He is The Rock: Dwayne Johnson’s deep mark in American wrestling

[Liz]

He is known for numerous films and roles like the one in the Fast and Furious franchise. In addition to being a famous actor, Dwayne Johnson was once a professional wrestler.

The beginning

Dwayne was born in 1972 in Hayward, California. He lived in New Zealand for a while before starting school in the United States. Growing up, he was arrested a few times for fights, theft, and check fraud.

What is interesting is that Johnson comes from a wrestling family. His father was part of the first black team in American professional wrestling. Peter Maivia, his grandfather, was also a professional wrestler. In 2008, Johnson inducted them into the WWE Hall of Fame. He began his wrestling career in 1996 when he defeated Steve Lombardi and lost to Chris Candide and Owen Hart. Fighting for Jerry Lawler's United States Wrestling Association, he won the team wrestling championship the same year with Bart Sawyer and signed a contract with the company we know today as WWE.

He made his debut for them in his first match in the eliminations, where he defeated the only two remaining opponents from the rival team. A year later, he won the WWE Intercontinental Championship by defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley or the famous Triple H. He defended the title by defeating Helmsley again.

The Rock vs. John Cena: The Rivalry

Of Johnson's Rivalries, the one with John Cena from 2011 to 2013 stands out. Two super-strong men against each other guaranteed a spectacle in the ring. Their conflicts were initially verbal until they finally stepped into the ring. They did so at the 29th edition of the Wrestle Mania event when he lost the match and the belt to Cena. If you like predicting outcomes like this, click here. There were reports that The Rock and John Cena had animosity towards each other. Since then, they have become friends and support each other.

The Rock's Mark

Since 2014, Johnson has appeared sporadically in events related to American wrestling until he officially withdrew from the ring in August last year.

His legacy in this sport is impressive. Many classify him side by side with other legends such as Hulk Hogan, Rick Fleur, and John Cena. In addition, his appearance significantly contributed to the ratings of WWE production, and he was part of the best-rated matches in the 21st century. Also, Johnson holds multiple records for shows such as Smackdown, RAW, and others. Now, Dwayne, The Rock Johnson is the highest-paid actor in the world.