The Rock

Before the WWF (1972-1996)

The Rock was born Dwayne Douglas Johnson on May 2nd, 1972 in Hayward California. The Rock spent most of his childhood traveling with his family and returned to the US in the late 1980s. The Rock attended The University of Miami, where he played college football as a defensive end for the Hurricanes. He was signed to the Canadian Football League but was released due to a maximum of American players. He decided to take a shot at wrestling. He was trained by his father former tag champ “Soul Man” Rocky Johnson. The Rock made his WWF debut at the 1996 Survivor Series in New York City.

WWF/WWE (1996 -2004)

The Rock debuted as Rocky Maivia, combining the names of his father Rocky Johnson and his grandfather High Chief Maivia, at the 1996 Survivor Series. In fact, his three-generation wrestling lineage was played to many times on air. Originally billed as a clean cut good guy, he was met with excessive boos and hatred from a audiance that were continuously move farther and farther away from the cartoony wrestling caricatures of the 80s’ Hulkamania years. A popular chant at the time was, “Rocky Sucks!” and “Die Rocky, Die!”.

Joining the Nation

In the building weeks, he was frequently encountered by wrestler Faarooq and his Nation or Domination (a pro-black faction that was riffing off of the Nation of Islam). After losing a Intercontinental Championship match to Owen Hart in early 1997, and injuring his knee in a match against Mankind, Rocky made his return to turn heel and turn his back on the fans of the WWF. Through early 98, he would change his name to the Rock and began insulting the fans in promos and interviews.

He would find his own niche, and begin to mold his character during this time. Telling the fans “we will earn respect by any means necessary!”, his new take on his character was brash and cocky. While a member of the Nation, The Rock quickly became the groups most famous member. He was no longer a bland big-smile. Now, he had a arrogant comfort that caught the interest of the fans. Making the Rocky Sucks chants fit his antics, he fueled himself for his matches and promos.

The Rock would look to regain the IC championship, then being held by Stone Cold Steve Austin. Going as far as stealing the belt, while Austin was fighting the rest of the Nation, the two would have a short feud with each other. Steve would defeat the Rock for the actual belt. However, with the amount of interruptions and conflict of two referees, the next night, Mr. McMahon ordered a rematch. But, Austin forfeited the bout, handing the title to the Rock. And, the fans were slowly getting more into the Rock, with how entertaining he was. He was becoming full of himself and oblivious of the group’s actual leader, Faarooq. This did not bode well with the Nation’s more straightforward and militant leader. With a standout performance at the 1998 Royal Rumble, the Rock had become a star, and too big for the Nation.

Becoming a Corporate Guy, Feud with Mandkind, WWF Championship run (1998-2000)

The Rock became such a success that he turned face, and became cheered by the audience that once booed him. With swagger and charm, his charismatic persona was too entertaining to ignore. And, he began to move up the card. He was entered into the Deadly Games tournament, for the then vacant WWF championship. Looking to become a WWF champ for the first time, he was the favorite by the fans, calling himself the “People’s Champ”. With the scheming of Vince to keep the title out of the hands of Steve Austin, whom he saw as being a bad image for the company’s face, he head the tournament, which would Hold it’s finally at Survivor Series 1998.

And, in a surprise to all, the Rock would align himself with the McMahons’ Corporation to cheat the championship into his hands. Beating Mankind for the belt, he would become the Corporate Champion. Gaining a new team of goons and guards to protect him from Mankind, DX and Austin, the Rock would scheme and sneak around confrontations during this time. Vince and Shane would change the rules during matches, and do where they could, as owners and runners of the company, to make the Rock’s chances easier.

This would lead to Royal Rumble 1999, where the Rock and Mankind would compete in a ‘I Quit Match’. After Mankind, with help from D Generation-X and Austin, defeated the Rock for the WWF championship a few weeks before, the Corporation was looking to take the title back. So, they set up the match at Royal Rumble, which Foley made under I Quit rules. Ending in one of the most barbaric matches and series of moments in WWE/F history, the two beat each other with much force. However, it was the ending, where a handcuffed Mick Foley received approximately 15 chair shots and bled profusely throughout the match. Beaten with headshots to the top of the ramp, the Rock won the match by swindling Mankind. Using a prerecording of Mankind saying I quit to win, he regained the WWF champonship. The two would go back and forth with each other until Westlemania XV, when the Rock would move on to face Steve Austin for the title.

WrestleMania and Stone Cold Steve Austin feud

After finishing feud with Mankind, The Rock went onto face the most popular star in the WWF at the time, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Started by Vince McMahon’s hatred of Austin, their heat dated by to 1998, when the Rock began to align himself against Austin’s claim at the top.

It started with Royal Rumble 98, where the goal was to keep Austin from winning the royal 30-man rumble match, in turn guaranteeing him the opportunity to face the WWF champion at Wrestlmania. Vince would go as far as to enter first, forcing Austin to enter second, so they could start the match. He would have the Corporation enter the match, as well as playing a hundred grand bounty on Austin’s head, to many wrestler who could eliminate him. But, in the end Vince would eliminate Austin, thanks to the Rock.

However, when Vince tried to forfeit his position, and choose a new contender, then-commissioner Shawn Michaels would interfere. Informing them that in such case, the runner up – Austin, would become #1 Contender.

So, at Wrestlemania XV, the Rock’s first, the Corporation was bard from the ring. Through, throughout the fight, they would still interfere. Though, Mick Foley would arrive to referee the match. And, Stone Cold would win the match, to the fury of McMahon. Drawing anger from the Corporation, the Rock would eventually leave the stable in the weeks afterwards.

The People’s Champion

After losing twice to Austin (due to outside circumstances), The Rock went on to feud with the likes of the Undertaker, Billy Gunn, Triple H and a few others.As a hero, that the people stood behind, The Rock’s career soared to new heights. In June of 1999 he feuded with The Undertaker for the WWF title, but lost due to interference by Undertaker’s manager, Paul Bearer. The Rock went onto feuding with Triple H to become Number One Contender for the WWF title but ultimately lost in a Brahma Bull Strap Match at “Fully Loaded” in July of 1999. The Rock would go onto facing Billy Gunn at the 1999 SummerSlam in the infanous “Kiss My Ass” match, which he won. After SummerSlam, The Rock would meet Mankind again, but this time as partners

The Rock N’ Sock Connection

In the fall of 1999, two former rivals, The Rock and Mankind, would come together to form one of the most memorable WWF Tag Teams of all time. Together they made WWF history by starring in the most watched segment in WWF history (at that time) and winning the WWF Tag Team Titles on 3 occasions. While their time together may have been short lived, the moments they shared on screen are still talked about to this day.

A New Millennium

The year 2000 started off with a bang for The Rock. In January, The Rock won the 30 man Royal Rumble match, cementing him a spot in the main event at that year’s WrestleMania, or so he thought. The Big Show, the largest WWF athlete ever, challenged the legitimacy of The Rock’s victory. Big Show claimed that while he was in the process of being eliminated from the match, The Rock’s feet touched the ground, thus rendering him eliminated before The Big Show and making Big Show the winner. The Rock didn’t see it that way. The two faced off at the next Pay Per View (PPV), No Way Out. At No Way Out, a former member of The Corporation, Shane McMahon, returned to cost The Rock the match, and his spot in the main event of WrestleMania. Furious over this, The Rock stated that he wanted one more match to determine the #1 contender for the title at WrestleMania. If he lost, The Rock would voluntarily retire from The WWF. The Rock won. Due to the circumstances set forth by the current WWF champion, Triple H, The Rock would not be alone in facing the champ at WrestleMania. The main event at WrestleMania 2000 would be a fatal 4 way match, a 1st in WrestleMania history. The Rock faced Triple H, The Big Show, and former tag partner, Mick Foley ( the real name of Mankind) in the main event. Ultimately The Rock would lose the match due to his then manager, Vince McMahon, turning on him and joining Triple H. The Rock would get one more chance at the title, but this time walk away with the gold. At Backlash 2000, more than a year after losing the belt, The Rock would go on to defeat Triple H and become the WWF Champion.

The Rock would lose the belt to Triple H one more time before becoming the WWF Champ again and holding it for the better part of the year. In October of 2000 The Rock lost to Kurt Angle, thanks in part to a kick to the face from outside interferer Rikishi. The Rock would try to regain the title again later in the year, but failed.

The Rock and Stone Cold part 2

2001 started off with the long time rivals meeting once again in the 30 man Royal Rumble match. Unlike the previous year, The Rock would not be victorious. Stone Cold walked away that night with his spot guaranteed for WrestleMania, The Rock would have to find another way to the “Grandest Stage of Them All” After defeating Kurt Angle, The Rock became the WWF Champion and the main event of WrestleMania was set, The Rock v Stone Cold #2 The match was epic but the ending is what’s remembered the most. The unthinkable occurred, Stone Cold aligned himself with Vince McMahon!. The following night The Rock was indefinitely suspended and he wasn’t seen until. …

The Rock saves the WWF

A few months after The Rock left, the WWF was invaded by their rivals, the WCW and ECW. To make matters worse Stone Cold Steve Austin joined the WCW/ECW Alliance, leaving Vince McMahon without a champion. Vince made a call to The Rock, who did return to the WWF, though not without a little retribution. The Rock defeated the WCW’s champion, Booker T, and captured the WCW title. The WWF then faced off against the Alliance in an elimination match to see which company would be the last standing. In the end, it was The Rock that defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin to “save” the WWF. The next few months would have The Rock challenge to become the 1st Undisputed Champion, a feat Chris Jericho accomplished, but what happened next would define a generation.

Icon vs. Icon

After not being able to capture the Undisputed Championship, The Rock would face off against arguably the most famous WWF superstar ever, Hulk Hogan. The Rock faced off against Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X-8 in Toronto. In front of 67,000 fans, The Rock rose to the occasion and defeated Hulk Hogan. The Rock would not show up on television again until July of 2002. On this occasion, The Rock became the Undisputed WWE Champion, and also became the 1st 7time champion. He’d hold onto the title until he faced off against Brock Lesnar. After that match The Rock would change again, becoming something never seen before.

Rock is Back

Early in 2003, The Rock came back, but The Rock we had known for years was gone. No longer concerned with being the “People’s Champ” The Rock was only in it for himself. He felt the people turned on him when he faced Hulk Hogan in Toronto. When the WWE returned to Canada, The Rock faced Hulk Hogan, beating him too. After The Rock defeated Hogan, he went on to finally Defeat Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIX. The Rock had done it all.

A Few More Appearances

The Rock would show up a few more times on TV. He faced Goldberg and left for quite some time. He returned to help his friend, Mankind, deal with a group called Evolution. Though they didn’t win, The Rock N’ Sock Connection still wowed the audience.

After WWE

After The Rock left WWE, her went on to pursue a career in acting. He had a string of hits and still continues to star in big budget productions.

WWE Return

In February of 2011, The Rock made a surprise return to the WWE. This time he returned to host WrestleMania 27. In the weeks leading up to the event, he developed a feud with John Cena. He didn’t like what Cena stood for, citing that he was for the kids. When WrestleMania came, The Rock prevented John Cena from becoming WWE Champion. The night after WrestleMania, The Rock and John Cena officially announced they would face each other at WrestleMania 28 in Miami, Florida, The Rock’s hometown.

Finishing Moves

The Rock Bottom

People’s Elbow

Signature Moves

Spinebuster

Samoan Drop

Sharpshooter