Dwayne Johnson: Difference between revisions

| image              = Dwayne Johnson 2014 (cropped).jpg

| caption            = Johnson in 2014

| birth_name        = Dwayne Douglas Johnson

| birth_place        = [[Hayward, California]], U.S.

| alma_mater        = [[University of Miami]] ([[Bachelor of General Studies|BGS]])

| occupation        = {{hlist|Actor|producer|professional wrestler|businessman}}

| years_active      = {{ubl|1996–2004; 2011–2013; 2016, (wrestling)|1999–present (acting)}}

| spouse            = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|[[Dany Garcia]]|1997|2008|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Lauren Hashian|2019}}}}

| family            = [[Anoa'i family|Anoa'i]]

| names              = {{ubl|Dwayne Johnson<ref>{{cite web |title=The Rock |url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=960 |publisher=Cagematch |access-date=August 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406203712/http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=960 |archive-date=April 6, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>|Flex Kavana<ref name="slam"/>|Rocky Maivia<ref name="slam"/>|'''The Rock'''<ref name="slam"/>}}

| height            = 6 ft 5 in<ref name="wwebio" />

| weight            = 260 lb<ref name="wwebio">{{cite web |url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/the-rock |title=Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson |publisher=[[WWE]] |access-date=March 9, 2012}}</ref>

| billed            = [[Miami]], [[Florida]]<ref name="wwebio"/>

| trainer            = {{ubl|[[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=960&gimmick=The+Rock |title=The Rock |publisher=CageMatch |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628090425/http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=960&gimmick=The+Rock |archive-date=June 28, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>|[[Rocky Johnson]]<ref name="slam"/>|[[Tom Prichard]]<ref name="Dworkis"/>}}

'''Dwayne Douglas Johnson''' (born May 2, 1972), also known by his [[ring name]] '''The Rock''',<ref name="wwebio"/> is an American<!-- Do NOT add Canadian--> actor, businessman, and former [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivBrMj4qLI4  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ivBrMj4qLI4| archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Misses Wrestling |via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=604now /> Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time,<ref name="great2">{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/tv/ugos-top-50-wrestlers-of-all-time?page=10 |title=The Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time |publisher=UGO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104005228/http://www.ugo.com/tv/ugos-top-50-wrestlers-of-all-time?page=10 |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name="great3">{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingperspective.com/100wrestlers.html |title=The Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All time Reviewed in Wrestling Perspective |access-date=November 14, 2011 |publisher=Wrestling Perspective}}</ref> he wrestled for [[WWE]] for eight years prior to pursuing an acting career. [[Dwayne Johnson filmography|His films]] have grossed over {{US$|3.5 billion|long=no}} in North America and over {{US$|10.5 billion|long=no}} worldwide,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=rock.htm |title=Dwayne Johnson Movie Box Office Results |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=September 11, 2019}}</ref> making him one of the world's [[List of highest grossing actors|highest-grossing]] and highest-paid actors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/?view=Actor&sort=sumgross&p=.htm |title=People Index |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=September 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Robehmed |first1=Natalie |title=The World's Highest-Paid Actors 2016: The Rock Leads With Knockout $64.5 Million Year |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2016/08/25/the-worlds-highest-paid-actors-2016-the-rock-leads-with-knockout-64-5-million-year/ |access-date=August 27, 2016 |work=[[Forbes]] |date=August 25, 2016}}</ref>

Johnson played [[college football]] at the [[University of Miami]] and was on its [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|national championship]] [[1991 Miami Hurricanes football team|team in 1991]]. He aspired to play professional football but went undrafted in the [[1995 NFL Draft]]. He then signed with the [[Calgary Stampeders]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL), but was cut from the team in his first season.<ref>{{cite news |title=20 Surprising Facts About Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson |work=Hollywood.com |url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/things-you-didnt-know-about-the-rock-60361722/ |access-date=August 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826193854/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/things-you-didnt-know-about-the-rock-60361722/ |archive-date=August 26, 2015}}</ref> Part of the [[Anoa'i family]], Johnson's father [[Rocky Johnson|Rocky]] and maternal grandfather [[Peter Maivia]] were professional wrestlers, and he secured a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1996.<ref name="slam"/> He rose to prominence after developing the [[Gimmick (professional wrestling)|gimmick]] of a charismatic trash-talker and helped usher in the [[Attitude Era]], an industry boom period in the late 1990s and early 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/3730706-wwe-care-record-low-tv-ratings-yet |title=Why WWE Doesn't Care About Record-Low TV Ratings... Yet |first=Wayne |last=Duggan |date=December 3, 2015 |website=Seeking Alpha |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> Johnson left WWE in 2004 and returned in 2011 as a part-time performer until 2013, making sporadic appearances until retiring in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Rock has 'quietly retired' from wrestling in the WWE |url=https://www.aol.com/article/entertainment/2019/08/05/the-rock-has-quietly-retired-from-wrestling-in-the-wwe/23788410/ |date=August 5, 2019 |access-date=August 5, 2019 |work=AOL.com |language=en}}</ref> A 10-time [[Professional wrestling championship#World championships|world champion]], including the promotion's first of African-American descent,<ref name ="great1">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/picture/2015/may/22/dwayne-the-rock-johnsoninfographic |title=Dwayne Johnson |last=Dee |first=Johnny |date=May 22, 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=September 28, 2016}}</ref> he is also a [[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|two-time]] [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Champion]], a [[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE)|five-time]] [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|Tag Team Champion]], the [[Royal Rumble (2000)|2000 Royal Rumble]] winner, and WWE's sixth [[Triple Crown (professional wrestling)|Triple Crown]] champion. Johnson headlined the most-bought professional wrestling [[pay-per-view]] ([[WrestleMania XXVIII]]) and was featured among the most watched episodes of WWE's flagship television series (''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' and ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]'').<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/pro-wrestling/wwe-wrestlemania-28-sets-pay-per-view-record-with-1-3-million-buys-1.3664926 |title=WWE: WrestleMania sets new PPV record |first1=Alfonso  |last1=Castillo|date=April 16, 2019 |website=Newsday |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakeoestriecher/2019/02/01/wwe-isnt-bringing-back-the-attitude-era-but-an-edgier-product-cant-hurt/ |title=WWE Isn't Bringing Back The Attitude Era, But An Edgier Product Can't Hurt |first=Blake |last=Oestriecher |website=Forbes |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref>

Johnson's first film appearance was in ''[[The Mummy Returns]]'' (2001). The following year he played his first leading role as titular character in the [[sword and sorcery]] film ''[[The Scorpion King]]'' (2002). He has since starred in [[Disney]] films ''[[The Game Plan (film)|The Game Plan]]'' (2007), ''[[Race to Witch Mountain]]'' (2009), ''[[Tooth Fairy (2010 film)|Tooth Fairy]]'' (2010), and ''[[Jungle Cruise (film)|Jungle Cruise]]'' (2021) as well as the action adventure films ''[[Journey 2: The Mysterious Island]]'' (2012), ''[[G.I. Joe: Retaliation]]'' (2013), ''[[Hercules (2014 film)|Hercules]]'' (2014), ''[[Skyscraper (2018 film)|Skyscraper]]'' (2018), ''[[San Andreas (film)|San Andreas]]'' (2015) and ''[[Rampage (2018 film)|Rampage]]'' (2018). He also starred in the action comedy films ''[[Get Smart (film)|Get Smart]]'' (2008), ''[[Central Intelligence]]'' (2016), ''[[Baywatch (film)|Baywatch]]'' (2017), and ''[[Red Notice (film)|Red Notice]]'' (2021). In 2016 he voiced [[Māui (mythology)#Maui in popular culture|Maui]] in the [[Walt Disney Animation|Disney animated]] film ''[[Moana (2016 film)|Moana]]'' (2016). His role as [[Luke Hobbs]] in the ''[[Fast & Furious]]'' films, beginning with ''[[Fast Five]]'' (2011), has helped it become one of the [[List of highest-grossing films#Highest-grossing franchises and film series|highest-grossing film franchises]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/most-successful-movie-franchises-of-all-time-at-box-office-2018-3 |title=The 23 most successful movie franchises of all time |first=John |last=Lynch |date= March 20, 2018|website=Business Insider |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> Johnson also stars in the [[Jumanji (franchise)|''Jumanji'']] films, appearing in ''[[Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle]]'' (2017) and ''[[Jumanji: The Next Level]]'' (2019), and is set to portray [[Black Adam]] in its superhero [[Black Adam (film)|film adaptation]].

Johnson produced and starred in the [[HBO]] comedy-drama series ''[[Ballers]]'' (2015–2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/ratings-ballers-hbos-most-watched-comedy-in-six-years-1201577098/|title=Ratings: 'Ballers' Ends First Season as HBO's Most-Watched Comedy in Six Years|first1=Rick|last1=Kissell|date=August 25, 2015}}</ref> and stars and produces the autobiographical sitcom ''[[Young Rock]]'' (2021). In 2000, Johnson released his autobiography ''The Rock Says'', which was a [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' bestseller]].<ref name="bestseller">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/00/02/13/bsp/nonfictioncompare.html |title=Best Sellers Plus |access-date=August 28, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WMIxAQAAIAAJ&q=the%20rock%20biggest%20star%20wwe |title=Bulletin with Newsweek |date=November 12, 2016 |publisher=J. Haynes and J.F. Archibald |access-date=November 12, 2016 |via=Google Books}}</ref> In 2012, he co-founded the entertainment production company [[Seven Bucks Productions]]<ref name="deadline.com">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/hiram-garcia-president-of-production-dwayne-johnson-dany-garcia-production-company-seven-bucks-1202109017/ |title=Hiram Garcia Named President of Production at Seven Bucks Prods. |first1=Anita |last1=Busch |date=June 7, 2017 |website=Deadline |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> and is co-owner of the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]], a professional [[American football]] league.<ref name=newowners>{{cite news |title=THE ROCK BUYS THE XFL FOR $15 MILLION |url= https://www.ringsidenews.com/2020/08/03/the-rock-buys-the-xfl-for-15-million/|website=RingsideNews.com |date=August 2, 2020 |access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref><ref name=newxflowners>{{cite news |title= Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson buys XFL for $15 million with partner Redbird Capital, per report |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-buys-xfl-for-15-million-with-partner-redbird-capital-per-report/ |first=Jeff|last=Kerr|publisher=CBSSports.com |date=August 2, 2020 |access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref> In 2016 and 2019, Johnson was named by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' one of the world's [[Time 100|most influential people]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Berg |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Berg |date=April 21, 2016 |title=The World's 100 Most Influential People: Dwayne Johnson |url=http://time.com/4299718/dwayne-johnson-2016-time-100/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=May 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name="usatoday.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/04/17/taylor-swift-dwayne-johnson-cover-times-most-influential-people-issue/3484216002/ |title=Dwayne Johnson, Taylor Swift, Gayle King, more cover Time's 100 most influential people issue |website=USA TODAY |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref>

Johnson was born in [[Hayward, California]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/dwayne-johnson/ |title=Dwayne Johnson |work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> on May 2, 1972,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/dwayne-johnson-11818916 |title=Dwayne Johnson Biography: Film Actor, Athlete (1972–) |publisher=[[Biography.com]] ([[FYI (TV network)|FYI]] / [[A&E Networks]]) |access-date=December 12, 2017}}</ref> the son of Ata Johnson (née Maivia; born 1948)<ref name=rockyjohnsonbio>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/rockyjohnson |title=Rocky Johnson: Hall of Fame |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> and former professional wrestler [[Rocky Johnson]] (born Wayde Douglas Bowles; 1944–2020).<ref name="islandconnections">{{cite web |url=http://www.islandconnections.com/edit/dwayne_johnson.htm |title=Dwayne Johnson – How The Rock Transformed from Pro Wrestler to Bankable Movie Star |access-date=December 29, 2006 |publisher=Island Connections |author=Morgan, Kaya |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829034426/http://www.islandconnections.com/edit/dwayne_johnson.htm |archive-date=August 29, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Levenson |first1=Michael |title=Rocky Johnson, Professional Wrestler and Father of Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson, Dies at 75 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/15/sports/rocky-johnson-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116033004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/15/sports/rocky-johnson-dead.html |archive-date=January 16, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=January 16, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=January 15, 2020}}</ref> Growing up, Johnson lived briefly in [[Grey Lynn]] in [[Auckland]] with his mother's family,<ref name="m&cbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/archive/peoplearchive.php/The_Rock/biog |title=Actors – The Rock |access-date=April 21, 2008 |publisher=Monsters&Critics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514174901/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/archive/peoplearchive.php/The_Rock/biog |archive-date=May 14, 2008}}</ref> where he played [[Rugby union|rugby]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 17, 2016|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: Rugby's the toughest sport I ever played|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/79022967/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-rugbys-the-toughest-sport-i-ever-played|access-date=July 14, 2020|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> and attended Richmond Road Primary School before returning to the U.S.<ref name="m&cbio" />

Johnson attended Montclaire Elementary School in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] before moving to [[Hamden, Connecticut]], where he attended Shepherd Glen Elementary School and then Hamden Middle School.<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=TheRock|number=1137049609610571776 |title=Wow check out my 8yr old AFRO!! I loved Montclaire Elementary!! Had my first crush (see what you could've had Eve??!) and was bullied by a punk and waited for him after school and punched him in the face. End of that, bs. Big love to all the kids and staff. #CharlotteNC |first=Dwayne |last=Johnson |date=June 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nhregister.com/news/article/NEW-HAVEN-200-Introducing-a-summer-series-11511479.php "NEW HAVEN 200: Introducing a summer series looking back on two centuries of sports"], Chip Malafronte, [[New Haven Register]], June 23, 2012</ref>

Johnson attended [[President William McKinley High School]] in [[Honolulu]] and then [[Glencliff High School]] and [[McGavock High School]], both in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], and then [[Freedom High School (Pennsylvania)|Freedom High School]] in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]], where he graduated in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/09/rock-remembers-nashville-past/31370895/ |title='The Rock' remembers Nashville past |website=The Tennessean |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref>

Before the age of 17, Johnson had been arrested multiple times for fighting, theft, and check fraud.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/people/2014/09/17/dwayne-johnson-past-arrest-theft-ring/15761517/ |title=Dwayne Johnson talks past arrest and theft ring |website=azcentral |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> At Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he was suspended two weeks for fighting, and the local newspaper later described him as "a troubled teenager with a history of run-ins with police."<ref>[https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-ex-bethlehem-resident-dwayne-johnson-named-most-likable-20210105-5c4gr2onyraypkmzgno6ir7beq-story.html "Suspension at Freedom High took Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson from troubled teen to one of world's 'most likable people',"] ''The Morning Call, January 4, 2021</ref> By his senior year at Freedom High School, Johnson had only played two years of high school football but had excelled on the team, which played in the [[Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (PIAA)|Eastern Pennsylvania Conference]], a high school athletic division known nationally for producing a long list of professional and [[Olympics|Olympic]]-level athletes, including future [[National Football League|NFL]] stars [[Andre Reed]], [[Saquon Barkley]], [[Kyzir White]], and others.  

In addition to playing football at Freedom High School, Johnson also was on the school's [[track and field]] and [[Scholastic wrestling|wrestling]] teams, both which also competed in the [[Lehigh Valley]]'s Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, whose wrestling programs were ranked best in the nation by ''WIN'' magazine and have been described as "among the nation’s best in the sport for nearly three decades."<ref>[https://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-spt-district11-team-duals-notebook-0129-story.html "Wrestling: Why District 11 2A teams have tougher path to state final,"] ''The Morning Call'', January 30, 2019, retrieved January 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.win-magazine.com/2010/11/02/wins-top-ten-wrestling-hot-spots-in-the-united-states/ "WIN's top ten wrestling 'hot spots' in the United States,"] WIN, November 2, 2010</ref><ref name="islandconnections"/>

===College and football career===

|pastschools=

| bowlgames=

| highlights =

* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|AP Poll national champion]] (1991)

Despite having only played two years of high school football, Johnson's success in one of the nation's most competitive high school athletic divisions attracted the attention of multiple [[NCAA Division I]] collegiate programs. He accepted a full athletic scholarship offer from the [[University of Miami]] to play for its [[Miami Hurricanes football|football program]] that had already won two prior NCAA Division I national championships (in 1983 and 1987).

 

Johnson played [[defensive tackle]] at the University of Miami and, in his freshman year there, was a member of the [[University of Miami]]'s [[1991 Miami Hurricanes football team|1991 team]] that won the third of its five [[NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship|national championships]].<ref name="miamihurricanes">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncaaticketsnow.com/miami-tickets.asp |title=University of Miami Famous Alumni |publisher=NCAA Tickets Now |access-date=December 29, 2006 |author=Morgan, Kaya |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209124650/http://www.ncaaticketsnow.com/miami-tickets.asp |archive-date=December 9, 2006}}</ref><ref name="islandconnections"/> In four years on the University of Miami team, Johnson appeared mostly in backup roles but primarily because he was behind players on the depth chart including future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]r [[Warren Sapp]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/tech-media/2016/11/30/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-nfl-wrestling-hollywood-star |title=How football helped transform Dwayne Johnson into Hollywood's biggest star |website=SI.com |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=December 11, 2012|title=How good was The Rock at football?|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/15186/how-good-was-the-rock-at-football|access-date=January 3, 2021|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref>

 

Johnson graduated from the University of Miami in 1995 with a [[Bachelor of General Studies]] and a dual major in [[criminology]] and [[physiology]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://magazine.miami.edu/ |title=Miami Magazine &#124; University of Miami |website=magazine.miami.edu}}</ref> In addition to being a member of the University of Miami's top tier collegiate football team, Johnson also was one of the University of Miami's most prolific student speakers in the [[Miami metropolitan area|Miami-area]] community, frequently delivering positive messages to youth about the importance of staying in school and avoiding the dangers of [[recreational drug use|drug use]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/134158128/|date=August 27, 1994|title= Johnson is used to wrestling with misconceptions|work=[[The Palm Beach Post]]|access-date=November 19, 2021}}</ref> Following his graduation from the University of Miami in May 1995, Johnson was signed by the [[Calgary Stampeders]] of the [[Canadian Football League]], where he was moved from defensive tackle to the [[linebacker]] position. He was assigned to Calgary's practice roster, but was cut two months into Calgary's 1995 season.<ref name="islandconnections" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-calgary-stampeders/article36282340/ |title=Rising from rock bottom |date=September 15, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2019 |last=Cryderman |first=Kelly |work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/Johnson+Stamps+could+party+like+1995/8935342/story.html |title=Johnson: Stamps could party like it's 1995 |last=Johnson |first=George |date=September 18, 2014 |work=Calgary Herald |access-date=December 5, 2014 |archive-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224005351/http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Johnson+Stamps+could+party+like+1995/8935342/story.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

 

 

=== Early career (1996) ===

After his football career on the collegiate level at the [[University of Miami]] and briefly in the [[Canadian Football League]], Johnson began his [[professional wrestling]] career.<ref name="islandconnections" /> Veteran wrestler [[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]] secured several tryout matches for Johnson with the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) in 1996. Wrestling at first under his real name, Johnson defeated [[Steve Lombardi|The Brooklyn Brawler]] at a [[house show]] on March 10<ref>{{cite book |author=The Rock |first2=Joe |last2=Layden |title=The Rock Says... |year=2000 |publisher=Harper Entertainment |isbn=0-06-039298-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/rocksaysmostelec00john/page/186 186–188] |url=https://archive.org/details/rocksaysmostelec00john/page/186 }}</ref> and lost matches to [[Chris Candido]] and [[Owen Hart]].<ref name="m&cbio" /> After wrestling at [[Jerry Lawler]]'s [[United States Wrestling Association]] under the name Flex Kavana and winning the [[USWA World Tag Team Championship|USWA tag team championship]] twice with his partner [[Bart Sawyer]] in the summer of 1996, Johnson was signed to a WWF contract. He received additional training from [[Tom Prichard]], alongside [[Achim Albrecht]] and [[Mark Henry]].<ref name="Dworkis">{{cite web |url=http://www.michaeldworkis.com/TheCage/WWE/DrTom.htm |title=Dr. Tom Prichard: The Doctor of Talent |author=Dworkis, Michael |publisher=MichaelDworkis.com |access-date=September 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103141618/http://www.michaeldworkis.com/TheCage/WWE/DrTom.htm |archive-date=November 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name="m&cbio" />

 

 

==== Debut and Intercontinental Champion (1996–1997) ====

Johnson made his WWF debut as Rocky Maivia, a combination of his father and grandfather's ring names, although his real name was acknowledged by the announcers.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Marc Mero, Rocky Maivia, Jake Roberts, and The Stalker vs. Crush, Jerry Lawler, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and Goldust |series=[[Survivor Series (1996)]] |credits=World Wrestling Federation |airdate=November 17, 1996}}</ref> He was initially reluctant to take this ring name but was persuaded by [[Vince McMahon]] and [[Jim Ross]].<ref name="yahoo" /><ref>{{cite book |author=The Rock |first2=Joe |last2=Layden |title=The Rock Says... |publisher=Harper Entertainment |year=2000 |location=Chapter 10, "Rocky Maivia" |page=[https://archive.org/details/rocksaysmostelec00john/page/146 146] |isbn=0-06-039298-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/rocksaysmostelec00john/page/146 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="wwebio" /> Maivia, a clean-cut [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] character, was [[Push (professional wrestling)|pushed]] heavily from the start despite his wrestling inexperience. He debuted on ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]'' as a member of [[Marc Mero]]'s entourage on November 4, 1996.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Episode 183 |series=WWF Monday Night Raw |series-link=WWE Raw |network=[[USA Network]] |airdate=November 4, 1996 |minutes=4:15}}</ref> His first match came at [[Survivor Series (1996)|Survivor Series]], on November 17, in an [[Elimination tag team match|eight-man elimination tag match]]; he was the sole survivor and eliminated the final two members of the opposing team, [[Brian Adams (wrestler)|Crush]] and [[Goldust]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1996/results/ |title=Survivor Series 1996 official results |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> On February 13, 1997, he won the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] from [[Triple H|Hunter Hearst Helmsley]] on ''Monday Night Raw''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997/raw021397 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026201823/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997%2Fraw021397 |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |title=WWF Thursday RAW: February 13, 1997 |publisher=The Other Arena |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322532 |title=Rocky Maivia's first Intercontinental Championship reign |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410102450/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322532 |archive-date=April 10, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |series=WWF Television |title=[[WWE Raw|WWF Monday Night Raw]] |network=[[USA Network]] |airdate=March 31, 1997 |quote=The camera goes backstage after Steve Austin's in-ring interview, and Jim Ross says: "There, you see The Rock."}}</ref> Maivia then successfully defended the title against Helmsley at [[In Your House 13: Final Four]]. He had his first [[WrestleMania]] match at [[WrestleMania 13]] where he was victorious in his Intercontinental Championship defense against [[Rikishi (wrestler)|The Sultan]]. WWF fans started to reject his character and push from the company.<ref name="MondayNightWars01-12">{{cite AV media |title=Monday Night War S01 E12:The War Gets Electrified |publisher=WWE}}</ref> He defeated [[Bret Hart]] by disqualification in a title defense on the March 31 episode of ''Raw is War''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1997/ |title=''Raw'' results: March 31, 1997. Online World of Wrestling. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607173222/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1997/ |archive-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref> Behind the scenes, Hart mentored Johnson for his first year in WWF<ref>{{cite web |author=Oliver, Greg |url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb24_rocky.html |title=A piece of The Rock |work=Slam! Wrestling |date=February 24, 1998 |access-date=August 26, 2018 |publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309211541/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb24_rocky.html |archive-date=March 9, 2005 |url-status=live |author-link=Greg Oliver }}</ref> and refused to be booked to take the title from him.<ref>{{Cite book |ref={{harvid|Hart, Bret|2007}} |last1=Hart |first1=Bret |title=Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling |publisher=[[Random House Canada]] (Canada), [[Grand Central Publishing]] (US) |year=2007 |page=420 |no-pp=y |isbn=9780307355676|title-link=Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling }} {{ISBN|978-0-307-35567-6}} (Canada) {{ISBN|978-0-446-53972-2}} (US)</ref> On April 20, at [[In Your House 14: Revenge of the 'Taker]], he lost to [[Savio 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.<ref name="slam">{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/rock.html |title=The Rock Bio |last=Milner |first=John |access-date=April 13, 2008 |work=Slam! Sports |publisher=[[Canoe.com|Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref><ref name="yahoo"/>

 

==== The Nation of Domination (1997–1998) ====

After losing the Intercontinental Championship to [[Owen Hart]] on the April 28, 1997 episode of ''Raw Is War''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997/raw042897 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026201852/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997%2Fraw042897 |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |title=WWF RAW: April 28, 1997 |publisher=The Other Arena |access-date=March 18, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and suffering a legitimate knee injury in a match against [[Mick Foley|Mankind]],<ref name="slam" /> Maivia returned in August 1997 and turned [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] for the first time in his career by lashing out at fans who had been booing him and joining [[Ron Simmons|Faarooq]], [[D'Lo Brown]] and [[Charles Wright (wrestler)|Kama]] in the [[Professional wrestling stable|stable]] called the [[Nation of Domination]].<ref name="nation">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/n/nation-of-domination.html |title=Nation of Domination Profile |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> 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 his [[Promos (professional wrestling)|promos]].<ref name="nation" />

 

At [[D-Generation X: In Your House]], [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] defeated the Rock in under six minutes to retain the Intercontinental Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse19.html |title=In Your House 19: D-Generation X results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514225935/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse19.html |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The next night on ''Raw Is War'', Austin was ordered by [[Vince McMahon|Mr. McMahon]] to defend the title in a rematch, but forfeited it to the Rock instead, handing him the title belt before hitting him with the ''[[Stunner (professional wrestling)|Stone Cold Stunner]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997/raw120897 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026202130/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997%2Fraw120897 |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |title=WWF RAW: December 8, 1997 |publisher=The Other Arena |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322552 |title=The Rock's second Intercontinental Championship reign |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428234605/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322552 |archive-date=April 28, 2007}}</ref> The Rock feuded with Austin and [[Ken Shamrock]] through the end of 1997 and beginning of 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811511/results/ |title=Royal Rumble 1998 official results |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm14/results/ |title=WrestleMania XIV official results |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313110737/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm14/results/ |archive-date=March 13, 2008}}</ref> On January 19, 1998, at [[Royal Rumble (1998)|Royal Rumble]], the Rock defeated Shamrock by disqualification to retain the Intercontinental title. 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, at [[WrestleMania XIV]], he defeated Shamrock by disqualification once again to retain the title. The next night, on ''Raw 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 title against Faarooq at [[Over the Edge: In Your House]] on May 31. The stable would then refer to themselves as simply "The Nation".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse22.html |title=In Your House 22: Over the Edge 1998 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref>

 

The Rock and The Nation then feuded with [[Triple H]] and [[D-Generation X]], with the two stable leaders first meeting in the quarter-final of the [[King of the Ring (1998)#King of the Ring bracket|1998]] [[King of the Ring tournament]], which the Rock won. At [[King of the Ring (1998)|King of the Ring]], the Rock defeated [[Dan Severn]] in the semi-final match and lost to rival Ken Shamrock in the final. The Rock then resumed his feud with Triple H, as the two had a [[two out of three falls match]] at [[Fully Loaded: In Your House]] for the Intercontinental title, which the Rock retained in controversial fashion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse23.html |title=In Your House 23: Fully Loaded 1998 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> This led to a [[ladder match]] at [[SummerSlam (1998)|SummerSlam]], where the Rock lost the title.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/1998/results/ |title=SummerSlam 1998 official results |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620164459/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/1998/results/ |archive-date=June 20, 2007}}</ref>

 

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/791462-video-tributes-ten-things-to-love-about-wwe-legend-dwayne-the-rock-johnson|title=Video Tributes: 10 Things to Love About WWE Legend Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson|first=Kevin|last=Germany|website=Bleacher Report}}</ref> His popularity caused him to be booked in a feud with fellow Nation members [[Mark Henry]] and D'Lo Brown, turning [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]] in the process. Henry defeated him at [[Judgment Day: In Your House]], after interference from Brown, effectively breaking up the stable.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/breakdown98.html |title=In Your House 24: Breakdown 1998 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514225942/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/breakdown98.html |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/judgementday98.html |title=In Your House 25: Judgment Day 1998 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128011334/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/judgementday98.html |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

 

==== WWF Champion and rise to superstardom (1998–2000) ====

[[File:WWE - Sheffield 020499 (49).jpg|thumb|upright|As part of [[The Corporation (professional wrestling)|The Corporation]], the Rock feuded with [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] and stole Austin's personalized [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] and his "Smoking Skull" belt.]]

The Rock was then entered into the "Deadly Game" tournament for the vacant WWF Championship. The finals occurred at [[Survivor Series (1998)|Survivor Series]], where the Rock defeated Vince McMahon's associate, [[Mick Foley|Mankind]], to win his first WWF Championship.<ref name="rock1wwe">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541401 |title=The Rock's first WWE Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313105504/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541401 |archive-date=March 13, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Survivor Series – Rock vs Mankind">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1998/mainevent/ |title=The Rock def. Mankind to become new WWE Champion |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224064736/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1998/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}</ref> A "double turn" then occurred as the Rock turned heel again after allying with Vince and [[Shane McMahon]] as the crown jewel of their stable, The Corporation, after the McMahons betrayed Mankind.<ref name="rock1wwe"/><ref name="corporation">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/c/corporation.html |title=The Corporation Profile |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> On December 13, 1998, 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.<ref name="corporation" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/rockbottom98.html |title=In Your House 26: Rock Bottom results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref>

 

The Rock continued to feud with Mankind over the WWF Championship, which was traded back and forth between them. First, in the main event of the January 4, 1999 episode of ''Raw Is War'', Mankind defeated the Rock after interference from Stone Cold Steve Austin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1999/ |title=WWE RAW (1999) – January 4, 1999 – RAW |date=January 4, 1999 |access-date=March 13, 2009 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607173232/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1999/ |archive-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref> Then at the [[Royal Rumble (1999)|Royal Rumble]] on January 24, the Rock regained the title in a brutal [["I quit" match|"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 mean streak in the Rock's character, this match went horribly wrong as at the end of the match the Rock hit Mankind in the head with a steel chair 11 times instead of the scripted five, five shots already being a risky amount (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 at ringside instead of being two-thirds up the entrance ramp where he was supposed to be, and after the eleventh shot which knocked a bloodied Mankind out, a recording of Mankind saying "I Quit" from an earlier interview was played over the public address system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/19881143/results/ |title=Royal Rumble 1999 official results |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541412 |title=The Rock's second WWE Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309231225/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541412 |archive-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref> On January 31, during an episode of ''[[Sunday Night Heat]]'', the Rock and Mankind participated in an [[Professional wrestling match types#Empty Arena match|Empty 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 a [[forklift truck]] to win the WWF title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/130790/20160204/wwe-looks-back-super-bowl-halftime-heat-rock-vs-mankind.htm|title=WWE Looks Back At Super Bowl 'Halftime Heat' With The Rock vs. Mankind|first=Mark|last=Lelinwalla|date=February 4, 2016|website=Tech Times}}</ref> This match was referred to as "Halftime Heat" as it was televised during halftime of that year's [[Super Bowl XXXIII|Super Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/99.htm |title=WWF results, 1999 |publisher=Angelfire |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304160001/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/99.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The two faced off again, at [[St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House]], in a Last Man Standing match which ended in a draw, meaning Mankind retained the title. Their feud ended on the February 15 ''Raw Is War'', when the Rock won his third WWF Championship in a Ladder Match after a debuting [[Big Show]] interfered on his behalf.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1999/raw021599 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026204143/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1999%2Fraw021599 |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |title=Monday Night RAW: February 15, 1999 |publisher=The Other Arena |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/30445414121 |title=The Rock's third WWE Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327050913/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/30445414121 |archive-date=March 27, 2008}}</ref> The Rock then lost the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at [[WrestleMania XV]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm15/mainevent/ |title=Stone Cold vs. The Rock for the WWE Championship |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223191232/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm15/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 23, 2008}}</ref>

 

Dwayne Johnson'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 at [[Backlash: In Your House]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash1999/mainevent/ |title=WWE Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin def. The Rock |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221164543/http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash1999/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 21, 2008}}</ref> The next night on ''Raw is War'' he 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]] and [[The Corporate Ministry]]. On April 29, 1999, WWF aired the pilot episode of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'', 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, at [[Over the Edge (1999)|Over the Edge]], which the Rock won,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/overtheedge99.html |title=Over the Edge 1999 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> and a match for the WWF Championship against The Undertaker, at [[King of the Ring (1999)|King of the Ring]], which the Rock lost.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering99.html |title=King of the Ring 1999 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217032104/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering99.html |archive-date=February 17, 2008}}</ref> The Rock then lost a number one contender's match to Triple H, at [[WWF Fully Loaded 1999|Fully Loaded]], after interference from [[Monty Sopp|"Mr. Ass" Billy Gunn]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/fullyloaded99.html |title=Fully Loaded 1999 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> The Rock then defeated Gunn in a Kiss My Ass match at [[SummerSlam (1999)|SummerSlam]]. 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 a [[strap 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 vs [[Al Snow]] in Houston).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/1999/results/ |title=SummerSlam 1999 official results |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620173807/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/1999/results/ |archive-date=June 20, 2007}}</ref>

 

Shortly after SummerSlam, the Rock began teaming with former opponent Mankind and the two became known as [[the Rock 'n' Sock Connection]].<ref name="Aug40-99">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1999/ |title=WWE RAW RESULTS – August 30, 1999 |date=August 30, 1999 |access-date=May 4, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607173232/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1999/ |archive-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref> They became [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Champions]] for the first time after defeating The Undertaker and Big Show for the titles on the August 30, 1999 episode of ''Raw is War''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132135 |title=Rock 'n' Sock Connection's first World Tag Team Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325074122/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132135 |archive-date=March 25, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321116 |title=Rock 'n' Sock Connection's third World Tag Team Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224220518/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321116 |archive-date=February 24, 2007}}</ref> 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 8.4 [[Nielsen ratings|Nielsen rating]], one of the highest ratings ever for a ''Raw'' segment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slashwrestling.com/raw/990927.html |title=Slashwrestling RAW report – with ratings |access-date=January 13, 2007 |author=Christopher Robin Zimmerman |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102112807/http://slashwrestling.com/raw/990927.html |archive-date=November 2, 2006}}</ref> The two lost the titles back to Undertaker and Big Show on the September 9, 1999 episode of ''SmackDown!'' and won them back from them on the September 20, 1999 episode of ''Raw is War''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013101134/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132126 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19990909 – Undertaker & Big Show |date=October 13, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132117 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051127181916/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132117 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19990920 – Mankind & The Rock |date=November 27, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> Rock and Mankind then lost the titles to [[The New Age Outlaws]] on the very next episode of ''SmackDown!''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413218 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123031447/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413218 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 23, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19990923 – New Age Outlaws |date=November 23, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> Rock and Mankind would win the tag titles for the third and final time after beating the New Age Outlaws on the October 14, 1999 episode of ''SmackDown!'' before losing the titles to [[The Holly Cousins]] on the October 18, 1999 episode of ''Raw is War''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051128114939/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321116 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 28, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19991014 – Mankind & The Rock |date=November 28, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413211115 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230211555/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413211115 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19991018 – Crash & Hardcore Holly |date=December 30, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref>

 

At [[Royal Rumble (2000)|Royal Rumble]], on January 23, 2000, the Rock entered the [[Royal 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 running [[powerslam]]-like position, before the Rock countered the move on the ring apron, sending Big Show to the floor before re-entering the ring as the winner.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811411/mainevent/ |title=The Rock (No. 24) wins the Royal Rumble Match |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> However, the Rock's feet accidentally hit the floor during the reversal attempt although 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 this fact, 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 at [[No Way Out (2000)|No Way Out]], which Big Show won after Shane McMahon interfered.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2000/results/ |title=No Way Out 2000 official results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319121436/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2000/results/ |archive-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> The Rock then defeated Big Show, on the March 13 episode of ''Raw Is War'', to regain the right to face the WWF Champion, Triple H, at [[WrestleMania 2000]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|Fatal Four-way elimination match]], also including Big Show and Mick Foley.<ref name="raw00">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_2000/ |title=Raw 2000 results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607173238/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_2000/ |archive-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref><ref name="wrestlemania00">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/results/ |title=WrestleMania 2000 official results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309233852/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/results/ |archive-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref> Each wrestler had a McMahon in his corner: Triple H had his wife [[Stephanie McMahon|Stephanie]], Foley had [[Linda McMahon|Linda]], the Rock had Vince and Big Show had Shane.<ref name="wrestlemania00" /><ref name="wrestlemania00event">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/mainevent/ |title=Triple H w/ Stephanie McMahon vs. Mick Foley w/ Linda McMahon vs. Big Show w/ Shane McMahon vs. The Rock w/ Mr. McMahon |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221171738/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 21, 2008}}</ref> The Rock lasted until the final two but was eliminated by then-reigning champion Triple H after Vince betrayed him by hitting him with a chair.<ref name="wrestlemania00event" /><ref name="oww-wrestlemania00">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/wrestlemania16/ |title=WrestleMania 2000 results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218001433/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/wrestlemania16/ |archive-date=February 18, 2009}}</ref>

 

 

==== Record-breaking world champion (2000–2002) ====

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, at [[Backlash (2000)|Backlash]], after Stone Cold Steve Austin intervened on his behalf.<ref name="backlash00">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2000/mainevent/ |title=The Rock defeats Triple H to become new WWE Champion |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219071938/http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2000/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141111 |title=The Rock's fourth WWE Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331191439/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141111 |archive-date=March 31, 2008}}</ref> The following night on ''Raw'', he successfully defended his title against Shane McMahon in a Steel Cage match. On May 21, at [[Judgment Day (2000)|Judgment Day]], the Rock faced Triple H in an [[Iron Man match]] with [[Shawn Michaels]] as the special guest referee.<ref name="judgmentday00main">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2000/mainevent/ |title=The Rock vs. Triple H in a 60-Minute WWE Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224054925/http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2000/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref name="judgmentday00main" /><ref name="rawmay2000">{{cite web |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw5-22-00.html |title=Raw results – May 22, 2000 |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=Lords of Pain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219025907/http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw5-22-00.html |archive-date=December 19, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Rock won the WWF Championship for a fifth time at [[King of the Ring (2000)|King of the Ring]] on June 25 by scoring the winning pin in a six-man tag team match, teaming with [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] and The Undertaker against Shane McMahon, Triple H and Vince McMahon, whom he pinned.<ref name="kingofthering00">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering00.html |title=King of the Ring 2000 results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216070305/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering00.html |archive-date=February 16, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454140 |title=The Rock's fifth WWE Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224032006/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454140 |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}</ref> The Rock successfully defended the championship against [[Chris Benoit]], on July 23, at [[Fully Loaded (2000)|Fully Loaded]]. The next month, he successfully defended his title against [[Kurt Angle]] and Triple H at [[SummerSlam (2000)|SummerSlam]]. The Rock had another successful title defense against Benoit, Kane and The Undertaker, on September 24, at [[Unforgiven (2000)|Unforgiven]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://profightdb.com/wrestlers/the-rock-229.html?title=263 |title=The Rock: Profile & Match Listing – Internet Wrestling Database (IWD) |website=profightdb.com}}</ref>

 

The Rock then lost the WWF Championship to Kurt Angle, at [[No Mercy (2000)|No Mercy]], in October.<ref name="nomercy00">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2000/mainevent/ |title=The Rock vs. Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219054407/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2000/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref> The next month, the Rock feuded with [[Solofa Fatu|Rikishi]] and defeated him at [[Survivor Series (2000)|Survivor Series]].<ref name="survivorseries00">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2000/results/ |title=Survivor Series 2000 official results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224051027/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2000/results/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}</ref> The Rock wrestled a six-man [[Hell in a Cell]] match for the WWF Championship, at [[Armageddon (2000)|Armageddon]], which Angle won to retain the title.<ref name="armageddon00">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2000/mainevent/ |title=Six-Man Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224001810/http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2000/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}</ref> On the December 18 episode of ''Raw'', the Rock won the WWF Tag Team Championship with The Undertaker, defeating [[Edge and Christian]], before losing it back to them the next night at a ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'' taping.<ref name="nowayout03">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132112212 |title=Undertaker and Rock's first World Tag Team Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319100130/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132112212 |archive-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> In 2001, the Rock continued to feud with Angle over the WWF Championship, culminating at [[No Way Out (2001)|No Way Out]] in February, where he pinned Angle to win the WWF Championship for a sixth time.<ref name="nowayout01">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2001/mainevent/ |title=Kurt Angle vs. The Rock for the WWE Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319113212/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2001/mainevent/ |archive-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141121 |title=The Rock's sixth WWE Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331201241/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141121 |archive-date=March 31, 2008}}</ref> The Rock then feuded with the [[Royal Rumble (2001)|Royal Rumble]] winner, Stone Cold Steve Austin, whom he lost the title to at [[WrestleMania X-Seven]] after Austin allied with Vince McMahon, who interfered on his behalf.<ref name="wm17">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm17/mainevent/ |title=Stone Cold vs. The Rock for the WWE Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224052118/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm17/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}</ref> On the next night's ''Raw Is War'', during a steel cage title rematch, Triple H attacked the Rock, allying with McMahon and Austin and helping Austin retain the championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2001/raw040201 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060115131945/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2001%2Fraw040201 |archive-date=January 15, 2006 |title=WWF Raw: April 2, 2001 |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=The Other Arena |url-status=dead}}</ref> Austin and Triple H then formed a tag team called [[The Power Trip]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/p/power-trip.html |title=The Power Trip Profile |access-date=April 13, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> while the Rock was indefinitely suspended in storyline. Johnson used this time off to act in ''[[The Scorpion King]]''.

 

[[File:WWF RAW 2001-10-15 The Rock at ringside.jpg|left|thumb|upright|The Rock taunting an opponent at ringside at ''[[WWE Raw|WWF Raw]]'' in [[Ottawa]], October 2001]]

The Rock returned in late July 2001 when the WWF was feuding with rival promotions [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) and [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW) during what's known as [[The Invasion (professional wrestling)|The 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 formed [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|The Alliance]] to compete with 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 defeated [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]], at [[SummerSlam (2001)|SummerSlam]], to win the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship|WCW Championship]] for the first time.<ref name="summerslam01">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2001/mainevent/ |title=The Rock vs. Booker T w/Shane McMahon for the WCW Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621123202/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2001/mainevent/ |archive-date=June 21, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/304454110223 |title=The Rock's first WCW Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331155507/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/304454110223 |archive-date=March 31, 2008}}</ref> He later lost the title to [[Chris Jericho]] at [[No Mercy (2001)|No Mercy]].<ref name="nomercy01">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2001/results/ |title=No Mercy 2001 official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224055025/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2001/results/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321134 |title=Chris Jericho and The Rock's first World Tag Team Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311084859/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321134 |archive-date=March 11, 2008}}</ref> The next night on ''Raw'', he teamed with Jericho to win the WWF Tag Team Championship from [[The Dudley Boyz]]. The two then lost the tag titles to Booker T and Test on the November 1, 2001 episode of ''SmackDown!''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://profightdb.com/wrestlers/the-rock-229.html?title=261 |title=The Rock: Profile & Match Listing – Internet Wrestling Database (IWD) |website=profightdb.com}}</ref> The Rock defeated Jericho on the November 5 episode of ''Raw'' for his second WCW Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/30445411028 |title=The Rock's second WCW Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221192855/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/30445411028 |archive-date=February 21, 2008}}</ref>

 

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 at [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]] 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.<ref name="survivorseries01">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2001/mainevent/ |title=The Rock, Chris Jericho, Big Show, Kane & Undertaker def. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Shane McMahon, Booker T & Rob Van Dam; Sole Survivor: The Rock |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224064801/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2001/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}</ref> At the next pay-per-view, [[Vengeance (2001)|Vengeance]], the Rock lost the World Championship to Jericho, who would then unify the WWF and World titles later that night.<ref name="vengeance01">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2001/results/ |title=Vengeance 2001 official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224065720/http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2001/results/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Rock then unsuccessfully challenged Jericho for the now [[WWE Championship|Undisputed WWF Championship]] at [[Royal Rumble (2002)|Royal Rumble]].<ref name="royalrumble02">{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811413/results/ |title=Royal Rumble 2002 official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE}}</ref>

 

[[File:Rockwrestling.jpg|thumb|The Rock doing his signature pose before wrestling [[Hulk Hogan]] (bottom right) at [[WrestleMania X8]] in [[Toronto]], March 2002]]

 

The Rock returned on the January 30, 2003 episode of ''SmackDown!'' to set up another match with Hulk Hogan at [[No Way Out (2003)|No Way Out]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030130.html |title=WWE SmackDown! Results – January 30, 2003 |date=January 30, 2003 |access-date=May 2, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Because of negative fan reaction during his previous couple of matches as a result of his budding acting career, the Rock turned heel for the first time since 1999. He also started a new persona that has been called ''Hollywood Rock'', with a new look and a shaved head.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/the-rock-wwe-phases-dwayne-johnson-versions/|title=Every Version Of The Rock, Ranked|date=February 13, 2021|website=TheSportster}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tjrwrestling.net/review/wwe-ruthless-aggression-hollywood-rock/|title=WWE Ruthless Aggression Review: Hollywood Rock – TJR Wrestling|date=July 12, 2021|website=tjrwrestling.net}}</ref> The Rock defeated Hogan at No Way Out before moving to the [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]] brand.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2003/mainevent/ |title=The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219180229/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2003/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref> There, he had various small feuds, including one with [[Gregory Helms|the Hurricane]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030224.html |title=WWE Raw Results – February 24, 2003 |date=February 24, 2003 |access-date=May 2, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> He also began performing "Rock Concerts", segments in which he played the guitar and mocked WWE performers and fans in song.<ref name="mar24-03">{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030324.html |title=RAW results – March 24, 2003 |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>

 

 

 

 

On September 30, 2009, the Rock appeared at a [[World Xtreme Wrestling]] (WXW) show to support the professional wrestling debut of [[Tamina Snuka|Sarona Snuka]], the daughter of his long-time friend and mentor [[Jimmy Snuka]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1254334057.php?style=dark|title=Video: Dwayne Johnson at WXW|publisher=Wrestle View|date=September 30, 2009|access-date=September 30, 2009|first=Adam|last=Martin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004081734/http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1254334057.php?style=dark|archive-date=October 4, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

 

==== Feud with John Cena (2011–2013) ====

[[File:The rock en WM !!!!.jpg|thumb|The Rock in the ring as [[WrestleMania XXVII]] host in [[Atlanta]], April 2011]]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On August 3, 2019, the Rock officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ellis |first1=Philip |title=The Rock Just Announced His Official Retirement From Wrestling |url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a28597187/the-rock-wwe-wrestling-retirement/ |access-date=September 1, 2019 |magazine=[[Men's Health]] |date=August 3, 2019}}</ref> On September 30, 2019, after weeks of speculation, the Rock announced that he would be making an appearance on [[WWE SmackDown's 20th Anniversary|''SmackDown''{{'}}s 20th Anniversary]] on October 4, 2019, marking his first appearance on [[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]] since October 2014 and his first televised appearance since April 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-returns-to-wwe-friday-night-smackdown-fox-1202748570/|title=Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Rolls Back To WWE For Fox's 'SmackDown!' Debut|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=September 30, 2019|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|language=en|access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> At the event, he would cut a promo with [[Becky Lynch]] before they were interrupted by [[Baron Corbin|King Corbin]]. After attacking Corbin, the Rock and Lynch celebrated in the ring.<ref name="SmackDown20th">{{cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Jason|title=10/04 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of The Rock's return, Kofi Kingston vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship, Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon in a career vs. career ladder match, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks and Bayley|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2019/10/04/10-04-wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-powells-review-of-the-rocks-return-kofi-kingston-vs-brock-lesnar-for-the-wwe-championship-kevin-owens-vs-shane-mcmahon-in-a-career-vs-career-ladder-m/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=October 4, 2019|date=October 4, 2019}}</ref>

 

The Rock made an appearance at [[Impact Wrestling]]'s [[Bound for Glory (2020)|2020 Bound for Glory]] via a recorded video message to induct [[Ken Shamrock]] into the [[Impact Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 25, 2020|title=WWE Legend The Rock Makes a Special Appearance on Impact Wrestling|url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/wwe-news-wwe-legend-the-rock-makes-a-special-appearance-on-impact-wrestling/|access-date=October 26, 2020|website=EssentiallySports|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 25, 2020|title=The Rock Comments On Inducting Ken Shamrock Into The Impact Hall Of Fame|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2020/10/the-rock-comments-on-inducting-ken-shamrock-into-the-impact-676246/|access-date=October 26, 2020|website=Wrestling Inc.|language=en}}</ref>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnson's motion picture debut was as [[List of characters in The Mummy series#Mathayus (The Scorpion King)|The Scorpion King]] in ''[[The Mummy Returns]]'' (2001).<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 12, 2020|title=Dwayne Johnson developing 'The Scorpion King' reboot |work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/dwayne-johnson-developing-the-scorpion-king-reboot/article33082326.ece|access-date=March 26, 2021}}</ref> The movie broke a two-year record for the highest-grossing single day in film history by earning US$28,594,667.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/wrestlingframe.html |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated |work=pwi-online.com |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705145609/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/wrestlingframe.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="wwebio" /><ref name=shining /> The movie's financial success led to Johnson's first leading role in the spin-off ''[[The Scorpion King]]'' (2002).<ref name="wwebio" /> He received US$5.5&nbsp;million for the role and ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' named him the record-holder for highest-paid actor in their first leading role.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dwayne Johnson Biography |publisher=Movies.com |url=http://www.fandango.com/dwaynejohnson/biographies/p476559 |access-date=November 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204124258/http://www.fandango.com/dwaynejohnson/biographies/p476559 |archive-date=February 4, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Top+25+Hollywood+moneymakers:+these+black+powerhouses+generate+the...-a0175876346 |title=Top 25 Hollywood moneymakers: these black powerhouses generate the most green in Tinseltown. |access-date=April 22, 2008 |publisher=The Free Library}}</ref>

 

The Rock has appeared on the covers of many magazines, including ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', and ''[[TV Guide]]''.<ref name=RS2018/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/11/30/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-ew-cover/ |title=Dwayne Johnson sleighs the holidays on EW's new cover |publisher=EW |first=Devan |last=Coggan |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=September 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2000/01-27-2000 |title=WWE announces collector TV Guide editions |publisher=WWE |date=January 27, 2000 |access-date=September 26, 2021}}</ref> He has also appeared in, and been the cover athlete for, several video games.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Dave |url=https://www.vg247.com/2013/06/25/wwe-2k14-cover-revealed-features-the-rock-talking-smack/ |title=WWE 2K14 cover revealed, features The Rock talking smack |date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=June 23, 2018 |work=[[VG247]]}}</ref>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On March 16, 2021, he appeared for the first time as The Foundation in [[Fortnite Battle Royale]]. Johnson was initially uncredited in his role, yet teased his involvement in a cryptic Instagram post shared on the day of the event. Following another Instagram video for Johnson's ZOA Energy drink, in which The Foundation's helmet and sidearm were subtly featured in the background, 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.<ref>{{cite web | last=Medina | first=Bryan | title=Fortnite reveals Dwayne Johnson as "The Foundation" while Spider-Man joins Chapter 3 | website=MARCA | date=December 5, 2021 | url=https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/movies/2021/12/05/61ac0b2122601d6b328b4572.html | access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>

 

 

Though originally attached as producer and star, Johnson will now serve solely as the former on a film adaptation of ''[[The Janson Directive]]''. [[John Cena]] will fill the leading role, with [[Akiva Goldsman]] attached as screenwriter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/john-cena-janson-directive-dwayne-johnson-1202791588/|title=John Cena to Star in 'Janson Directive' for Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=April 30, 2018|work=Variety|access-date=June 27, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Additionally, he will produce and star in a Netflix exclusive film titled ''John Henry & The Statesmen'', as the [[John Henry (folklore)|titular folklore hero]]. The film will be directed by Jake Kasdan, from a script co-written by Kasdan and [[Tom Wheeler (writer)|Tom Wheeler]]. With the first official teaser trailer released in October 2018, the project marks Kasdan and Johnson's third collaboration, following ''Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'' and ''Jumanji: The Next Level''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/dwayne-johnson-john-henry-trailer-netflix/|title=Dwayne Johnson Is "The Man" in Teaser for Netflix's 'John Henry & The Statesmen'|first=Vinnie|last=Mancuso|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=October 9, 2018}}</ref>

 

 

 

In 2021, his biographical comedy-drama series ''[[Young Rock]]'' began airing on NBC.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/10/dwayne-johnson-nbc-young-rock-cast-reveal|publisher=Hype Beast |title=Dwayne Johnson Announces Cast of 'Young Rock' |date=October 4, 2020 |first=Jeff|last=Yeung}}</ref>

 

A film centered around [[Black Adam|Teth-Adam/Black Adam]], a part of the [[DC 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 superhero [[Captain Marvel (DC Comics)|Billy Batson/Shazam]],<ref>{{cite tweet|user=TheRock|first=Dwayne|last=Johnson|number=507189313579122689|date=September 3, 2014|title="Kneel at his feet or get crushed by his boot." My honor to become.. #BlackAdam #TheAntiHero #DCComics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=September 3, 2014|title=Dwayne Johnson to Play Black Adam in New Line's 'Shazam,' Darren Lemke to Script|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/dwayne-johnson-to-play-black-adam-in-shazam-darren-lemke-to-script-exclusive-1201294338|access-date=September 4, 2014|work=Variety}}</ref> his villainous role for ''[[Shazam! (film)|Shazam!]]'' was re-worked into two separate films.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=January 19, 2017|title=Shazam! To Split Into Two Films: Dwayne Johnson To Star As 'Black Adam'|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/shazan-dwayne-johnson-black-adam-1201889902/}}</ref> Though Johnson would not appear in ''Shazam!'', he served as a producer and his likeness was used through special effects in flashback scenes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dwayne Johnson Won't Appear in 'Shazam!,' DC's Geoff Johns Says|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dwayne-johnson-wont-appear-shazam-dcs-geoff-johns-says-1023348|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=May 26, 2015|title=Dwayne Johnson Hints 'Shazam' Might Release Sooner than Announced|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/608405-dwayne-johnson-hints-shazam-might-release-sooner-announced#!|access-date=November 12, 2016|publisher=ComingSoon.net}}</ref>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[File:Dany Garcia and Dwayne The Rock Johnson 2009 Tribeca.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Johnson with his ex-wife [[Dany Garcia]], April 2009]]

As a college student and [[Miami Hurricanes football|football player]] at the [[University of Miami]], Johnson first met fellow University of Miami student [[Dany Garcia]] in the early 1990s. The couple married on May 3, 1997. She is a businesswoman, IFBB professional bodybuilder, and producer.<ref name="split" /> Their daughter, Simone, was born on August 14, 2001.<ref name="split" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/dwayne-johnsons-heartfelt-post-daughter-18th-birthday-make-64965303|title=Dwayne Johnson's heartfelt post to his daughter on her 18th birthday will make you want to call your dad|last=FitzPatrick|first=Hayley|website=ABC News|language=en|date=August 14, 2019|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref>

 

On June 1, 2007, Johnson and Garcia announced they were separating amicably,<ref name="split">{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/celebrity/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-wife-split-up/ |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson & Wife Split Up |first=Julie |last=Jordan |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] | access-date = June 4, 2007 |date=June 1, 2007}}</ref> and their divorce was finalized in May 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1494/the-rock-s-divorce-solidifies|title=The Rock's Divorce Solidifies|date=May 30, 2008|first=Natalie|last=Finn|access-date=September 23, 2020}}</ref>

Johnson subsequently began dating Lauren Hashian, the daughter of [[Boston (band)|Boston]] drummer [[Sib Hashian]]. They first met in 2006 while Johnson was filming ''[[The Game Plan (film)|The Game Plan]]''.<ref name="Lauren Hashian 5 things">{{cite web |url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/09/17/lauren-hashian-5-things-to-know-about-the-rock-girlfriend-dwayne-johnson/ |title=Lauren Hashian: 5 Things To Know About The Rock's Pregnant Girlfriend |first=Jason |last=Brow |work=[[Hollywood Life]]| access-date = October 13, 2015 |date=September 17, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151012010502/http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/09/17/lauren-hashian-5-things-to-know-about-the-rock-girlfriend-dwayne-johnson/ | archive-date = October 12, 2015 | url-status=usurped}}</ref> They were married on August 18, 2019, in [[Hawaii]].<ref>: {{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B1V5m7WFfUy/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/therock/2113848963832870194_2113848961492434793 |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |url-access=subscription|title=@therock on Instagram: "We do. August 18th, 2019. Hawaii. Pōmaikaʻi (blessed) @laurenhashianofficial❤️ @hhgarcia41📸"|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Rich |title=Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announces marriage to Lauren Hashian |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/wrestling/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-announces-18962271 |work=Mirror |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dwayne The Rock Johnson Marries Longtime Partner Laura Hashian in Secret Hawaiian Wedding, See Pics |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-marries-longtime-partner-laura-hashian-in-secret-hawaiian-wedding-see-pics-2275743.html |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019 |work=News18}}</ref> The couple have two daughters: Jasmine (born December 17, 2015)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/parents/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-daughter-jasmine-3rd-birthday-wishes/ |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Daughter Jasmine Turns 3 — See Her Parents' Birthday Tributes |first=Emily |last=Zauzmer |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=December 17, 2018 | access-date = August 19, 2019}}</ref> and Tiana (born April 17, 2018).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/dwayne-johnson-lauren-hashian-daughter-tiana-turns-2/|title=Dwayne Johnson's Daughter Tiana Turns 2! 'Sweetest Baby Girl in the Whole World,' Lauren Hashian Says|website=PEOPLE.com}}</ref>  

Johnson and Hashian reside in [[Los Angeles]] and have a farm in [[Virginia]] and a second home in [[Southwest Ranches, Florida]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/02/07/one-good-thing-virginia-has-going-it-this-week-rock/ |title=One good thing Virginia has going for it this week? The Rock. |date=February 7, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=May 1, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportsretriever.com/stories/look-inside-the-rocks-amazing-mansion/ |title=Taking a look inside The Rock's luxurious $5&nbsp;million mansion |last=Walton |first=Rebbeca |date=October 10, 2018 |website=Sports Retriever |language=en-US|access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://miami.curbed.com/2014/10/1/10040852/the-rock-moves-into-55m-southwest-ranches-house-immediately-orders-1 |title=The Rock Moves into Southwest Ranches, Orders Big Addition |work=Curbed Miami|access-date=June 23, 2018}}</ref>

In recognition of his service to the [[Samoan people]], and because he is a descendant of Samoan chiefs, Johnson was given the noble title of ''Seiuli'' by [[Malietoa Tanumafili II]] during his visit there in July 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Rock's Royal Homecoming |url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/2004/10/01/the-rocks-royal-homecoming |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927175415/http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/2004/10/01/the-rocks-royal-homecoming|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=May 13, 2008 |work=Pacific Magazine}}</ref> In 2009, he gained [[Canadian citizenship]] through his father's birth and citizenship there.<ref name=604now>{{Cite news |url=https://604now.com/canadian-roots-the-rock-dual-citizenship/ |title=Proud of Canadian roots: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson holds dual-citizenship |last=Gill |first=Meagan |date=June 13, 2017 |work=604 now|access-date=July 12, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

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