Real Name: Dwayne Johnson
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 272 lbs
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Titles Held: WWF Intercontinental(2), WWF Heavyweight(6), WWF Tag Team(3), 2000 Royal Rumble Winner
Federations Worked With: World Wrestling Federation
Finishing Manuevers: The People's Elbow, Rock Bottom
Wrestling Aliases: Rocky Maivia, The Rock


Career Sketch

The Rock is the most popular man in pro wrestling today, and might be the most marketable man in pro wrestling history. He has made enormous strides since his debut in 1996, and has gone from being an untalented baby face that the people hated, to the man who gets a standing ovation no matter what his status is, this is his story.

Dwayne Johnson is the first third generation star in WWF. He is the son of former WWF great Rocky Johnson, and the grandson of another WWF legend, Peter Maivia. The WWF became interested in Rocky in early 1996 because of his family background and his outstanding football career in the early 1990's at the University of Miami(Fl.), he helped lead them to a national championship.

After signing him to a deal in the spring of 1996, they sent him to USWA to develop his skills, considering he had no prior wrestling experience. His name was Flex Cavana, and in the summer of 1996, he had two USWA tag team title reigns with Bart Sawyer, USWA was only a stepping stone for Rocky though, because the WWF had big plans for him.

In late 1996, the WWF brought him up to Stamford, and Vince McMahon gave him the name Rocky Maivia, his fathers first and grandfathers last names combined. His debut was hyped much like that of current WWF star Kurt Angle's. He made his debut in November of 1996 at the 1996 Survivor Series. Rocky carried his Survivor Series team, and was established as a star from the start.

Following the impressive debut, the WWF ran an angle where every WWF stable competed for Rocky, Jim Cornette and Sunny to name a couple. Cornette played the biggest role in the angle, as after Rocky shunned him, he sent his entire "camp" after Maivia. After a minor feud with Cornette man Salvatore Sincere, Rocky moved on.

He entered the 1997 Royal Rumble, where he made an impressive showing against the top names for the first time. After another month of fine tuning his skills, the WWF granted him a shot at the Intercontinental title on a February edition of Thursday Raw. The IC champ at that time was Hunter Hearst Helmsley, an established name, and Rocky was given no shot. Rocky held his own however, and reversed the Pedigree into a small package, taking the Intercontinental title. After his first defense against Helmsley a few days later at Final Four: In your House, people began to speculate that the WWF had given the fame to Rocky prematurely, and that he would flop miserably.

His next feud would be with The Sultan(Rikishi Phatu). The feud culminated at Wrestlemania XIII in an IC title match. It was a boring match, as was the entire feud for that matter. The only interesting event of the entire feud was when after Rocky won the Wrestlemania match, he was attacked by Sultan's mentors, Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund. After a few minutes of the attack, Rocky's father Rocky Johnson came out and scared of Sultan, Backlund, and Sheik.

After the miserable feud with Sultan, the fans patience with Rocky grew thin, and "Rocky Sucks" and "Die Rocky Die" chants began to bellow from the arenas during his matches. His next feud was with Savio Vega of the Nation, and during the feud, the chants were so loud, that even when the announcers tried to ignore then, it was noticeable that the WWF's babyface IC champ was hated by the people. After defeating Vega, Rocky lost the IC title to Owen Hart in April of 1997. After a short feud with Mankind, Rocky took time off to heal an injured knee.

Rocky returned in the late summer of 1997, to a suprise. In a match between Nation leader Farooq and Chainz, the announcers pointed out that Rocky had made his way to ringside, the commentators said they were glad to see he was back. As the match drew on, Rocky entered the ring and applied the Rock Bottom to Chainz. After the match was over, Rocky joined Farooq in the Nation salute, Rocky had turned heel.

It was one of the most brilliant and profitable moves in WWF history. They capitalized on the fans hatred for Rocky by giving them good reason, Rocky now got the biggest heel response in the WWF. He immediately engaged in a feud between the Nation and former Nation member Ahmed Johnson and his gang of Ken Shamrock and the Legion of Doom. As the feud culminated at Badd Blood: In Your House, Rocky proved that not only had his ringwork improved, his mic skills were now excellent.

After a racist angle between The Nation, D-Generation-X, and Bret Hart's Hart Foundation was stopped because of Hart's departure to WCW, the WWF paired Rocky with Steve Austin in an IC title feud. Rocky was now calling himself the "People's Champion," playing on the fans hatred for him. The feud lasted a couple of months, and included some humorous episodes including the beeper incident. The key match came at D-Generation-X: In Your House with a match between the two. Austin dominated and took the match easily. The next day, a now on-camera heel Vince McMahon ordered Austin to defend the title against Rocky. Austin refused, forfeited the belt to Maivia, and proceeded to throw the belt in a river.

Now once again the Intercontinental champion, Rocky's ego grew even larger. He began calling himself "The Rock," and began to order The Nation around, including leader Farooq, who didn't take kindly to it. Rock then began an excellent feud with Ken Shamrock. After weeks of run-ins by The Nation, the two met at the 1998 Royal Rumble for the IC strap. It was a decient match, in the midst of it, Rocky used brass knuckles on Shamrock and stuck them in Shammy's tights. However, Shamrock was still able to pick up the victory and the title. It wasnt as clear as it seemed though, as Rock told the referee to check Shamrock's tights, and when he did, he found the weapon and awarded the match to Rocky.

Later that night, Rocky competed in the Royal Rumble match and lasted forty minutes, longer than any other star. He was the last man eliminated by Steve Austin in Stone Cold's route to victory. The feud with Shamrock was not over however. Rocky was also having problems with Farooq as well, as Farooq had grown tired of Rock's ego. After months of battles with Shamrock, the two met again at Wrestlemania XVI. Shamrock dominated and won the match with his ankle lock submission hold. Shamrock had been driven to insanity, and after the match, attacked referees, and would not release the submission on Rock. It became so bad, that the referee reversed his decision and awarded the match to Rock. Another cheap win for the People's Champ.

The following night on Raw, Rocky and the Nation attacked Farooq, and decided that Rocky was the leader of the Nation. After another month of feuding with Shamrock, Rocky got a co-leader of The Nation in Owen Hart. The two then combined forces to beat Farooq. After more weeks of leading the Nation, Rocky qualified in the 1998 King of the Ring Tournament by defeating Vader and Triple H. He met Jeff Jarrett in the first round, and with the help of The Nation, moved on to face Shamrock in the final. It was an excellent match, and it was overshadowed by Mick Foley's Hell in a Cell theatrics later that night. It lasted a while, but eventually Shamrock pulled it out becoming 1998 King of the Ring.

After the KOTR loss, The Nation led by Rock engaged in a great feud with D-Generation-X led by Triple H. This was one of the greatest stable rivalries of all time, challenged only by D-X/Hart Foundation and nWo Hollywood/nWo Wolfpac. It led to many great tag matches, and included Rocky helping D'Lo Brown of the Nation defeat HHH for the European title. Rock and Helmsley met in a best two out of three falls classic for the IC title at Fully Loaded: In Your House. Rocky took the first fall, but with the help of Chyna, Triple H took the second, it all came to the third fall, but that never happened as a thirty minute time limit expired, and Rock left IC champ.

A few weeks later, Rock, D'Lo, Mark Henry, and Owen represented The Nation against HHH, X-Pac, and The New Age Outlaws in a street fight. This was one of the best Raw matches of 1998, and in the end, The Nation took the win when Rock beat Triple H with a ladder. After the match, HHH challenged Rock to bring the ladder to Summerslam 1998 in a ladder match, the next week on Sunday Night Heat, Rock accepted. This match was the second best of 1998, second only to the Foley/Undertaker Hell in a Cell classic. It went back and forth, and it was obvious both men had given everything. In the end, it was a Chyna low blow that propelled HHH to victory, and ended Rocky's 10 month title reign.

After the match, it became evident that the fans had gained respect for Rocky beacuse of it. When Rock went down to save Nation member D'Lo from an attack by Undertaker and Kane, the fans rooted for Rocky for the first time in his career. Over the next few weeks, Rocky, Mankind, and Shamrock teamed to protect each other from Taker and Kane, many thought the three would form a super stable with fan #1 Steve Austin to battle McMahon and the gruesome brothers. McMahon fizzled that idea when he booked the two in a triple threat cage match for #1 contendership for the WWF title. It was another great match, and in the end, Rocky came out on top, #1 contender to the WWF title.

By this time, The Nation had fizzled out, Rocky had become a mega-star, two big for the stable. He was also now a legitimate babyface, his applauses came second to only Steve Austin. He was now hated by Vince McMahon too. After a short feud with Mark Henry, The Rock was entered in a 16 man tournament to determine the WWF champion. The tournament would take place at Survivor Series 1998. In the weeks leading up to the event, Rock was booked against Ken Shamock for the IC title. Vince McMahon then declared that if Rocky didnt win the match, he would be out of the tournament. Rock won via DQ, but didnt win the title, so he was out. A few weeks later however, Rock was booked against Mark Henry, if Rock won, he would be re-entered, if he lost, he was fired. It was a hectic match with McMahon, Big Bossman, Patterson & Brisco, and D'Lo Brown all in Henry's corner. The referee was knocked out, and the Bossman accidentally handcuffed himself to the ring, allowing Shane McMahon to come to the ring and count Henry to three giving Rocky the victory. After the match, The Rock even brought Vince into the ring and gave him the People's Elbow.

The next week was Survivor Series, Rock's first round opponent was scheduled to be Triple H, but he could not recover from an injury in time to compete. Instead, a last minute substitution of Big Bossman was made. Bossman was McMahon's personal bodyguard, but Rock just rolled him up and took the match in 8 seconds. His next opponent was Ken Shamrock, another good match, it ended when Bossman came down and tried to throw his nightstick to Shamrock, only to have it intercepted by Rocky, helping Rock to victory. In the next round, Rocky faced Undertaker, it was also good, and ended when Taker's arch rival Kane came down and chokeslammed Rock, DQing Taker, and sending Rock to the finals against Mankind.

Mankind had gotten to the finals when he defeated Steve Austin by having Shane McMahon come down and screw Austin, aligning with his father, Mankind, and Bossman. This match lasted a while, when the McMahons returned from hiding from Austin to cheer Mankind on. As the match drew to a close, Rock put Mankind in a sharpshooter, and before Mankind could give-up, Vince yelled "ring the bell!" and the match and the WWF Heavyweight title were awarded to The Rock. It was a remake of the 1997 Survivor Series where Vince had screwed Bret Hart. The McMahons then came in to the ring and revealed that it was a swerve all along. Rock and the McMahons were in cahoots, Rock wanted the belt, and the McMahons felt Rock had the perfect "corporate" image.

The next night, Steve Austin interrupted a celebration by the new "Corporation" by announcing through a legal loop hole, he had a title shot against Rock. Later in the evening, The Corporation stable was formed of Rock, The McMahons, Bossman, and Ken Shamrock. The match happened, and just when it apperered Austin would win, Undertaker came to the ring and hit Austin with a shovel, in retaliation for Austin screwing Taker out of the title months earlier.

After that match, Rock moved away from Austin, and to Mankind, who was bitter over being screwed at Survivor Series. The match took place at the next PPV, Rock's personal PPV, Rock Bottom: In Your House. It was a decient match, but in the end, Mankind won with a mandible claw, but the decision was reversed because Rocky never actually submitted. By this time, the Corporation had grown to include Commissioner Shawn Michaels and WWF new-comer Test. Over the next few weeks, The Corporation continued to screw Mankind. On Raw December 28, 1998(aired on January 4, 1999) Mankind maneuver his way into a match with Rock for the WWF title. Rock had The Corporation in his corner, Mankind had D-X. The two stables went to war on the side, and out of nowhere, Steve Austin returned from an injury absence to Stunner Rock and help Mankind win the WWF title for the first time.

The next week on Raw, a match was booked for the 1999 Royal Rumble between Rock and Mankind. It would be a no Corporate interference, no stoppage, "I Quit" match. This match was a classic, and really propelled Rock's career, as he absolutely pummeled Mankind, to the point of bringing Mick's family to tears. In the end, Rock won when he used a recording of Mankind saying "I Quit" while Foley was unconscious, Rocky was now a two time WWF Champ. Later in the evening, Rocky helped Vince McMahon win the Royal Rumble.

The next night on Raw, a match was booked at Halftime Heat for the title between Mankind and Rock, the two would meet in an empty arena. This was an unorthodox, but non the less, entertaining contest. It had great hardcore theatrics, as well as humor. In the end, Mankind used a forklift to defeat Rock for the title. A few weeks later, yet another WWF title match was booked between the two for the title. This time it would be Last Man Standing rules at St. Valentines Day Massacre: In Your House. This was another classic in the book of Foley and Rocky, but in the end it was declared a draw so Foley retained the title.

The next night, Vince and Shawn Michaels booked Mankind and Rock in a ladder match to determine who would face Steve Austin for the belt at Wrestlemania. In the end, The Rock won the title with the Big Show's help. The stage was now set for Austin and Rock to finally meet, Big Show would be the referee, he was the Corporation's newest man. Over the weeks, controversy grew as Rock thought Big Show might screw him at Wrestlemania, and Mankind also wanted to ref the match. As Wrestlemania XV approached, Shawn Micheals decided right before the match that Mankind was ref, but because he was at the hospital, a normal ref would be assigned. Rock gained respect when he kicked out of the stunner, but in the end Mankind returned to ref Austin to the win.

Vince McMahon then dropped out of the picture somewhat, and Shane charged the Corporation, Big Show, Shamrock, and Test were all out, but Rock faced Austin in a rematch at Backlash 1999. In a mediocre match, Austin won with Vince's help. The next night, Rocky made a long awaited babyface turn when he was thrown out of the Corporation. He then aligned himself with Austin to battle the newly formed "Corporate Ministry", a hybrid of the Corporation and Ministry of Darkness. Rock then began to feud with HHH of the Corporation, and the two met at Over The Edge 1999, the event of Owen Hart's death.

After that match, Rock faced Undertaker for the WWF title at 1999 King of the Ring, but came up short when Triple H aided Undertaker. Rock and Triple H would meet once again at Fully Loaded 1999 for #1 contendership at Summerslam 1999, with the help of Billy Gunn, HHH won. That set off a feud for Summerslam between Rock and Mr. Ass, Chris Jericho's debut was even involved in this feud. It culminated at Summerslam in the "Kiss my Ass" match, in the end, Rock won, but left before Gunn kissed his ass.

A few weeks later in a huge suprise, The Rock and Mankind won the tag titles from Big Show and Undertaker. It was a great feed off team, they lost the belts quickly to Show and Taker, but quickly gained them back. They were now called "The Rock and Sock Connection," but they soon lost the belts to the re-united New Age Outlaws. After months of hilarious skits, and another tag title reign, the Rock and Sock broke up when Mankind thought that Rock had thrown away a copy of Mankind's Autobiography, after a short feud with Mick, Rock set his sights on a triple threat match for the title between he, HHH, and Austin at Survivor Series 1999.

The match was a bust, because Austin got hurt, and Big Show was substituted and won the belt. After another Rock and Sock reunion, Rock set his sights on bigger things. HHH was now in charge of the WWF, and he had already fired Mankind, but coudnt fire Rock. Rock then coaxed HHH into rehiring Folry, but in the process, accidentally called Big Show a jabroni. This set up a feud between the two. Rocky won the 2000 Royal Rumble when he fell to the floor just after Big Show, because of the controversy, the two met at No Way Out 1999 for #1 contendership, Big Show won with Shane McMahon's help.

After weeks of trying to stay alive, Rock won the #1 contendership to HHH at Wrestlemania, the match was then a triple threat match between HHH, Rock and Big Show. The next week however, that match was suprisingly booked for Raw, and HHH won. Linda McMahon then came down and booked a fatal four way at Wrestlemania between HHH, Rock, Show, and Mick Foley.

At Wrestlemania, Rock had Vince in his corner, Mick, Linda, HHH, Stephanie, and Big Show, Shane. Big Show was first to be eliminated, and then Foley. HHH and Rock were left, and they fought for a very long time. Eventually, Vince got into the ring, apparently to nail HHH with a chair, but instead, he hit Rock, and Triple H soon pinned Rock, to retain the WWF title. After the match, Rock beat up all members of the McMahon-Helmsley faction as Wrestlemania 2000 went off the air.

The night after Wrestlemania, Rock beat up HHH and Shane McMahon, a couple weeks later, Rock defeated Big Bossman and Bull Buchannan in a steel cage to become #1 contender to HHH's title at Backlash. Vince then announced that he would be in Hunter's corner. A week later, Linda McMahon made a blockbuster announcement, when she announced that Steve Austin would return to the WWF to be in The Rock's corner at Backlash. Speculation ran wild that Austin would screw Rock, but when push came to shove, Austin helped Rock become WWF Champion for a fourth time.

A couple of weeks after Backlash, Rock departed to shoot Mummy 2, while he was gone, HHH announced that he and The Rock would do battle for the WWF Title at Judgment Day, in a 60 minute Iron Match. Rock returned a week later, and accepted HHH's challenge. Shawn Michaels then announced that would ref the match. Rock and HHH both questioned Shawn because the last time Shawn had been seen was when he screwed the Rock in the summer of 1999.

Judgment Day came, and Triple H and The Rock put on one of the greatest matches of all time. The score was tied 5-5 when all hell broke loose. Michaels was knocked out, and D-X and the McMahons hit the ring, and beat on The Rock. The Undertaker then returned to WWF, and beat on both McMahons, and all of D-X, including HHH, the time then expired. Micheals saw the ending, and DQd Rock because of The Rock because of Taker's interference. That gave HHH a point, and with no time left, HHH won the WWF title.

A match was booked for King of the Ring 2000, a six man tag, between Vince, Shane, and Triple H, against Rock, Undertaker, and Kane, for the WWF Title. At KOTR, because of Vince McMahon's foolery, Rock regained the WWF Championship.

Over the Summer, Rocky feuded with Benoit, Triple H, Kurt Angle, and many more, but he always came out on top. When the Fall approached, Rock was still a marked man, but came out on top. A road block in Rocky's smooth ride hit in October, when he was accused of hitting Austin at the previous years' Survivor Series, only to be relieved of guilt by Rikishi, who claimed he did it for Rock. Then at No Mercy 2000, Rock hit the ultimate road block when he was defeated by Kurt Angle for the WWF Title.

After a few slow months, Rock was placed in Mick Foley's 6 Way Hell in a Cell for Angle's WWF Championship, unfortunatley, Rock didnt come out on top, and began to focus on the Royal Rumble. Unfortunately for Rock though, he came up short again as Austin took the Rumble match.

However, Rock was then soon awarded a WWF Championship match on PPV against Angle anyway, but not at Wrestlemania XVII, at No Way Out 2001. The build-up to the match was average, and at the PPV, as predicted by many, Rock defeated Angle for his sixth WWF Championship reign, setting up Rock-Austin for the title at Wrestlemania.

The build-up for this match kept both Austin and Rocky as faces going into the event, with people like Angle and William Regal taking part in the feud early on to keep it fresh. Vince McMahon then threw in a twist when he made Debra, Austin's wife, Rock's manager, complicating matters. By the week of Wrestlemania, Rock and Austin had exchanged blows and finishers a few times. Then came the match, it seemed to be alot like their title match at Wrestlemania XV, until Austin did the unthinkable, aligning with McMahon mid match, which gave Austin the edge he needed to defeat Rock for the belt.

The next night, Rock was able to get a re-match out of Austin, in a steel cage. As the night drew, it appeared Triple H was not at all pleased with McMahon or Austin about the previous night's undertakings. When Helmsley came down to interfere in the match, it appeared Rock might take it, however, it was a swerve, as HHH just helped Austin, and he beat Rock for the second time in as many nights. Rock was then "suspended indefinitely" by McMahon, which was just a cover to let Rock leave the WWF for an extended time to film and promote movies.

The Mummy 2 was a huge success for Rock, and he transcended wrestling to the mainstream much like Hulk Hogan ten years earlier. After his movies had been signed, filmed, promoted, etc., Rock took some time off.

At the end of July 2001, Vince McMahon decided it was time to bring Rocky back to TV. The landscape of the WWF had changed drastically since Rock last wrestled. WCW and ECW had "invaded" the WWF to form the Alliance, and were the top heels, Steve Austin was in this faction led by Shane and Stephanie McMahon. Vince McMahon led the WWF faction, the faces, led by Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, and others.

Rock returned on July 30's Raw is War, and the big question was would Rock join the Alliance, or the WWF. Shane's tried to convince Rock to join the Alliance because of all the times Vince had screwed Rock, Vince told Rock to join the WWF for the people. At the end of Raw, Rock stood in the ring with Steph and Shane and Vince. Rock first Rock Bottomed Vince, and it appeared Rock had gone alliance, however, he then Bottomed Shane. Rock then hit the mic and proclaimed he was WWF. On Smackdown, Rock had his battles with Austin, Booker T, and Shane.

That brings me to today, where Rock has returned to the WWF after a long absence. Rocky is by far the most popular wrestler today, and he very well may be the most popular wrestler ever. Rock said in his home movie, and its true, some people chant "Rocky" and some "Rocky Sucks," but the Rock can make you chant something, week in, week out.

Pat McGregor
Send feedback to PatMcGregor@tpww.net

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