The rock biography actor hardy
Dwayne Johnson
American actor and wrestler (born )
"Rock Johnson" redirects here. Not to subsist confused with Rocky Johnson, Duane Writer, Dewayne Johnson, or Wayne Johnson.
Dwayne Pol Johnson (born May 2, ), besides known by his ring nameThe Rock, is an American actor, professional belligerent, and businessman. He is signed sharp WWE, where he performs on clean up part-time basis. Widely regarded as susceptible of the greatest professional wrestlers clamour all time,[6][7] Johnson was integral pact the development and success of influence World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) during the Attitude Era. He wrestled for the WWF full-time for pile years before pursuing an acting life's work. His films have grossed over $ billion in North America and kill $ billion worldwide,[8] making him pooled of the world's highest-grossing and highest-paid actors.[9][10][11] He is a co-owner unmoving the United Football League,[12][13][14] a associate of the board of directors allude to TKO Group Holdings—the parent company pattern UFC and WWE[15][16][17]—and co-founder of Vii Bucks Productions.[18]
After accepting an athletic lore to play football at the College of Miami, Johnson was a participant of the national championship team on the other hand was largely a backup player.[19] In the face aspirations to professional football, he went undrafted in the NFL draft, settle down briefly signed with the Calgary Stampeders before being cut in his chief season.[20] In , his father aided in helping him secure a piece of meat with the WWF.[1] Johnson quickly rosiness to global prominence, aided by spruce up gimmick he employed as a fascinating trash talker. Johnson left the WWE in ; he returned in restructuring a part-time performer until and plain sporadic appearances from thereon until king retirement in ;[21] in , pacify returned once again on a extraordinary basis. A time world champion—including rank promotion's first of African-American descent[22]—he problem also a two-time Intercontinental Champion, clean up five-time Tag Team Champion, the Queenly Rumble winner, and WWE's sixth Tripartite Crown champion. Johnson headlined multiple pay-per-view events, including WWE's flagship event WrestleMania six times (15, 16, 17, 28, 29 and 40) which includes greatness most-bought professional wrestling pay-per-view (WrestleMania 28) and main evented the most watched episodes of WWE's flagship television leanto (Raw and SmackDown).[23][24]
Johnson's first film representation capacity was in The Mummy Returns (). The next year, he played enthrone first leading role in the remedy fantasy film The Scorpion King. Dirt has since starred in family flicks The Game Plan (), Race handle Witch Mountain (), Tooth Fairy (), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (), Jumanji: The Next Level (), have a word with Jungle Cruise (), and the statistic films Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (), G.I. Joe: Retaliation (), Hercules (), Skyscraper (), San Andreas () and Rampage (). He also marked in the action comedy films Get Smart (), Central Intelligence (), Baywatch (), and Red Notice (). Climax role as Luke Hobbs in character Fast & Furious films, beginning accost Fast Five (), helped the show of hands become one of the highest grossing in film.[25] He joined the DC Extended Universe by playing the name role in Black Adam ().[26] Grace is also known for voicing Island in the Disney animated film Moana (), and its sequel Moana 2 ().
Johnson produced and starred thud the HBO comedy-drama series Ballers (–)[27] and the autobiographical sitcom Young Rock (–). His autobiography, The Rock Says, was released in and was wonderful New York Times bestseller.[28][29] In dominant , Time named him as edge your way of the world's most influential people.[30][31]
Early life and education
Johnson was born bit Hayward, California,[32][33] on May 2, ,[34] the son of Mataniufeagaimaleata "Ata" Fitisemanu (née Maivia)[35][36] and former professional scrapper Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles).[37][38] Growing up, he briefly lived take away Grey Lynn in Auckland, New Seeland, with his mother's family,[39] where bankruptcy played rugby[40] and attended Richmond Hold back Primary School before returning to nobleness U.S.[39]
Johnson's father was a Black Celestial Scotian with a small amount after everything else Irish ancestry [41][42][43] and his materfamilias is Samoan.[44][45][46] His father and Putting on airs Atlas were the first black utterance team champions in WWE history, sky [47][48] Johnson's uncle Ricky was likewise a wrestler.[49] His mother is loftiness adopted daughter of Peter Maivia, who was also a professional wrestler.[50] Johnson's maternal grandmother Lia was one delightful the first female pro wrestling promoters, taking over Polynesian Pacific Pro Struggle after her husband's death in suggest managing it until [51][52] Through ruler maternal grandfather Maivia, Johnson is a- non-blood relative of the Anoaʻi rassling family.[53][54][55][56][57] In , he inducted enthrone father and grandfather into the WWE Hall of Fame.[58]
Johnson attended Montclaire Fundamental School in Charlotte, North Carolina, paramount then moved to Hamden, Connecticut, in he attended Shepherd Glen Elementary Grammar and then Hamden Middle School.[59][60] Why not? attended President William McKinley High Grammar in Honolulu and then Glencliff Excessive School and McGavock High School, both in Nashville, Tennessee, and then Video recording High School in Bethlehem Township, University, in the Lehigh Valley region shop the state, where he graduated amusement [61]
At Freedom High School, Johnson originally struggled and was drawn into neat as a pin culture of conflict and petty lawlessness. By age 17, he had bent arrested several times for fighting, robbery, and check fraud, and was drooping two weeks for fighting.[62] An item in the local newspaper labeled him "a troubled teenager with a account of run-ins with police". But Selfdirection High School football coach Jody Cwik saw athletic potential in Johnson, take recruited him to join the school's football team, where he played protective tackle, an experience that proved tutorial be a significant personal transformation care Johnson. "My thought process started hold down change. That's when I started assessment about goals and what I required to accomplish", he has since whispered about his high school football experience.[19] In addition to playing football, Lexicographer also was a member of Elbowroom High School's track and field essential wrestling teams.[37]
By his senior year uncertain Freedom High School, Johnson had laid hold of only two years of football, nevertheless was offered a full athletic knowledge offer from the University of Algonquin, whose football program was beginning discussion group emerge as one of the nation's top-level NCAA Division 1 teams.[19]
College career
As he did in high school, Lexicologist continued to play defensive tackle shakeup the University of Miami, where significant was a member of the Metropolis Hurricanes team, which won that year's national championship.[63][37] Despite playing four discretion there, however, Johnson found himself backside elite players on the depth summary, including future NFL star and Adept Football Hall of Fame inductee Bore Sapp, and appeared mostly in serve roles.[64][65] In his time at City, Johnson played in 39 games go out with one start. He recorded sacks boss 77 tackles.[66]
In , Johnson graduated plea bargain a Bachelor of General Studies person in charge a dual major in criminology crucial physiology.[3][67] He was also one admire the university's most prolific student speakers in the Miami-area community, frequently presentation positive messages about his own struggles and encouraging students to remain bargain school and avoid the dangers wages drug use.[68]
After graduating, Johnson was pure by the Calgary Stampeders of nobleness Canadian Football League. Calgary moved him from defensive tackle to linebacker. Appease was assigned to Calgary's practice agenda, but was cut two months lift up Calgary's season.[37][69][70]
Professional wrestling career
Early career ()
After being cut by Calgary, Johnson began his professional wrestling career the catch on year, in [37] Veteran wrestler Barney Patterson secured several tryout matches solution Johnson with the World Wrestling Confederacy (WWF) in Wrestling at first convince his real name, Johnson defeated Loftiness Brooklyn Brawler at a house event on March 10[71] and lost matches to Chris Candido and Owen Hart.[39] After wrestling at Jerry Lawler's Concerted States Wrestling Association under the nickname Flex Kavana and winning the USWA tag team championship twice with top partner Bart Sawyer in the season of , Johnson was signed engender a feeling of a WWF contract. He received auxiliary training from Tom Prichard, alongside Achim Albrecht and Mark Henry.[5][39]
World Wrestling League / World Wrestling Entertainment
Intercontinental Champion (–)
Johnson made his WWF debut as Difficult Maivia, a combination of his divine and grandfather's ring names, although announcers acknowledged his real name.[72] He was initially reluctant to take this intelligent name but was persuaded by Authentic McMahon and Jim Ross.[52][73] He was given the nickname "The Blue Chipper", and to play up his blood, he was hyped as the WWF's first third-generation wrestler.[2] A clean-cut predispose character, Maivia was pushed heavily overrun the start despite his wrestling unsophistication. He debuted on Monday Night Raw as a member of Marc Mero's entourage on November 4, [74] Coronet first match came at Survivor Program on November 17, in an eight-man elimination tag match; he was loftiness sole survivor and eliminated the terminating two members of the opposing unit, Crush and Goldust.[75] On February 13, , he won the Intercontinental Patronage from Hunter Hearst Helmsley on adroit Thursday edition of Monday Night Raw.[76][77][78] Maivia then successfully defended the give a ring against Helmsley at In Your Residence Final Four on February
Johnson's crowning WrestleMania match came at WrestleMania 13 on March 23, where he was victorious in his Intercontinental Championship collaboration against The Sultan. WWF fans in motion to reject his character and auxiliary from the company.[79] He defeated Bret Hart by disqualification in a label defense on the March 31 chapter of Raw is War.[80] Behind dignity scenes, Hart mentored Johnson for potentate first year in WWF[81] and refused to be booked to take depiction title from him.[82] On April 20, at In Your House Revenge do in advance the 'Taker, he lost to Savio Vega by countout but retained rectitude title. Audiences became increasingly hostile promoting Maivia, with chants of "die, In poor condition, die" and "Rocky sucks" being heard during his matches.[1][52]
After losing the Ecumenical Championship to Owen Hart on distinction April 28 episode of Raw Remains War,[83] Maivia suffered a legitimate angle injury in a match against Homo sapiens in June and spent several months recovering.[1]
Nation of Domination (–)
See also: State of Domination
Upon returning in August, Maivia turned heel for the first repel in his career by lashing social gathering at fans who had been hoot him and joining Faarooq, D'Lo Chromatic and Kama in the stable entitled the Nation of Domination.[84] He afterward refused to acknowledge the Rocky Maivia name, instead referring to himself notch the third person as The Seesaw, though he would still be billed as "The Rock" Rocky Maivia impending The Rock would then regularly contempt the audience, WWF performers, and interviewers in his promos.[84]
At D-Generation X: Confine Your House on December 7, Remove Cold Steve Austin defeated The Seesaw in under six minutes to engage the Intercontinental Championship.[85] The next quick on Raw Is War, Austin was ordered by Mr. McMahon to assistance the title in a rematch, however forfeited it to The Rock as an alternative, handing him the title belt earlier hitting him with the Stone Cut Stunner.[86][87] The Rock feuded with Austin and Ken Shamrock through the madcap of and beginning of [88][89] Active January 19, , at the Princely Rumble, The Rock defeated Shamrock uninviting disqualification to retain the Intercontinental Help. Later that night, he entered say publicly Royal Rumble match and lasted pending the final two before he was eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin. On March 29, at WrestleMania Cardinal, he defeated Shamrock by disqualification previously again to retain the title. Significance next night, on Raw is War, The Rock debuted a new Worldwide Championship design and would later throw Faarooq as leader of the Current account of Domination to spark a quarrel between the two. He then well defended the Intercontinental Championship against Faarooq at Over the Edge: In Your House on May The stable would then refer to themselves as purely "The Nation".[90]
The Rock and the Pile into then feuded with Triple H talented D-Generation X (DX), with the link stable leaders first meeting in honourableness quarter-final of the King of interpretation Ring tournament, which The Rock won. At King of the Ring conversion June 28, The Rock defeated Dan Severn in the semi-final match extra lost to rival Ken Shamrock get the message the final. The Rock then resumed his feud with Triple H, on account of the two had a two ready to step in of three falls match at Insistently Loaded: In Your House on July 26 for the Intercontinental Championship, which The Rock retained in controversial fashion.[91] This led to a ladder lookalike at SummerSlam on August 30, hoop The Rock lost the title confine Triple H.[92]
In the latter half classic , The Rock saw a immense uptick in fan support. He very started consolidating his famous persona meanwhile this time, which would last unconfirmed [93] His popularity caused him think a lot of be booked in a feud get together fellow Nation members Mark Henry stall D'Lo Brown, turning babyface in greatness process. Henry defeated The Rock turnup for the books Judgment Day: In Your House beckon October 18 after interference from Brownness, effectively breaking up the stable.[94][95]
WWF Gladiator and rise to superstardom (–)
See also: The Corporation and Rock 'n' Industrial action Connection
The Rock was then entered impact the "Deadly Game" tournament for high-mindedness vacant WWF Championship. The finals occurred at Survivor Series on November 15, where The Rock defeated Vince McMahon's associate, Mankind, to win his extreme WWF Championship.[96][97] A "double turn" next occurred as The Rock turned tip attack again after allying with Vince arena Shane McMahon as the crown rock of their stable, The Corporation, puzzle out the McMahons betrayed Mankind.[96][98] On Dec 13, at the pay-per-view named puzzle out him, Rock Bottom: In Your Do, The Rock had a rematch stay alive Mankind for the WWF Championship. Homo sapiens appeared to win the match during the time that The Rock passed out to honesty Mandible Claw submission move, but Captivity McMahon ruled that since The Tor did not tap out, he kept his title.[98][99]
In the main event addict the January 4, , episode be fond of Raw Is War, Mankind defeated Rendering Rock for the championship after trespass from Stone Cold Steve Austin.[] Expand at the Royal Rumble on Jan 24, The Rock regained the label in an "I Quit" match, orderly type of submission match that one and only ends if one of the combatants says "I quit" on a wreck. Intended to show a vicious blood vessel in The Rock's character, The Wobble hit Mankind in the head climb on a steel chair 11 times on the other hand of the scripted five, five shots already being risky (most wrestling matches in the Attitude Era involving chairs had at most 2 otherwise 3 shots to the head). Funding the fifth shot, Mankind was pull off ringside instead of two-thirds up distinction entrance ramp where he was alleged to be, and after the 11th shot, which knocked Mankind out, top-notch recording of Mankind saying "I Quit" from an earlier interview was struck over the public address system.[][] Pick January 31, during an episode insinuate Sunday Night Heat, The Rock opinion Mankind participated in an Empty Platform match, a match that took dislodge in an arena with 22, free seats where any part of illustriousness facility could be used to battle the match. After 20 minutes jurisdiction chaotic brawling in the ring, high-mindedness stands, a kitchen, the catering balance, an office, the arena corridors talented finally a basement loading area, Man pinned The Rock using a forklift truck to win the WWF Championship.[] The two faced off again, pound St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House on February 14, in clean up Last Man Standing match which accomplished in a draw, meaning Mankind booked the title. Their feud ended turning over the February 15 Raw Is War, when The Rock won his bag WWF Championship in a Ladder Question mark after a debuting Big Show interfered on his behalf.[][] The Rock bolster lost the WWF Championship to Pit Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XV on March []
The Rock's popularity extended to grow and audiences still animated for him even though he was a heel. He then lost class title rematch against Stone Cold Steve Austin at Backlash: In Your Podium on April [] The next hours of darkness on Raw is War The Shake was fired from The Corporation stern he was betrayed by Shane McMahon, turning him face again and archetype a feud with Triple H, Ethics Undertaker and The Corporate Ministry. Mark down April 29, , WWF aired honourableness pilot episode of SmackDown!, a title derived from one of The Rock's catchphrases. In the episode, The Shake continued his feud with The Corporal Ministry. This led to a replica with Triple H, at Over probity Edge on May 23, which Prestige Rock won,[] and a match buy the WWF Championship against The Funeral director, at King of the Ring occur June 27, which The Rock lost.[] The Rock then lost a count one contender's match to Triple Swivel, at Fully Loaded on July 25, after interference from "Mr. Ass" Order Gunn.[] The Rock then defeated Gunn in a Kiss My Ass mate at SummerSlam on August The Totter was also given the privilege take off having his own signature match, enjoy The Undertaker with the Buried Breathing match, Kane with the Inferno Point and Mankind with the Boiler Keep up Brawl: the Brahma Bullrope match, skilful variant of a strap match was a normal singles match where dignity components are tied together with copperplate rope used for cattle farming, abide the rope and its attached cowbell could both be used as weapons. The Rock contested this match coupled, both times in Texas (vs Threefold H in Dallas, and vs Go down with Snow in Houston).[]
Shortly after SummerSlam, Honesty Rock began teaming with former contender Mankind and the two became memorable as the Rock 'n' Sock Connection.[] They became WWF Tag Team Champions for the first time after defeating The Undertaker and Big Show misjudge the titles on the August 30 episode of Raw is War.[][] Grandeur two performed a number of strictly acclaimed comedic skits together, including sole called "This Is Your Life", which saw Mankind bring parody versions outline people from The Rock's past fuse television, such as his high high school girlfriend and his high school hockey coach, only to have The Wobble insult them. The segment earned book Nielsen rating, one of the principal ratings ever for a Raw segment.[] The two lost the titles resume to Undertaker and Big Show penchant the September 9 episode of SmackDown! and won them back from them on the September 20 episode entrap Raw is War.[][] The Rock squeeze Mankind then lost the titles highlight The New Age Outlaws on representation very next episode of SmackDown!.[] Dignity Rock and Mankind would win excellence tag titles for the third slab final time after beating the Novel Age Outlaws on the October 14 episode of SmackDown! before losing say publicly titles to The Holly Cousins jump the October 18 episode of Raw is War.[][]
At the Royal Rumble taste January 23, , The Rock entered the Royal Rumble match and was one of the final two residual, along with Big Show. In cosmic attempt at a "false finish", Sketchy Show intended to throw The Wobble over the top rope in trim running powerslam-like position, before The Tremble countered the move on the opposed apron, sending Big Show to high-mindedness floor before reentering the ring kind the winner.[] But The Rock's trotters accidentally hit the floor during greatness reversal attempt, though those watching rectitude event on television did not predict that. This was played up directive the storyline as Big Show incomplete additional video footage showing it ahead claimed to be the rightful title-holder. The Rock's number one contendership vindicate the WWF Championship was then settle on the line against Big Wellknown at No Way Out on Feb 27, which Big Show won associate Shane McMahon interfered.[] The Rock spread defeated Big Show on the Tread 13 episode of Raw Is War, to regain the right to minor the WWF Champion, Triple H, shock defeat WrestleMania on April 2, in nifty Fatal Four-way elimination match, also counting Big Show and Mick Foley.[][] Drill wrestler had a McMahon in crown corner: Triple H had his partner Stephanie, Foley had Linda, The Wobble had Vince and Big Show challenging Shane.[][] The Rock lasted until excellence final two but was eliminated emergency Triple H after Vince betrayed him by hitting him with a chair.[][]
Due to his image at the adjourn, a Magic: The Gathering deck prototype was named after him.[]
Record-breaking world defense (–)
In the following weeks, The Quake continued his feud with Triple Swirl and eventually won his fourth WWF Championship, which he won on Apr 30, at Backlash, after Stone Brumal Steve Austin intervened on his behalf.[][] The following night on Raw hype War, The Rock successfully defended jurisdiction title against Shane McMahon in natty Steel Cage match. On May 21, at Judgment Day, The Rock manifest Triple H in an Iron Public servant match with Shawn Michaels as representation special guest referee.[] With the nick tied at five falls each, queue with seconds left on the at this point limit, The Rock was disqualified while in the manner tha The Undertaker attacked Triple H, way giving Triple H the 6–5 increase by two and the title.[][] The Rock won the WWF Championship for a onefifth time at King of the Careful on June 25 by scoring righteousness winning pin in a six-man voucher team match, teaming with Kane attend to The Undertaker against Shane McMahon, Manifold H and Vince McMahon, whom purify pinned.[][] The Rock successfully defended say publicly championship against Chris Benoit on July 23 at Fully Loaded. The fee month, he successfully defended his designation against Kurt Angle and Triple Whirl at SummerSlam on August The Quake had another successful title defense clashing Benoit, Kane and The Undertaker grouping September 24 at Unforgiven.[]
The Rock proliferate lost the WWF Championship to Kurt Angle at No Mercy on Oct 22, [] The next month, Primacy Rock feuded with Rikishi and guilty him at Survivor Series on Nov [] The Rock wrestled a six-man Hell in a Cell match funding the WWF Championship at Armageddon turmoil December 10, which Angle won go along with retain the title.[] On the Dec 18 episode of Raw is War, The Rock won the WWF Label Team Championship with The Undertaker, defeating Edge and Christian, before losing depiction titles back to Edge and Christianly the next night at a SmackDown! taping.[] The Rock continued to dispute with Angle over the WWF Backing, culminating at No Way Out shuddering February 25, , where he join Angle to win the WWF Assistance for a sixth time.[][] The Quake then feuded with the Royal Fight winner, Stone Cold Steve Austin, whom he lost the title to usage WrestleMania X-Seven on April 1 back Austin allied with Vince McMahon, who interfered on his behalf.[] On excellence next night's Raw is War, at hand a steel cage title rematch, Trine H attacked The Rock, allying investigate McMahon and Austin and helping Austin retain the championship.[] Austin and Manifold H then formed a tag posse called The Power Trip,[] while Leadership Rock was indefinitely suspended in tale. Johnson used this time off grant act in The Scorpion King.
The Rock returned in late July just as the WWF was feuding with antagonist promotions World Championship Wrestling (WCW) with the addition of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) during what is known as The Invasion plot. In reality, WCW was purchased make wet Vince McMahon and the WWF, distinguished ECW had gone out of job in early Many former WCW with the addition of ECW wrestlers were then brought take in WWF television and formed The Fusion to compete with the WWF unappealing storyline. The Alliance and Vince McMahon then both attempted to persuade description Rock to join their team. Interpretation Rock then aligned with McMahon dispatch the WWF. The next month, excellence Rock defeated Booker T at SummerSlam on August 19 to win interpretation WCW Championship for the first time.[][] He later lost the title join Chris Jericho at No Mercy shove October [][] The next night arrival Raw, he teamed with Jericho relating to win the WWF Tag Team Benefaction from The Dudley Boyz. The mirror image then lost the tag titles run into Booker T and Test on excellence November 1, , episode of SmackDown!.[] The Rock defeated Jericho on magnanimity November 5 episode of Raw ardently desire his second WCW Championship.[]
As part delineate the WWF's battle against The Fusion, the Rock wrestled in a "winner takes all" five-on-five elimination tag cast match at Survivor Series on Nov 18 where the losing team's society would be dissolved in storyline. Do something was a member of Team WWF along with Chris Jericho, The 1 Kane, and Big Show. The Alliance's team consisted of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Bleed Van Dam, and Shane McMahon. Wellheeled the end, it came down join a one-on-one between the Rock extract Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Boulder seemed to have the upper cope, until his teammate Jericho entered blue blood the gentry ring and attacked the Rock. Austin tried to capitalize on this make wet pinning the Rock, but Kurt Stance revealed his true allegiance by drive Austin. The Rock then pinned Austin, giving Team WWF the victory gift forcing The Alliance to disband. Glory Rock's WCW Championship was renamed interpretation unbranded "World Championship" following the Alliance's loss.[] At the next pay-per-view, Lex talionis on December 9, The Rock vanished the World Championship to Jericho, who would then unify the WWF settle down World titles later that night.[] Nobility Rock then unsuccessfully challenged Jericho misunderstand the now Undisputed WWF Championship insensible Royal Rumble on January 20, []
At the next pay-per-view, No Way Decipher on February 17, The Rock guilty The Undertaker in a singles uncertainty. The event also saw the WWF debut of the famed WCW feeling New World Order (nWo), which pocketsized the time consisted of "Hollywood" Impair Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.[] This later led to a point between The Rock and Hogan erroneousness WrestleMania X8 on March The wage war was billed as "icon versus icon", with both men representing the summit tier of two generations of wrestling; ultimately The Rock pinned Hogan regress WrestleMania X8 to win the match.[]