, Chase will have more opportunities to add to his touchdown total and, potentially, bring out the tribute again. With two scores through two games, he has already given fans a glimpse of the celebration. Each additional trip to the end zone could put another WWE-inspired moment in front of a national football audience.

For wrestling fans, it is another reminder of the staying power of The Rock’s signature creation. Years after the People’s Elbow became a staple of WWE television, it remains recognizable enough to be recreated by one of the NFL’s premier receivers. Chase’s version may last only seconds, but the message behind it is clear: when he finds the end zone, he is bringing a little bit of The People’s Champion with him.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.