After accepting an athletic scholarship to playfootball at theUniversity of Miami, Johnson was a member of the1991 national championship team but was largely a backup player.[19] Despite aspirations to play professional football, he went undrafted in the1995 NFL draft, and briefly signed with theCalgary Stampeders before being cut in his first season.[20] In 1996,his father assisted in helping him secure a contract with the WWF.[1] Johnson quickly rose to global prominence, aided by agimmick he employed as a charismatictrash talker. Johnson left the WWE in 2004; he returned in 2011 as a part-time performer until 2013 and made sporadic appearances from thereon until his retirement in 2019;[21] in 2023, he returned once again on a part-time basis. A 10-timeworld champion—including the promotion's first of African-American descent[22]—he is also a two-timeIntercontinental Champion, a five-timeTag Team Champion, the2000 Royal Rumble winner, and WWE's sixthTriple Crown champion. Johnson headlined multiplepay-per-view events, including WWE's flagship eventWrestleMania six times (15,16,17,28,29, and40 – Night 1) which includes the most-bought professional wrestling pay-per-view (WrestleMania 28) and main evented the most-watched episodes of WWE's flagship television series (Raw andSmackDown).[23][24]
As a senior atFreedom High School inBethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, Johnson was a member of the school'sfootball, track and field, andwrestling teams when, he says, his "thought process started to change. That's when I started thinking about goals and what I wanted to accomplish."
Johnson was born inHayward, California,[32][33] on May 2, 1972,[34] the son of former professional wrestlerRocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles)[35][36] and Mataniufeagaimaleata "Ata" Fitisemanu (née Maivia).[37][38] Growing up, he briefly lived inGrey Lynn inAuckland, New Zealand, with his mother's family,[39] where he playedrugby[40] and attended Richmond Road Primary School before returning to the U.S.[39]
At Freedom High School, Johnson initially struggled and was drawn into a culture of conflict and petty crime. By age 17, he had been arrested several times for fighting, theft, andcheck fraud, and was suspended two weeks for fighting.[62] An article in the local newspaper labeled him "a troubled teenager with a history of run-ins with police". But Freedom High School football coach Jody Cwik saw athletic potential in Johnson, and recruited him to join the school's football team, where he playeddefensive tackle, an experience that proved to be a significant personal transformation for Johnson. "My thought process started to change. That's when I started thinking about goals and what I wanted to accomplish", he has since said about his high school football experience.[19] In addition to playing football, Johnson also was a member of Freedom High School's track and field andwrestling teams.[35]
By his senior year at Freedom High School, Johnson had played only two years of football, but was offered a full athletic scholarship offer from theUniversity of Miami, whosefootball program was beginning to emerge as one of the nation's top-levelNCAA Division I teams.[19]
As he did in high school, Johnson continued to play defensive tackle at theUniversity of Miami, where he was a member of theMiami Hurricanes 1991 team, which won that year's national championship.[63][35] Despite playing four years there, however, Johnson found himself behind elite players on the depth chart, including futureNFL star andPro Football Hall of Fame inducteeWarren Sapp, and appeared mostly in backup roles.[64][65] In his time at Miami, Johnson played in 39 games with one start. He recorded 4.5 sacks and 77 tackles.[65]
In 1995, Johnson graduated with aBachelor of General Studies and a dual major incriminology andphysiology.[3] He was also one of the university's most prolific student speakers in theMiami-area community, frequently delivering positive messages about his own struggles and encouraging students to remain in school and avoid the dangers of drug use.[66]
World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
Intercontinental Champion (1996–1997)
Johnson made his WWF debut as Rocky Maivia, a combination of his father and grandfather's ring names, although announcers acknowledged his real name.[70] He was initially reluctant to take this ring name but was persuaded byVince McMahon andJim Ross.[52][71] He was given the nickname "The Blue Chipper", and to play up his lineage, he was hyped as the WWF's first third-generation wrestler.[2] A clean-cutface character, Maivia waspushed heavily from the start despite his wrestling inexperience. He debuted onMonday Night Raw as a member ofMarc Mero's entourage on November 4, 1996.[72] His first match came atSurvivor Series on November 17, in aneight-man elimination tag match; he was the sole survivor and eliminated the final two members of the opposing team,Crush andGoldust.[73] On February 13, 1997, he won theIntercontinental Championship fromHunter Hearst Helmsley on a Thursday edition ofMonday Night Raw.[74][75][76] Maivia then successfully defended the title against Helmsley atIn Your House 13: Final Four on February 16.
Johnson's firstWrestleMania match came atWrestleMania 13 on March 23, where he was victorious in his Intercontinental Championship defense againstThe Sultan. WWF fans started to reject his character and push from the company.[77] He defeatedBret Hart by disqualification in a title defense on the March 31 episode ofRaw is War.[78] Behind the scenes, Hart mentored Johnson for his first year in WWF[79] and refused to be booked to take the title from him.[80] On April 20, atIn Your House 14: Revenge of the 'Taker, he lost toSavio Vega by countout but retained the title. Audiences became increasingly hostile toward Maivia, with chants of "die, Rocky, die" and "Rocky sucks" being heard during his matches.[1][52]
After losing the Intercontinental Championship toOwen Hart on the April 28 episode ofRaw Is War,[81] Maivia suffered a legitimate knee injury in a match againstMankind in June and spent several months recovering.[1]
Upon returning in August, Maivia turnedheel by lashing out at fans who had been booing him and joiningFaarooq,D'Lo Brown andKama in thestable called theNation of Domination.[82] He then refused to acknowledge the Rocky Maivia name, instead referring to himself in the third person as the Rock, though he would still be billed as "the Rock" Rocky Maivia until 1998. The Rock would then regularly insult the audience, WWF performers, and interviewers in hispromos.[82]
AtD-Generation X: In Your House on December 7,Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated the Rock in under six minutes to retain the Intercontinental Championship.[83] The next night onRaw Is War, Austin was ordered byMr. McMahon to defend the title in a rematch, but forfeited it to the Rock instead, handing him the title belt before hitting him with theStone Cold Stunner.[84][85] The Rock feuded with Austin andKen Shamrock through the end of 1997 and beginning of 1998.[86][87] On January 19, 1998, at theRoyal Rumble, the Rock defeated Shamrock by disqualification to retain the Intercontinental Championship. Later that night, he entered the Royal Rumble match and lasted until the final two before he was eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin. On March 29, atWrestleMania XIV, he defeated Shamrock by disqualification once again to retain the title. The next night, onRaw is War, the Rock debuted a new Intercontinental Championship design and would later overthrow Faarooq as leader of the Nation of Domination to spark a feud between the two. He then successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Faarooq atOver the Edge: In Your House on May 31. The stable would then refer to themselves as simply "The Nation".[88]
In the latter half of 1998, the Rock saw a big uptick in fan support. He also started consolidating his famous persona during this time, which would last until 2000.[91] His popularity caused him to be booked in a feud with fellow Nation membersMark Henry and D'Lo Brown, turningbabyface in the process. Henry defeated the Rock atJudgment Day: In Your House on October 18 after interference from Brown, effectively breaking up the stable.[92][93]
The Rock was then entered into the "Deadly Game" tournament for the vacant WWF Championship. The finals occurred atSurvivor Series on November 15, where the Rock defeated Vince McMahon's associate,Mankind, to win his first WWF Championship.[94][95] A "double turn" then occurred as the Rock turned heel again after allying with Vince andShane McMahon as the crown jewel of their stable, The Corporation, after the McMahons betrayed Mankind.[94][96] On December 13, at the pay-per-view named after him,Rock Bottom: In Your House, the Rock had a rematch with Mankind for the WWF Championship. Mankind appeared to win the match when the Rock passed out to the Mandible Claw submission move, but Vince McMahon ruled that since the Rock did not tap out, he retained his title.[96][97]
In the main event of the January 4, 1999, episode ofRaw Is War, Mankind defeated the Rock for the championship after interference from Stone Cold Steve Austin.[98] Then at theRoyal Rumble on January 24, the Rock regained the title in an"I Quit" match, a type of submission match that only ends if one of the combatants says "I quit" on a microphone. Intended to show a vicious streak in the Rock's character, the Rock hit Mankind in the head with a steel chair 11 times instead of the scripted five, five shots already being risky (most wrestling matches in the Attitude Era involving steel chairs had at most 2 or 3 shots to the head). After the fifth shot, Mankind was still ringside instead of two-thirds up the entrance ramp where he was supposed to be, and after the eleventh shot, which knocked Mankind out, a recording of Mankind saying "I Quit" from an earlier interview was played over the public address system.[99][100] On January 31, during an episode ofSunday Night Heat, the Rock and Mankind participated in anEmpty Arena match, a match that took place in an arena with 22,000 empty seats where any part of the facility could be used to contest the match. After 20 minutes of chaotic brawling in the ring, the stands, a kitchen, the catering area, an office, the arena corridors and finally a basement loading area, Mankind pinned the Rock using aforklift truck to win the WWF Championship.[101] The two faced off again, atSt. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House on February 14, in a Last Man Standing match which ended in a draw, meaning Mankind retained the title. Their feud ended on the February 15Raw Is War, when the Rock won his third WWF Championship in a Ladder Match after a debutingBig Show interfered on his behalf.[102][103] The Rock then lost the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin atWrestleMania XV on March 28.[104]
The Rock's popularity was fueled by his charisma and speaking abilities, which led to many catchphrases and merchandising opportunities.
The Rock's popularity continued to grow and audiences still cheered for him even though he was a heel. He then lost the title rematch against Stone Cold Steve Austin atBacklash: In Your House on April 25.[105] The next night onRaw is War, the Rock was fired from The Corporation after he was betrayed by Shane McMahon, turning him face again and starting a feud with Triple H,The Undertaker andThe Corporate Ministry. On April 29, 1999, WWF aired the pilot episode ofSmackDown!, a term derived from one of the Rock's catchphrases. In the episode, the Rock continued his feud with The Corporate Ministry. This led to a match with Triple H, atOver the Edge on May 23, which the Rock won,[106] and a match for the WWF Championship against The Undertaker, atKing of the Ring on June 27, which the Rock lost.[107] The Rock then lost a number one contender's match to Triple H, atFully Loaded on July 25, after interference from"Mr. Ass" Billy Gunn.[108] The Rock then defeated Gunn in a Kiss My Ass match atSummerSlam on August 22. The Rock was also given the privilege of having his own signature match, like The Undertaker with the Buried Alive match, Kane with the Inferno Match and Mankind with the Boiler Room Brawl: the Brahma Bullrope match, a variant of astrap match was a normal singles match where the components are tied together with a rope used for cattle farming, and the rope and its attached cowbell could both be used as weapons. The Rock contested this match twice, both times in Texas (vs Triple H in Dallas, and vsAl Snow in Houston).[109]
Shortly after SummerSlam, the Rock began teaming with former opponent Mankind and the two became known asthe Rock 'n' Sock Connection.[110] They becameWWF Tag Team Champions for the first time after defeating The Undertaker and Big Show for the titles on the August 30 episode ofRaw is War.[111][112] The two performed a number of critically acclaimed comedic skits together, including one called "This Is Your Life", which saw Mankind bring parody versions of people from the Rock's past on television, such as his high school girlfriend and his high school football coach, only to have the Rock insult them. The segment earned an 8.4Nielsen rating, one of the highest ratings ever for aRaw segment.[113] The two lost the titles back to Undertaker and Big Show on the September 9 episode ofSmackDown! and won them back from them on the September 20 episode ofRaw is War.[114][115] The Rock and Mankind then lost the titles toThe New Age Outlaws on the very next episode ofSmackDown!.[116] The Rock and Mankind would win the tag titles for the third and final time after beating the New Age Outlaws on the October 14 episode ofSmackDown! before losing the titles toThe Holly Cousins on the October 18 episode ofRaw is War.[117][118]
At theRoyal Rumble on January 23, 2000, the Rock entered theRoyal Rumble match and was one of the final two remaining, along with Big Show. In an attempt at a "false finish", Big Show intended to throw the Rock over the top rope in a runningpowerslam-like position, before the Rock countered the move on the ring apron, sending Big Show to the floor before reentering the ring as the winner.[119] But the Rock's feet accidentally hit the floor during the reversal attempt, though those watching the event on television did not see that. This was played up in the storyline as Big Show provided additional video footage showing it and claimed to be the rightful winner. The Rock's number one contendership for the WWF Championship was then put on the line against Big Show atNo Way Out on February 27, which Big Show won after Shane McMahon interfered.[120] The Rock then defeated Big Show on the March 13 episode ofRaw Is War, to regain the right to face the WWF Champion, Triple H, atWrestleMania 2000 on April 2, in aFatal Four-way elimination match, also including Big Show and Mick Foley.[121][122] Each wrestler had a McMahon in his corner: Triple H had his wife,Stephanie, Foley hadLinda, the Rock had Vince and Big Show had Shane.[122][123] The Rock lasted until the final two but was eliminated by Triple H after Vince betrayed him by hitting him with a chair.[123][124]
In the following weeks, the Rock continued his feud with Triple H and eventually won his fourth WWF Championship, which he won on April 30, atBacklash, after Stone Cold Steve Austin intervened on his behalf.[126][127] The following night onRaw is War, the Rock successfully defended his title against Shane McMahon in a Steel Cage match. On May 21, atJudgment Day, the Rock faced Triple H in anIron Man match withShawn Michaels as the special guest referee.[128] With the score tied at five falls each, and with seconds left on the time limit, the Rock was disqualified when The Undertaker attacked Triple H, thus giving Triple H the 6–5 win and the title.[128][129] The Rock won the WWF Championship for a fifth time atKing of the Ring on June 25 by scoring the winning pin in a six-man tag team match, teaming withKane and The Undertaker against Shane McMahon, Triple H and Vince McMahon, whom he pinned.[130][131] The Rock successfully defended the championship againstChris Benoit on July 23 atFully Loaded. The next month, he successfully defended his title againstKurt Angle and Triple H atSummerSlam on August 27. The Rock had another successful title defense against Benoit, Kane and The Undertaker on September 24 atUnforgiven.[132]
The Rock then lost the WWF Championship to Kurt Angle atNo Mercy on October 22, 2000.[133] The next month, The Rock feuded withRikishi and defeated him atSurvivor Series on November 19.[134] The Rock wrestled a six-manHell in a Cell match for the WWF Championship atArmageddon on December 10, which Angle won to retain the title.[135] On the December 18 episode ofRaw is War, the Rock won the WWF Tag Team Championship with The Undertaker, defeatingEdge and Christian, before losing the titles back to Edge and Christian the next night at aSmackDown! taping.[136] The Rock continued to feud with Angle over the WWF Championship, culminating atNo Way Out on February 25, 2001, where he pinned Angle to win the WWF Championship for a sixth time.[137][138] The Rock then feuded with theRoyal Rumble winner, Stone Cold Steve Austin, whom he lost the title to atWrestleMania X-Seven on April 1 after Austin allied with Vince McMahon, who interfered on his behalf.[104] On the next night'sRaw is War, during a steel cage title rematch, Triple H attacked the Rock, allying with McMahon and Austin and helping Austin retain the championship.[139] Austin and Triple H then formed a tag team calledThe Power Trip,[140] while the Rock was indefinitely suspended in storyline. Johnson used this time off to act inThe Scorpion King.
The Rock returned in late July when the WWF was feuding with rival promotionsWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) andExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) during what is known asThe Invasion storyline. In reality, WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon and the WWF, and ECW had gone out of business in early 2001. Many former WCW and ECW wrestlers were then brought onto WWF television and formedThe Alliance to compete with the WWF in storyline. The Alliance and Vince McMahon then both attempted to persuade the Rock to join their team. The Rock then aligned with McMahon and the WWF. The next month, the Rock defeatedBooker T atSummerSlam on August 19 to win theWCW Championship for the first time.[141][142] He later lost the title toChris Jericho atNo Mercy on October 21.[143][144] The next night onRaw, he teamed with Jericho to win the WWF Tag Team Championship fromThe Dudley Boyz. The two then lost the tag titles to Booker T and Test on the November 1, 2001, episode ofSmackDown!.[145] The Rock defeated Jericho on the November 5 episode ofRaw for his second WCW Championship.[146]
As part of the WWF's battle against The Alliance, the Rock wrestled in a "winner takes all" five-on-five elimination tag team match atSurvivor Series on November 18 where the losing team's company would be dissolved in storyline. He was a member of Team WWF along with Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Kane, and Big Show. The Alliance's team consisted of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T,Rob Van Dam, and Shane McMahon. In the end, it came down to a one-on-one between the Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Rock seemed to have the upper hand, until his teammate Jericho entered the ring and attacked the Rock. Austin tried to capitalize on this by pinning the Rock, but Kurt Angle revealed his true allegiance by attacking Austin. The Rock then pinned Austin, giving Team WWF the victory and forcing The Alliance to disband. The Rock's WCW Championship was renamed the unbranded "World Championship" following the Alliance's loss.[147] At the next pay-per-view,Vengeance on December 9, The Rock lost the World Championship to Jericho, who would then unify the WWF and World titles later that night.[148] The Rock then unsuccessfully challenged Jericho for the nowUndisputed WWF Championship atRoyal Rumble on January 20, 2002.[149]
The Rock doing his signature pose before wrestlingHulk Hogan (bottom right) atWrestleMania X8, March 2002
At the next pay-per-view,No Way Out on February 17, the Rock defeated The Undertaker in a singles match. The event also saw the WWF debut of the famed WCW factionNew World Order (nWo), which at the time consisted of"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan,Kevin Nash, andScott Hall.[150] This later led to a match between the Rock and Hogan atWrestleMania X8 on March 17. The match was billed as "icon versus icon", with both men representing the top tier of two generations of wrestling; ultimately the Rock pinned Hogan at WrestleMania X8 to win the match.[151] Despite the Rock portraying a heroic character and Hogan a villain, a portion of the crowd attending theSkyDome was rooting heavily for Hogan.[152][153] In an interview in 2013, Hogan said he and the Rock changed the style of the match on the fly based on the crowd's response.[154] After the introduction of the first-everbrand extension, the WWF held a "draft lottery" on the March 25, 2002, episode ofRaw. The Rock was the number one overall pick, going to theSmackDown! brand before taking a sabbatical from wrestling.[155]
The Rock made a surprise return on a June episode ofRaw before going to his assigned brand of SmackDown!. There, he was named the number one contender for the WWE Undisputed Championship, which he won for a record-setting seventh time atVengeance on July 21, by defeating Kurt Angle and then-champion The Undertaker in a Triple Threat match.[156][157] The Rock successfully defended the title at theGlobal Warning event on August 10 against Triple H andBrock Lesnar after pinning Triple H.[158] On August 25, atSummerSlam, the Rock lost the WWE Undisputed Championship to Lesnar along with the record for the youngest WWE Champion, which he had set in 1998.[159] In 2018, writing forESPN.com, Sean Coyle noted in a retrospective review of the event, that following his victory over Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8, The Rock "started to see a dip in fan support" and "that dip turned into a plunge" by the time the Rock had his match with Lesnar at SummerSlam because fans knew he was leaving WWE to pursue an acting career,[160] as evidenced by the negative crowd response during his match with Lesnar.[161] After SummerSlam ended, the Rock was visibly angry at the crowd reaction. When he tried to do a post-show speech for the crowd, the fans booed him. He eventually cut a short promo, declaring that "sing-along with the Rock is over!"[162] The Rock then took time off to kickstart his acting career.[163]
The Rock returned on the January 30, 2003, episode ofSmackDown! to set up another match with Hulk Hogan atNo Way Out on February 23.[164] Because of negative fan reaction during previous matches as a result of his budding acting career, the Rock turned heel. He also started a new persona that has been calledHollywood Rock, with a new look and a shaved head.[165][166] The Rock defeated Hogan at No Way Out before moving to theRaw brand.[167] There, he had various small feuds, including one withThe Hurricane.[168] He also began performing "Rock Concerts", segments in which he played the guitar and mocked WWE performers and fans in song.[169]
After failing to win a number one contendership for theWorld Heavyweight Championship, the Rock went into another program with Stone Cold Steve Austin. This led to a match atWrestleMania XIX on March 30, which called back to their previous two WrestleMania encounters, both of which Austin had won.[170] The Rock won after delivering three consecutiveRock Bottoms, ending their long-running rivalry in what turned out to be Austin's final match, untilWrestleMania 38.[1][171] The next night,Raw was billed as "the Rock Appreciation Night", in honor of his victory over Austin. That night, he was attacked by a debutingGoldberg.[172] AtBacklash on April 27, Goldberg defeated the Rock, who then briefly left WWE to filmWalking Tall.[1][173]
Final feuds and departure (2003–2004)
On the June 2 episode ofRaw, the Rock joined the Highlight Reel and attackedChristian andChris Jericho withBooker T, turning face once again.[174] He would later return on the December 8 episode ofRaw to help Mick Foley againstLa Résistance. In 2004, the Rock aided Mick Foley in his feud againstEvolution,[2][1][175] leading to a reunion of the Rock 'n' Sock Connection. They lost againstRic Flair,Randy Orton, andBatista in ahandicap match atWrestleMania XX on March 14, 2004, when Orton pinned Foley after anRKO.[1][176] This was Johnson's final wrestling match until November 2011. The Rock appeared in WWE sporadically following WrestleMania XX. He made returns to provide support forEugene againstJonathan Coachman and made a cameo in his hometown of Miami, where he confrontedRandy Orton.[1] On the August 23 episode ofRaw, he hosted a pie-eating contest, as part of theWWE Diva Search, and ended the segment by giving Coachman aPeople's Elbow.[1] The Rock's contract with WWE then ended and he started his full-time acting career.[177]
Non-wrestling appearances (2007–2009)
On March 12, 2007, the Rock appeared on aWWE show after nearly three years, via a pre-taped promo shown duringRaw. He correctly predicted thatBobby Lashley would defeatUmaga atWrestleMania 23 inDonald Trump's and Vince McMahon's "Battle of the Billionaires" Hair vs. Hair match.[178] On March 29, 2008, Johnson inducted his fatherRocky Johnson and grandfatherPeter Maivia into theWWE Hall of Fame.[179] His next appearance was through a pre-taped promo on October 2, 2009, during theDecade of SmackDown.[180]
Independent circuit (2009)
On September 30, 2009, the Rock appeared at aWorld Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) show to support the professional wrestling debut ofSarona Snuka, the daughter of his longtime friend and mentorJimmy Snuka.[181]
On February 14, 2011, the Rock was announced as the host ofWrestleMania XXVII on April 3, 2011, appearing live onRaw. During a lengthy promo, he addressed the fans and started a feud withJohn Cena.[182][183] After numerous appearances via satellite, the Rock appeared live on theRaw before WrestleMania XXVII to confront Cena. After he and Cena exchanged insults,The Miz andAlex Riley appeared and attacked the Rock; he fended off Miz and Riley, only for Cena to blindside him with anAttitude Adjustment.[184]
On April 3, at WrestleMania XXVII, the Rock opened the show by cutting a promo. After appearing in numerous backstage segments, the Rock came to ringside to restart themain event between Cena and the Miz as a No Disqualification match, after it had ended in a double countout. As revenge for theAttitude Adjustment Cena had given him onRaw, the Rock hit Cena with theRock Bottom, allowing the Miz to pin him and retain the WWE Championship. After the match, the Rock attacked the Miz and hit him with thePeople's Elbow.[185] The next night onRaw, the Rock and Cena agreed to a match atWrestleMania XXVIII the next year. They then worked together to fend off an attack byThe Corre, which at the time consisted ofWade Barrett,Heath Slater,Justin Gabriel, andEzekiel Jackson.[186]
The Rock appeared live onRaw in his hometown of Miami to celebrate his 39th birthday.[187] On September 16, WWE announced the Rock would wrestle in a traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series tag team match, teaming with Cena atSurvivor Series in November.[188] But on the October 24 episode ofRaw SuperShow, Cena instead suggested the Rock be his partner in a standard tag team match against The Miz andR-Truth, a team calledAwesome Truth,[189] which Rock agreed to the next week.[190] On November 14, during the specialRaw Gets Rocked, the Rock appeared live, deliveringRock Bottoms to Mick Foley, who had been hosting a "This Is Your Life"-style segment for Cena, and later both members of Awesome Truth.[191] The Rock and Cena defeated Awesome Truth on November 20 at Survivor Series, when the Rock pinned The Miz. After the match, the Rock gave Cena aRock Bottom.[192]
Leading up to WrestleMania, the Rock and Cena had several verbal confrontations onRaw SuperShow.[193][194] On the March 12, 2012, episode ofRaw SuperShow, the Rock hosted his first "Rock Concert" segment since 2004, mocking Cena in his songs.[195] On April 1, at WrestleMania XXVIII, the Rock defeated Cena in the main event after countering Cena's attempt at aPeople's Elbow into aRock Bottom and pinning Cena.[196] This event broke the record for biggest professional wrestling pay-per-view buyrate. The following night onRaw SuperShow, the Rock praised Cena, calling their match "an honor". He then vowed to once again become WWE Champion.[195]
On July 23, atRaw 1000, the Rock announced he would wrestle for the WWE Championship at theRoyal Rumble pay-per-view. During the show, he encountered then-reigning WWE ChampionCM Punk,Daniel Bryan, and John Cena, all of whom expressed a desire to face him. The Rock later saved Cena from an assault byBig Show, only to be laid out by CM Punk.[197] On the January 7, 2013, episode ofRaw, the Rock returned to confront his Royal Rumble opponent CM Punk.[198] On January 11, he made his firstSmackDown appearance in ten years, getting into an altercation with Team Rhodes Scholars, resulting in him delivering aRock Bottom toDamien Sandow and aPeople's Elbow toCody Rhodes.[199] The Rock closed out the 20th-anniversary episode ofRaw, on January 14, with one of his "Rock Concerts", leading to a brawl with CM Punk.[200] The following week onRaw, the Rock was attacked byThe Shield. Vince McMahon then asserted that if The Shield attacked the Rock in his title match with CM Punk, Punk would be stripped of the WWE Championship.[201]
The Rock revealing the brand new WWE Championship design onWWE Raw, February 2013
On January 27, at theRoyal Rumble, CM Punk would seemingly defeat the Rock after the arena lights went out and someone attacked the Rock. Vince McMahon then came out and was about to strip Punk of the championship, however, at the Rock's request, he instead restarted the match. This culminated in the Rock defeating Punk to win his eighth WWE Championship.[202] Punk received a title rematch with the Rock, atElimination Chamber on February 17, 2013, with the added stipulation that if the Rock was disqualified or counted out, he would still lose theWWE Championship. The Rock would pin Punk to defeat him and retain the championship.[203] The following night onRaw, the Rock unveiled a new WWE Championship design, with a different center plate and removable customizable side-plates which had his "Brahma Bull" logo.[204] The Rock then resumed his rivalry with John Cena, who won that year's Royal Rumble to set up a rematch of the previous WrestleMania match between the two atWrestleMania 29, only this time with the WWE Championship on the line.[205][206]
On April 7, at WrestleMania 29, the Rock lost the WWE Championship to Cena, ending his reign at 70 days.[207] Despite being advertised forRaw after WrestleMania, where it was stated that the Rock was still entitled a rematch for the WWE Championship,[208] The Rock did not appear because of a real injury sustained during his match with Cena, in which hisabdominal andadductortendons tore from hispelvis.[209] Johnson underwent surgery on April 23 to reattach the torn tendons.[210] Post surgery, it made his abdomen look far less muscular than the rest of his body, notably his arms.[211]
In April 2014, the Rock appeared in the opening segment ofWrestleMania XXX along with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan.[212] On the October 6 episode ofRaw, the Rock made a surprise appearance to confrontRusev andLana; this resulted in the Rock clearing Rusev from the ring. On the 15th Anniversary ofSmackDown on October 10, the Rock would make an appearance in a backstage segment, where he and Triple H would reminisce on their past feud.[213]
The Rock appeared at the2015 Royal Rumble event on January 25, 2015, during the main event match, where he helped his relativeRoman Reigns fend off Big Show and Kane after Reigns eliminated them from the match. Reigns then won the match and the Rock endorsed him in the ring.[214][215][216] The Rock appeared atWrestleMania 31 on March 29, 2015, alongsideRonda Rousey, getting into an in-ring altercation withTriple H andStephanie McMahon. Rock and Rousey prevailed after he attacked Triple H and she overpowered McMahon.[217] On June 27, the Rock appeared at alive event inBoston, where he confrontedBo Dallas and gave him aRock Bottom.[218]
On the January 25, 2016, episode ofRaw, the Rock was in a segment that saw him converse with the Miz, Big Show, Lana and Rusev before he and his relatives,the Usos, got into an altercation with then-WWE Tag Team Champions,the New Day.[219] The Rock appeared atWrestleMania 32 on April 3, 2016, where he announced that WWE had broken the all-time WrestleMania attendance record before being interrupted byThe Wyatt Family. The Rock got into a verbal back-and-forth withBray Wyatt before having an impromptu match with Wyatt Family memberErick Rowan. The Rock won after giving Rowan aRock Bottom and pinning him insix seconds, which set the record for the fastest win in WrestleMania history. The Rock was then aided by a returning John Cena to fend off Wyatt, Rowan andBraun Strowman.[220]
On the February 20, 2017, episode ofRaw, the Rock made an untelevised appearance after the broadcast had gone off the air, where he promoted and filmed a scene for his then-upcoming filmFighting with My Family.[221] On August 3, 2019, the Rock officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling.[222] On September 30, 2019, after weeks of speculation, the Rock announced that he would appear onSmackDown's 20th Anniversary on October 4, 2019, marking his first appearance onSmackDown since October 2014 and his first televised appearance since April 2016.[223] At the event, he cut a promo withBecky Lynch before they were interrupted byKing Corbin. After attacking Corbin, the Rock and Lynch celebrated in the ring.[224]
On September 15, 2023, the Rock made a surprise return toSmackDown, in a segment withPat McAfee andAustin Theory, who Rock took out within the segment. This marked his first televised appearance in WWE since October 4, 2019.[225]
It was teased that a formerWWE Champion would be appearing on theDay 1 edition ofRaw on January 1, 2024; the unidentified champion was at first revealed to beJinder Mahal, who insulted the crowd before being interrupted by the Rock in his first live appearance onRaw since 2016.[226] The two brawled and the Rock emerged victorious, after which he asked the crowd if he should sit at "the head of the table" in a direct reference toUndisputed WWE Universal ChampionRoman Reigns, his relative whose nickname is "The Head of the Table".[227][228] The Rock also appeared on the February 2 episode ofSmackDown, where he confronted Reigns afterRoyal Rumble winnerCody Rhodes decided against choosing Reigns as hisWrestleMania 40 opponent to allow the Rock to face Reigns.[229] This was met by intense backlash from fans who wanted Rhodes to face Reigns; theWrestleMania XL media event on February 8 thus saw The Rock align himself with Reigns, chastise Rhodes for reversing his decision not to choose Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent, and slap Rhodes for speaking out against theAnoaʻi family (of which the Rock and Reigns are both members).[230][231] As WWE's chief creative officerTriple H was being interviewed backstage over what had just transpired, the Rock and Reigns walked by and told him to "fix it" or they would, though Triple H would later appear onSmackDown to stand by Rhodes' decision.[231]
The Rock with "the People's Championship" at the2024 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony in April 2024
On the February 16 episode ofSmackDown, the Rock officially joined Reigns' factionThe Bloodline; he also debuted a new persona that incorporated facets of his arrogant "Hollywood Rock" incarnation from 2003, such as insulting the audience, wearing gaudy expensive clothes, and entering the arena to a new entrance theme that began with his heroic character's music before transitioning into his "Hollywood Rock" music.[232] He then appeared on the March 1 episode ofSmackDown, where he gave his new character the nickname of "The Final Boss" and issued a challenge to Rhodes andSeth "Freakin" Rollins: if they beat him and Reigns in a tag team match at WrestleMania Night 1, Rhodes' championship match against Reigns on Night 2 would be free of interference from The Bloodline, but if Rhodes and Rollins lost, the championship match would be contested under "Bloodline Rules". Rhodes and Rollins accepted the challenge the following week. On the March 25 episode ofRaw, the Rock attacked Rhodes backstage, leaving him beaten and bloody in the parking lot.[233] During the 2024WWE Hall of Fame, the Rock received a "People's Championship" fromMuhammad Ali's wife Lonnie, which he would begin carrying over his shoulder whenever he appeared onscreen.[234] In the Night 1 main event of WrestleMania XL, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Rollins.[235] During the Night 2 main event between Reigns and Rhodes, multiple people interfered on behalf of both men; the Rock appeared and hitJohn Cena with a Rock Bottom after the two stared each other down, butThe Undertaker then appeared and chokeslammed the Rock. Rhodes went on to defeat Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship.[236] The following night onRaw, the Rock interrupted Rhodes' celebration to congratulate him and reveal that he would be leaving for a while, but would be coming after Rhodes when he returns; this allowed Johnson time off to film the biopicThe Smashing Machine.[237][238] During his hiatus,Solo Sikoa became the new leader of The Bloodline, starting the Bloodline Civil War.[239][240]
Six months later, in the main event ofBad Blood on October 5, Rhodes and Reigns teamed up to face members of The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa andJacob Fatu) from which Reigns had been ousted, defeating Sikoa and Fatu with the help of a returningJimmy Uso. Following the match, the Rock returned and stood at the top of the entrance ramp, where he silently counted to three and made athroat slashing gesture to Reigns, Rhodes, and Uso before leaving.[241] The Rock returned on theRaw premiere on Netflix on January 6, 2025, thanking Rhodes for all his work as the face of the company and hugging him. Later that night, the Rock embraced Reigns after the latter defeated Sikoa to reclaim his Ula Fala and Tribal Chief title.[242] The next night atNew Year's Evil, the Rock made his first appearance on theNXT brand.[243][244] He sought advice from his daughter, NXT general managerAva, and spoke toEthan Page. In a promo that closed out the television special, he addressed criticism towards his actions the night before on Raw.[245][246] On the February 21 episode ofSmackDown, the Rock made an appearance to announce thatWrestleMania 42 would take place inNew Orleans, Louisiana, whereSmackDown was being taped. The Rock also called out Cody Rhodes, where he offered to elevate Rhodes as a star in exchange for Rhodes' loyalty and cryptically stated that he wanted Rhodes' soul.[247] On March 1 atElimination Chamber: Toronto, Rhodes refused the Rock's offer, who responded by signalling Elimination Chamber match winner John Cena to attack Rhodes, leaving him beaten and bloodied in the assault.[248]
In 1999, the Rock was listed No. 1 onEntertainment Weekly's Top 12 Entertainers of the Year.[256] In 2000,Access Hollywood ranked him No. 1 in their list of the Top 10 Celebrities of 2000.[257] That year, Rock was also listed in theForbes Celebrity 100 andPeople Magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People.[258][259] The Rock was listed onEntertainment Weekly's 101 Most Influential People in both 2000 and 2001.[260] In 2001, he was also listed on E!'s 20 Top Entertainers.[261][262] In 2002, the Rock was listed on E!'s 25 Toughest Stars.[263] In 2003, he was listed in VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons[264] and was No. 7 inPeople Magazine's 50 Favorite TV Stars.[265]
The Rock made a surprise appearance at the official Xbox unveiling duringBill Gates's keynote speech at the ongoingConsumer Electronics Show in 2001.[266] Johnson's motion picture debut was asThe Scorpion King inThe Mummy Returns (2001).[267] The movie broke a two-year record for the highest-grossing single day in film history by earning$28,594,667.[268][2][253] The movie's financial success led to Johnson's first leading role in the spin-offThe Scorpion King (2002).[2] He received$5.5 million for the role andGuinness World Records named him the record-holder for highest-paid actor in their first leading role.[269][270]
Fans watching on as The Rock makes his entrance in 2013
The Rock has been listed as one of the all-time greatest professional wrestlers,[22][6][7] as well as one of the top draws in wrestling history. Many have placed the Rock on their "Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling", including Hulk Hogan,[276] Ric Flair,[277] and John Cena.[278] InCable Visions: Television Beyond Broadcasting, the Rock was described as "for a long time, the WWE's biggest star and probably held the greatest international appeal".[279]R. D. Reynolds stated in his bookThe WrestleCrap Book of Lists that the Rock was "the biggest star for WWE from 1999 until 2004".[280] The Rock's"I quit" match withMankind at the1999 Royal Rumble event is infamous for its brutality and one of the most popular "I quit" match of all times.[281][282][283][284]
The Rock main-evented the most boughtpay-per-view worldwide in WWE history (WrestleMania XXVIII),[285] the most bought pay-per-view domestically in WWE history (WrestleMania X-Seven), the highest ratedRaw in history,[286][287] the highest ratedSmackDown in history,[288] and was part of the highest rated cable segment in WWE history with Mankind entitled "This is Your Life", in which Mankind would honor the Rock with various gifts and reunions.[289][290] His return in 2001 had a 7.1 rating, the highest-rated segment of the year. The Rock was also part of the highest-rated match of the 21st century when his WWF Championship defense againstShane McMahon, on May 1, 2000, got an 8.3 rating, making it the highest-rated segment of all time, behind "This Is Your Life". In 2011, the Rock's return to an episode ofRaw generated an average of 4.7 million viewers in the United States, with 7.4 million tuning in during his promo.[291]Raw 1000 was the highest ratedRaw episode of 2012 and his segment withCM Punk andDaniel Bryan was the highest rated segment of the show.[292] In 2013, the night after the Rock won theWWE Championship, atRoyal Rumble,Raw got its highest rating of that year.[293]
Derived from one of his catchphrases "lay the smackdown", WWE introduced in 1999 its second flagship program,WWE SmackDown, which became television's second longest-running weekly episodic program in history.[294] The term "smackdown" was included inMerriam-Webster dictionaries in 2007.[295][296] He is also known for popularizing the term "jabroni", derived from "jobber", although it was originally introduced byThe Iron Sheik.[297][298] The Rock holds the record for mostRaw shows main-evented in one year (38 in 2000),[299] mostSmackDown shows main-evented in one year (36 in 2000),[300] and is tied withStone Cold Steve Austin (in 2001) for most PPV shows main evented in one year (12 in 2000).[301][302] The Rock is also one of two wrestlers (the other being The Undertaker) to main event WrestleMania in four different decades: 1990s:XV (1999); 2000s:WrestleMania 2000 (2000),X-Seven (2001); 2010s:XXVIII (2012),29 (2013); 2020s:XL (2024).
At the2021 Survivor Series, WWE held a 25-man Battle Royal to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Rock's WWE debut. The match was won byOmos.[303]
Johnson entered Hollywood and had early success due to his wrestling popularity and noted work ethic. Over his acting career, he became one of thehighest-paid and most successful actors in Hollywood.[304][305][306][307]
Career beginnings (1999–2010)
He began his acting career on television while wrestling. In his first television acting job, in 1999, he portrayed his fatherRocky Johnson in an episode ofThat '70s Show called "That Wrestling Show". Nearly a year later, he appeared in theStar Trek: Voyager episode "Tsunkatse" as an alien wrestler who fought againstSeven of Nine. While Johnson was away from WWE, the company continued to sell "the Rock" merchandise, and he continued to be featured prominently in the opening montages of their television shows.[39]
Johnson made his theatrical debut inThe Mummy Returns (2001), playing the antagonist Mathayus "The Scorpion King". He reprised this role in the spin-off filmThe Scorpion King (2002), where he starred as the titular character. Johnson was paid$5.5 million for his leading role, putting him in theGuinness World Records for the highest salary for a first-time leading man.[308] The film was a commercial success and despite mixed reception, Johnson's acting was praised.[309] Film criticRoger Ebert wrote, "I expect him to become a durable action star".[310]
In the following years, he worked in action filmsThe Rundown (2003), andWalking Tall (2004), but these films failed to gain success. He had a supporting role in the comedyBe Cool (2005) as a homosexual bodyguard hoping to become an actor,[311] and was the primary antagonist in the horror filmDoom (2005). He also worked in the sports dramaGridiron Gang (2006), comedyReno 911!: Miami (2007), and thrillerSouthland Tales (2006). He had further success by playing an arrogant famous American football player in the sports family comedyThe Game Plan (2007), Agent 23 in spy action comedyGet Smart (2008), a cab driver in the science fiction filmRace to Witch Mountain (2009),the title character in the fantasy comedyTooth Fairy (2010) and a police officer in buddy cop comedyThe Other Guys (2010). Johnson returned to action genre in the unsuccessfulFaster (2010).
Johnson's first big box-office success came in 2011, portraying Luke Hobbs inFast Five (2011); the film became theseventh highest-grossing film of 2011. Following this, all of Johnson's projects in the 2010s decade achieved major success and established him as a bankable actor.[315][316] He next starred in the box office hitJourney 2: The Mysterious Island in 2012. He became known for reinvigorating film franchises after portrayingMarvin F. Hinton / Roadblock inG.I. Joe: Retaliation and reprising his role as Luke Hobbs inFast & Furious 6 (2013),[317][318] while also starring in true-story filmsPain & Gain (2013) andEmpire State (2013). That same year, he hosted and produced theTNTreality competition seriesThe Hero,[319][320] and won the Favorite Male Buttkicker Award at the2013 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards.[321] In May 2013, it was announced that he would executive produce and star inBallers,[322] anHBOcomedy-drama series aboutNFL players living in Miami.[323] By December of that year,Forbes named him the top-grossing actor of 2013, with his films bringing in$1.3 billion worldwide for the year.Forbes credited the success ofFast & Furious 6, which grossed$789 million globally, and his frequent acting work as primary reasons for topping the list.[324]
Johnson's role within theFast & Furious franchise continued withFast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, starring alongside co-starJason Statham.David Leitch directed the project from a script co-written by franchise-writerChris Morgan andDrew Pearce. The film began principal photography in September 2018, and was released on July 26, 2019. Johnson reprised his role as Bravestone, inJumanji: The Next Level. With the critical and financial success ofWelcome to the Jungle, production of the movie began in early 2019, and it was released on December 13, 2019.[330]
Johnson's films grossed $10.6 billion in the 2010s, making him the decade's sixth-highest-grossing actor and the highest-grossing actor outside theMarvel Cinematic Universe.[331]
Career fluctuations (2021–2024)
In 2021, after a year long hiatus, Johnson co-starred withEmily Blunt inDisney'sJungle Cruise as Frank Wolff. The film is based on the theme-park rideof the same name.[332]Jaume Collet-Serra directed, with a script byMichael Green from a previous one byJ. D. Payne and Patrick McKay.[333][334] In addition to his work on the film, Johnson assisted with re-designing the titular ride for all Disney theme parks.[335]Jungle Cruise was released on July 30, 2021.[336][337][338] On March 16, 2021, he appeared for the first time as the video game character, The Foundation, inFortnite Battle Royale. Johnson was initially uncredited in his role, yet hinted at his involvement through a series of Instagram posts. His involvement was finally confirmed during the Chapter 2 End Event on December 4, 2021, with The Foundation removing his helmet to reveal that he shared Johnson's voice and likeness.[339] Also in 2021, Johnson starred inNetflix's filmRed Notice, written and directed byRawson Marshall Thurber. It is the third time that the two collaborated, afterCentral Intelligence andSkyscraper.[340][341] It co-starsGal Gadot andRyan Reynolds.[342] It is the most watched film on Netflix of all time.[343]
Johnson voicedKrypto the Superdog in the animated featureDC League of Super Pets (2022), which was released theatrically in July and emerged as a success.[344] On November 14, 2019, he had announced a late 2021 release date for the superheroBlack Adam film.[345] Production onBlack Adam began filming in April 2021 and was released on October 21, 2022.[346][347] He earned$22.5 million to star in the film and received millions more for producing and promoting it on social media.[348] However, the anticipated film received mixed to negative reviews and turned out to be a box office disappointment. Following the failure ofBlack Adam, Johnson's star power came under scrutiny, and his involvement in creative decisions faced criticism.[349][350]
In 2023, Johnson voiced his Moana character Maui in Disney crossover short filmOnce Upon a Studio.[351] In May 2023, Johnson reprised his role as Luke Hobbs in acameo appearance during themid-credits scene ofFast X. By the early 2020s, Johnson faced increasing criticism for consistently portraying similar characters, often described as charismatic, larger-than-life figures who are both physically imposing and possess a dry wit. These roles frequently involve action or adventure elements, and the characters tend to be heroic, if sometimes reluctant, protagonists.[352][353]
He was next seen portraying formerMMA fighterMark Kerr inBenny Safdie's biographical sports dramaThe Smashing Machine (2025).[361] Full facial prosthetics and a wig were used to transform Johnson's appearance to resemble Kerr.[362] When asked about taking on a serious, intimate drama after years of big-budget action and comedy films, Johnson expressed excitement about finally exploring personal struggles on-screen that he had never before addressed. He described the process as both frightening and liberating.[363] Critics noted that he used the opportunity to pivot his brand and persona toward that of a serious actor.[364] The film premiered at the82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025. It received a standing ovation and aGolden Lion award nomination.[365][366] The film garnered positive reviews, with Nicholas Barber of theBBC describing Johnson's portrayal as "impressively vulnerable."[367] The performance sparked discussions about a potential Oscar nomination for the actor.[368][369] It had its wide release on October 3, 2025, but was met with a poor theatrical response,[370] and is understood to be Johnson's lowest grossing opening ever.[371]
In 2026, he will portray Maui again in the live action adaptationMoana (2026).[372] In February 2025, Johnson was cast in a crime drama film directed byMartin Scorsese, alongsideLeonardo DiCaprio andEmily Blunt.[373] The film will depict the mafia's influence inHawaii, with Johnson portraying an aspiring mob boss's rise within the criminal underworld.[374] He will reteam with Safdie for the filmLizard Music, based on theDaniel Pinkwater teen novel of the same name.[375]
Producing
In 2012, Johnson founded his production companySeven Bucks Productions.[18] Though originally attached as producer and star, Johnson will now serve solely as the former on a film adaptation ofThe Janson Directive.John Cena will fill the leading role, withAkiva Goldsman attached as screenwriter.[376] Additionally, he will produce and star in a Netflix exclusive film titledJohn Henry & The Statesmen, as thetitular folklore hero. The film will be directed by Jake Kasdan, from a script by Kasdan andTom Wheeler. With the first official teaser trailer released in October 2018, the project marks Kasdan's and Johnson's third collaboration, afterJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle andJumanji: The Next Level.[377]
In 2021, his biographical comedy-drama seriesYoung Rock began airing on NBC.[384]A film centered aroundTeth-Adam/Black Adam, a part of theDC Extended Universe, was announced to be in development in January 2017. Originally cast in the role as early as September 2014 as the antagonist, in a film centered around the superheroBilly Batson/Shazam,[385][386] his villainous role forShazam! was reworked into two separate films.[387] Johnson did not appear inShazam!, but he served as a producer and his likeness was used through special effects in flashback scenes.[388][389]
Business career
In March 2020, Johnson launched TeremanaTequila, which sold 600,000 nine-litre cases in its first year[390] and is valued at approximately$3.5 billion.[391]
In August 2020, Johnson along with several partners and investors—includingRedBird Capital Partners—purchased theXFL for$15 million. Within months, Johnson announced plans for the relaunch of the league in spring 2022. While the launch was delayed a year, the first games of 2023 kicked off on time.[392] After a successful 2023 season, the XFL andUnited States Football League announced their intent to merge into a single league. On December 31, 2023, it was announced that the new merged league would be called theUnited Football League (UFL).[393] The league would feature 8 teams and start on March 30, 2024. Johnson, along withDany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners own 50% of the UFL together under XFL Properties LLC.[394]
On January 23, 2024, Johnson joined theTKO Group Holdings board of directors. In the process, he obtained full ownership over his trademarked name "The Rock", which was owned by WWE.[15][395][396] As part of the settlement, Johnson signed a new services and merchandising agreement with WWE.[395][396][397]
Other work
In 2000, Johnson published his autobiography,The Rock Says..., co-written with Joe Layden. It debuted at No. 1 onThe New York Times Best Seller list and remained on the list for several weeks.[28] In 2013, Johnson hosted and produced theTNT reality competition seriesThe Hero.[319][320] In 2014, he hosted another TNT reality series,Wake Up Call.[326] In 2019, Johnson started hosting theNBC competition seriesThe Titan Games.[398]
In March 2016, Johnson partnered with American fitness apparel manufacturerUnder Armour to release "Project Rock".[399] The first item in his partnership with Under Armour, a gym bag, sold out in a couple of days.[400][401] His second item, a black T-shirt sporting his signature "Brahma bull", sold out after being worn at WrestleMania 32.[402] Johnson also released an alarm clock app as part of "Project Rock" that received more than one million downloads in its first week of release.[403] Since then, they have released sneakers, headphones, and other apparel.[404]
In 2016, Johnson started his YouTube channel. His first video,The YouTube Factory, featured online personalityLilly Singh and several other internet stars.[405] In 2019, Johnson announced he would launch a competitive bodybuilding show, "Athleticon", with his business partner and ex-wife,Dany Garcia. It is set to rival other long-standing bodybuilding shows such asThe Arnold Classic andJoe Weider's Mr. Olympia.[406] The show was set to debut in October 2020 inAtlanta, Georgia, but plans were disrupted by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[406]
Johnson has expressed interest in running for president, tellingUSA Today in February 2021 that he would "consider a presidential run in the future if that's what the people wanted".[416] Following an online poll which found that 46% of Americans would consider voting for Johnson in an election, he toldToday in April 2021, "I do have that goal to unite our country and I also feel that if this is what the people want, then I will do that".[417]
In 2006, Johnson founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, a charity working with at-risk andterminally ill children.[421] In 2007, he and his then-wife,Dany Garcia, donated$1 million to theUniversity of Miami to support the renovation of its football facilities; the university renamed theMiami Hurricanes' locker room in his honor.[422]
In 2015, actressMichelle Trachtenberg tagged Johnson in atweet about an abandoned dog that her local shelter had rescued and named after him, prompting him to donate$1,500 to theGoFundMe for the dog's lifesaving surgery.[423] In 2017, he donated$25,000 toHurricane Harvey relief efforts.[424] In 2018, he donated a gym to a military base inOahu, Hawaii.[425] After the2018 Hawaii floods, he worked with the nonprofit organization Malama Kauai to help repair flood damage.[426]
Johnson made a seven-figure donation to theSAG-AFTRA Foundation during the2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which foundation presidentCourtney B. Vance cited as the largest single donation that the foundation had ever received from one individual at one time.[427] The following month, Johnson andOprah Winfrey announced the creation of the People's Fund of Maui in response to the2023 Hawaii wildfires and asked people to donate.[428] They also donated$5 million each to it.[428] The announcement received backlash from fans, who criticized Johnson and Oprah for requesting donations while havingnet worths of$800 million and$2.5 billion respectively; Johnson apologized in October.[428]
Personal life
In 2009, Johnson obtainedCanadian citizenship through his father's birth and citizenship there.[429] In 2017, he had the small "Brahma bull" tattoo on his right arm covered with a largerhalf-sleeve tattoo of a bull's skull.[430]
Johnson has experiencedmultiple episodes of depression, beginning in his college years. He has spoken publicly about the importance of seeking help and being open about mental health struggles, advocating for increased awareness and support.[433]
In 2003, Johnson got a partial SamoanPeʻa tattoo on his left side.[436] In August 2004, in recognition of his service to theSamoan people, and because he is a descendant of Samoan chiefs, Johnson was given the noble titleSeiuli, meaning the son of Malietoa [Alo o Malietoa], byMalietoa Tanumafili II during his visit there.[437]
On June 1, 2007, Johnson and Garcia announced they were separating amicably.[434] The divorce was finalized in May 2008.[438]
In February 2020,WWE announced that Johnson's daughter Simone had started training at theWWE Performance Center,[451] making her the first fourth-generation WWE wrestler.[452] On May 16, Johnson announced she had signed a contract with WWE,[453] and announced in May 2022 that her ring name would beAva Raine. She has since been appearing on theNXT brand.[454]
Discography
Singles
As lead artist
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions
Guess Who's Back or: Return of the Year (2011)[484]
LOL! Moment of the Year (2012,2013) –insulting John Cena using the history of Boston, Massachusetts,Rock Concert on the 20th anniversary episode ofRaw[485][486]
^The title was named the WWF Championship during The Rock's first six reigns. It was known as the WWF Undisputed Championship during his seventh reign and as the WWE Championship during his eighth.
^The title was renamed the World Championship during his second reign.
^"It Doesn't Matter" did not enter theCanadian Hot 100, but peaked at number eight on the Hot Canadian Digital Singles chart.[462]
^"Some Lesser-Known Truths About Academe". May 3, 2017.Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2023."Asking a professor whether you should pursue a Ph.D. is a little like asking The Rock — aka Dwayne Douglas Johnson, the world's highest-paid actor last year — whether you should become an actor"
^"The Anoaʻi family wrestling dynasty: photos",WWE,archived from the original on December 5, 2015, retrievedNovember 29, 2015,High Chief Peter Maivia, The Rock's grandfather, was "blood brothers" with The Wild Samoans' father, Amituanai Anoaʻi.
^"Wrestler 'Umaga' Edward Fatu dies of heart attack, friend says",CNN, December 5, 2009,archived from the original on June 15, 2019, retrievedNovember 29, 2015,[...]was a member of the famous Anoaʻi wrestling family, which includes cousin Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, his two uncles, who wrestled as The Wild Samoans in the 1980s, and brothers, Sam "Tonga Kid" and Solofa Jr. "Rikishi," according to Wrestlers Rescue, a support group for retired professional wrestlers.
^Cryderman, Kelly (September 15, 2017)."Rising from rock bottom".The Globe and Mail.Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. RetrievedMay 24, 2019.
^World Wrestling Federation (November 17, 1996). "Marc Mero, Rocky Maivia, Jake Roberts, and The Stalker vs. Crush, Jerry Lawler, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and Goldust".Survivor Series (1996).
^"WWF Monday Night Raw".WWF Television. March 31, 1997.USA Network.The camera goes backstage after Steve Austin's in-ring interview, and Jim Ross says: "There, you see The Rock."
^Monday Night War S01 E12:The War Gets Electrified. WWE.
^Cawthon, Graham (January 16, 2023)."Ring Results: 1997". The History of WWE.Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. RetrievedJanuary 2, 2023.
^abMeltzer, Dave (January 30, 2012). "Jan 30 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Gigantic year-end awards issue, best and worst in all categories plus UFC on FX 1, death of Savannah Jack, ratings, tons and tons of news".Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, CA.ISSN1083-9593.
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