January 29, 2012
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Basics:
Born: May 27, 1972, Hayward, California.
Age: 39
Occupation: Football Player, Wrestler, Actor, Philanthropist
Nicknames:
The People's Champion , The Brahma Bull, The Great One ,The Rock, The Corporate Champion, The Most Electrifying
Man in Sports Entertainment, Rocky, The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment, The Most Electrifying Man in All
of Twittertainment, The Blue Chipper
Dwayne Johnson debuted in the United States Wrestling Association under the name "Flex Kavana".
Ethnic background:
Black Nova Scotian (dad side), Samoan (mom side), for a brief period, Johnson lived in Auckland, New Zealand, with his
mother's family. During this time his mother, Ata ensured Johnson was exposed to one of the urban Polynesian cultural
strongholds of the southern hemisphere.
 In interviews he usually claims he’s Samoan and proud of it.
Significant Relationships:
Dany Garcia, Ex vice pres of financial services/investment advisory firm
 Met when they were 22 at U of Miami
 Rumored that they met at a club where Dwayne was leaving for an orgy, but said it was love at first sight
and never made it to the orgy
(http://www.famoushookups.com/site/relationship_detail.php?name=DwayneJohnson&relid=8980&celebid=2276)
 Alternate source says she was high school sweetheart, (http://www.biography.com/people/dwayne-johnson11818916), but no other sources confirm this
 Dated Dany for years but never met her parents until recently before wedding
 Married her the day after his 25th birthday
 In 2007 there was a scandal of rumors that Johnson was involved in an extramarital affair
 Later that year. Dany and Dwayne announced separation, but on amicable terms
(http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20041195,00.html)
 As of 2011, He is dating someone new, but plans on keeping her name a secret
(http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0011499.html)
 Rumors say it’s Lauren Hashian
Daughter:
Simone Alexandra Johnson aka Pebbles, born August 14, 2001.
Nationality:
On April 17, 2009, changes to Canadian nationality law came into effect, which now made all children born in the first
generation abroad to Canadian-born parents automatically (and retroactively to date of birth) Canadian citizens. Since
Johnson's father was born in Canada and Johnson was born in the first generation abroad, he automatically received
Canadian citizenship. (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/rules.asp)
Early Life – High School
 Moved Frequently as a child, living in Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and Hawaii
o Spent most of childhood living with Grandparents in Honolulu.
 Sources say Johnson attended Richmond Road Primary School and/or Washington intermediate school
(http://www.westlord.com/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-early-life/)
o Childhood role models included Elvis and Richard Pryor
(http://www.missoandfriends.com/interviews/dwayne-johnson-interview.php)
 Attended President William McKinley High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 11th grade, moved to Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania, in the state's Lehigh Valley region for father’s job relocation because his father lost all the family’s
money.
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Began playing football at Bethlehem's Freedom High School in the competitive East Penn Conference.
o One of the most competitive high school conferences in the US.
Was also a member of the high school's track and field and wrestling teams.
Claimed to be one of the Best defensive tackles in Pennsylvania by his senior year (OnlineWorld of Wrestling).
University of Miami Days:
 Dwayne Johnson attended University of Miami on football scholarship, played defensive tackle
 Although he was sought after by many other schools, Miami was not one of them, which intrigued him and
inspired him to join. He had to go through try-outs to make the team.
 Was a part of the 1991 national championship football team
 FUN FACT: Appeared on an Episode of Martha Stewart Living that year to cook one of his favorite
family recipes in 1991
 An injury kept him sidelined, Johnson was replaced by fellow Hurricane and future National Football League
(NFL) star Warren Sapp.
 At Miami, Johnson met his future wife, Dany Garcia. Garcia, who graduated from the university in 1992, is a
member of its Board of Trustees, and the founder of a Miami-based wealth management firm.
 Johnson graduated from Miami in 1995 with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in criminology and
physiology.
 Note: On November 10, 2007, he returned to the Orange Bowl in Miami to participate in the festivities
surrounding the University of Miami's last home football game at the stadium.
Canadian Football League:
 Johnson continued his football career in 1995, joining the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football
League after being passed over by the NFL.
 He made terrible money
 He was cut two months into the season due to injury (Online Word of Wrestling) and after much struggle,
that’s when he decided to end his football career.
Family influence on profession:
 Grandparents: “High Chief” Peter Maivia (also pro wrestler), Lia Maivia (female pre wrestling promoter for
Polynesian Pacific Pro wrestling 1982-1988).
 Parents: Ata and Rocky Johnson (Widely considered the first black World Tag Team Champion (w/ Tony Atlas)).
 Johnson’s Uncles, the Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika Anoa'i) and cousins, Manu, Yokozuna, Rikishi, Rosey, and
Umaga are also wrestlers.
 Also, Johnson has two nephews who play football. Kaluka Maiava played football at USC and was drafted by the
Cleveland Browns in 2009, while Kaluka's brother Kai Maiava currently plays at UCLA.
Wrestling Career:
 When Johnson declared his intention to join the family business:
 Father resisted, but agreed to train his son himself, warning him that he would not go easy on him.
 Trained under the watch of Rocky Johnson and Pat Patterson (vet wrestler).
 Made his debut in the United States Wrestling Association as Flex Kavana
 Johnson defeated The Brooklyn Brawler at a house show under his real name, Dwayne Johnson, and lost the
others to Chris Candido and Owen Hart.
 Impressed by his talent and charisma, Johnson was signed to a contract after wrestling at Jerry Lawler's United
States Wrestling Association, where he wrestled under the ring name "Flex Kavana". While there, he won the
USWA World Tag Team Championship twice with Bart Sawyer in the summer of 1996.
 I have included selective moments from his wrestling career to highlight below. If you are interested in
more in-depth details, this is the best resource I have found for individual fight dates:
http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rock.htm
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/WWE):
 Debuted in the WWF as Rocky Maivia (combining Father/Grandfather’s names)
 Originally Johnson was reluctant about the name but eventually convinced by Vince McMahon and Jim Ross.
 Also took up the nickname "The Blue Chipper," during this time in career
 WWF played up his connection to his father and grandfather, calling him the company's first third-generation
wrestler.
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In ring debut was at Survivor Series, in an elimination match
 His debut was the same night as the infamous Austin-Pillman incident (November 4, 1996)
 Two wrestlers, Steve Austin and Brian Pillman, were in a feud that saw Austin stalking Pillman, who
brandished a gun and threatened to shoot Austin live on-air (all staged, of course…)
The Rock's debut was as a ringside enforcer for Barry Windham, who was wrestling Goldust. Ended up in a large
brawl at ringside.
 Was the sole remaining member of his team, winning the match.
Won the WWF Intercontinental Championship
 Beat Hunter Hearst Helmsley on Raw on February 13, 1997, after only three months in the company.
Started off career as a face character (wrestling term for “good guy”), until fans got tired of it and started to boo
and jeer him.
 Fans' angry chants of "Die Rocky Die!" and "Rocky Sucks!" at Johnson’s matches.
 Result of increasing popularity of Stone Cold Steve Austin, a heel character (wrestling term for “bad guy”).
 As a result, Rocky join the heel faction, Nation of Domination. (OWOW)
The Rock Persona:
 Led to the beginning of "The Rock" persona, which began The Rock's rise to stardom behind his charismatic
interviews.
 Would not acknowledge his real name and spoke only in the third person.
 He attacked and insulted the fans in his promos.
 Johnson was soon recognized for cutting arguably the best promos in the industry.
 Johnson attributed this skill to his exceptional performance in speech communications classes at Miami,
in which he earned "A" grades. (his autobiography, 2000)
 Became a charismatic bully.
 One of the best mic talkers in wrestling (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/612857-wwe-power-rankingsthe-top-25-mic-workers-in-wrestling-history)
 Mocked WWF television announcers

Particular instance of cutting comments for former announcer Kevin Kelly (called him an "ugly
hermaphrodite").
Nation of Domination:
Members: D'Lo Brown, and Kama, and Faarooq (Group Leader)
Noatable Rivals during this time:
 Stone Cold Steve Austin:
At In Your House: D-Generation X, Austin defeated The Rock in less than six minutes to retain the Intercontinental
Championship. The following night on Raw is War, Austin was ordered by Mr. McMahon to defend the
Intercontinental Championship in a rematch, but Austin decided to forfeit it instead, and handed the championship
over to The Rock before performing the Stone Cold Stunner on him. \
 Faarooq:
The angry leader of Nation of Domination who left in 1998.
He was angry at The Rock for usurping his position. The two had a title match at Over the Edge, where Rock
retained the Intercontinental Championship.
 Triple H and D-Generation X.
Nation members fought DX while The Rock fought Triple H over the Intercontinental Championship. They first
had a two out of three falls match at Fully Loaded for Rock's title, where the Rock retained the title in controversial
fashion. This led to a ladder match at SummerSlam where Rock lost the belt.
 Ken Shamrock
At Breakdown, the Rock defeated Ken Shamrock and Mankind in a triple threat steel cage match to become the
number one contender to the WWF Championship before feuding with fellow Nation member Mark Henry,
effectively disbanding the Nation.
 DJ Won his first WWF Championship in November 1998
The Corporation:
 Went by the name the People’s Champion at the time
 Much of this time was described by a feud with Mankind
 Lost the WWF Championship title to Mankind on January 4, 1999 in “Raw is War” with help of Stone Cold
Steve Austin.
 Won title back at WWF Royal Rumble in an "I Quit" match January 24, 1999
 Featured The Rock beating Mankind with a chair
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Footage from this match is involved in the wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat, as Mankind's
family was ringside for the match ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IEqpypXiLg )
 Lost the title back to Mankind in a match taped for Super Bowl XXXIII halftime show (Jan 31, 1999)
 Was pinned down by a forklift, trash, and other items.
 Last Match with Mankind was Feb 15 on Raw is War when Mankind was chokeslamed off a ladder
 At Wrestlemania XV, lost the belt to Austin
 And lost the rematch on “Backlash in your House” match
 Started new feuds with Triple H and Mr. Ass
 Had his own Pay Per view called “Rock Bottom: In the house”
 In April of 1999 he threw Steve Austin from a bridge into the Detroit River
 Left the Corporation shortly after
 Overall won 3 WWF Championships during his time in the Corporation.
Rock and Sock Connection
 Ended feud with Mankind and they went to win 3 WWF Tag team championships
 Also involved on a segment called “This Is Your Life” on Raw is War where:
 Mankind brought out people from The Rock's past.
 People included The Rocks’ (in order of appearance):
 6th grade home economics teacher: Betty Griffith
 High School Football coach: Coach Everett Hart
 High School Girlfriend: Joanne Embriani
 Mr. Rocko: Sock with the rock’s face painted on it
^Using a sock in fighting matches is one of Mankind’s signature moves, Mr. Socko
 Yerple: Clown
 One of the highest rated segments in Raw is War History (Nielsen Rating of 8.4)
 The first clip of This is your life can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wWMtCQkXr0
 List of fights during this time detailed here: http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rocknsock.html
WWF Championship
 In 2000 notable matches included:
 Royal Rumble
 There was dispute about who’s feet touched the ground first but video footage proved The Rock to be
victorious against The Big Show
 Wrestlemania XVI
 Vince McMahon betrayed The Rock, hit him with another chair, then The Rock lost.
 Judgment Day
 DJ got disqualified and lost the WWF Championship title
 Won against Edge and Christian for the WWF Tag Team Championship
 In 2001:
 On Pay per view event, No Way Out
 The Rock won WWF Championship for 6th time
 Wrestlemania X-Seven
 Lost to Stone Cold Steve Austin
 During a rematch on Raw is War, got hit by a sledgehammer by Triple H
 Loses WCW Championship to Chris Jerico who won WCW and WWF titles to become WWF champion
 Johnson leaved wrestling for a while at this point because:
 His autobiography “The Rock Says…” makes it to #1 bestseller
 Gives birth to his daughter with Dany
 Appears in “The Mummy Returns”
 He comes back around August of 2001
 In 2002:
 Wrestlmania 18
 Challenges Hulk Hogan, gets hit with a sledgehammer, then rams ambulance with a diesel truck
 Won his 7th and final WWE Championship
 Other fights happen, but then in April DJ takes leave to film “The Scorpion King”
 In May he has an MRI that says he tore PCL, goes to rehab

In June, announces he’ll be coming back to WWE
 Comes back and fights until August when he takes leave to be on the set of the movie Helldorado
 Movie’s name was changed to The Rundown.
 In 2003 notable moments include:
 Starting a gimmick where he plays guitar and sings songs mocking host city of a match
 In March of 2003, he mocked Sacramento because the Sacramento Kings couldn’t beat the LA Lakers
 Wrestlemania 19 where he beats Steve Austin
 Raw is War in April—The Rock whacks Bill Goldberg with a steel cage
 Another wrestler, Christian started calling himself the “New People’s Champion” (The Rock being the old
one of course…)
 He wrestled part time from 2004 to 2009
 In 2008, he inducted his father and grandfather into the WWE Hall of Fame
 He came back in 2011
 Hosted Wrestlemania XVII for first time in 7 years
 Made an appearance live on Raw is War in May 2011 for his 39 th birthday
Signature Moves
 The People’s Eyebrow (Defined at http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=people%27s%20eyebrow l)
 The People’s Elbow
 Spine on the pine
 Flowing DDT
 Floatover DDT
 Sharpshooter
 Samoan Drop
 Charging Doubleleg spinebuster
 Rock Bottom (finishing move)
Career highlights
 He won a total of 16 championships in WWF/E
 Including 9 world heavyweight championships
 2 WWF intercontinental championships
 5 time holder of WWF tag team championships
 WWF/E Triple Crown Champion
 Winner of 2000 Royal Rumble
Wrestler Title history (According to Online World of Wrestling)
 USWA Tag Team Titles w/Bret Sawyer
 WWF Intercontinental title defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley (February 13, 1997);
 WWF Intercontinental title defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin (December 8, 1997);
 WWF Intercontinental title defeating Triple H (October 12, 1998 );
 WWF Heavyweight title defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin (November 15, 1998);
 WWF Heavyweight title defeating Mankind [Mick Foley] (January 24, 1999);
 WWF Heavyweight title defeating Mankind [Mick Foley] (February 15, 1999);
 WWF Tag Team titles w/Mankind defeating The Big Show & The Undertaker (August 30, 1999);
 WWF Tag Team titles w/Mankind defeating The Big Show & Viscera & Mideon (September 20, 1999);
 WWF Tag Team titles w/Mankind defeating The New Age Outlaws (October 12, 1999);
 WWF Royal Rumble Winner last eliminating The Big Show (2000);
 WWF Heavyweight title defeating Triple H (April 30, 2000);
 WWF Heavyweight title defeating Triple H (June 25, 2000);
 WWF Tag Team titles w/The Undertaker defeating Edge & Christian (December 18, 2000);
 WWF Heavyweight title defeating Kurt Angle (February 25, 2001);
 WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Booker T (August 30, 2001);
 WWF Tag Team titles w/Chris Jericho defeating The Dudley Boyz (October 22, 2001);
 WWF Heavyweight title defeating The Undertaker (July 21, 2002);
TV Career
 His fame as a wrestler had allowed him to transition into the mainstream spotlight. Early roles included:
 Wyclef John’s single and video “It doesn’t matter” in 2000.
 Hosted successful SNL episode with other wrestlers: Triple H, The Big Show, Mick Foley.

First athlete to repeat host SNL
 Revived his character “The Rock Obama” where he parodies The Hulk ("When you make Barack Obama
angry, he turns into The Rock Obama.” )
 Both SNL clips can be seen by the beginning of these clips:
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYk9uzfV3Mc&feature=related)
 And (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYk9uzfV3Mc&feature=related)
 Actually sang and acted in the episode
 This was the gig that led to offers from Hollywood.
 Was on Star trek: Voyager as an alien wrestler that used his own moves
 In 1999:
 Was on That 70s Show playing his own father, Rocky Johnson --a wrestler in the 70’s.
 Appeared on the show The Net.
 Appears on debut episode of Jimmy Kimmel show in 2003
 In 2007
 was on Hannah Montana, Corey In the House, and Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney Channel
 (he had a contract with Disney for a while—see ‘Witch Mountain’ in film section)
 Johnson in clip of the Episode “Art Teacher” on Wizards of Waverly Place where he incorrectly says
acting is his first and only job: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDhohqPLIz8
 In 2009
 appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno
 In 2010
 was a voice on Family Guy
 Cameo’d on the TV series, Cubed
 In 2011
 7 episodes of Clash Time
 In 2013, is anticipated to be in the series “Transformers: Prime”
Film Career:
 Usually plays in action movies or family friendly roles.
 Was in Documentary “Beyond the Mat” in 1999 as himself.
 Film Debut was in The Mummy Returns, playing Mathayus the Scorpion King in 2001
 For this movie, got into the Guinness Book of Records for highest salary paid to actor in his first role for
$5.5M
 Was named one of E!’s Top Entertainers of 2001
 He then played the same role in the titular movie, The Scorpion King in 2002
 Potential nominee in 2003 for a Razzy award for this film in the Worst actor category
 Considered for a Johnny Bravo film, but it was canceled in production
 He was still doing wrestling stuff while promoting himself in the acting field.
Other films Included:
 The Rundown in 2003
 Salary for this film was $12.5M
 Walking Tall in 2004
 Again, 2nd time potential nominee for the Razzy for worst actor in this film too in 2005
 Salary for this film was $15Million
 Accidentally smashed a tail light of a Porsche while filming this one.
[By 2004, quit wrestling and started to focus more on acting]
 However WWE continued to sell “The Rock” merchandise even after he stopped wrestling.
 “Be Cool” and “Doom “ in 2005
 Finally got nominated for the worst actor razzy for Doom in 2006
 Was Punk’d by Ashton Kutcher while filming Be Cool by getting his trailer set on fire.
 He didn’t really care much until they blamed the fire on him
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eZImayYJes)
 “Southland Tales” and “Gridiron Gang” in 2006
 “Reno 911!: Miami” and “The Game Plan” in 2007
 Nominated for a Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award for Favorite Movie actor of 2008, but lost to Johnny
Depp in Pirate of the Caribbean: At World’s End
 Get Smart in 2008
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Disney’s “Race to Witch Mountain” and voice acted in “Planet 51” in 2009
In 2010 he was in
 The Tooth Fairy
 Tyler Perry’s Why Did I get Married Too?
 The Other Guys
 You Again
 Where he is uncredited as the air marshal
 Faster
 In 2011 he was in Fast Five
 grossed at over $86 million its opening weekend, making it the best opening for a 'Fast & Furious' film,
the biggest opening for an April release, and Johnson's best opening weekend.
 In 2012 he is said to appear in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, GI Joe: Rehabillitation.
 Other films rumored for the future include: Snitch, Empire State, Arabian Nights, Goliath, Fast and Furious 6.
Other Accomplishments:
 Was also featured in several video games (IMDB lists them)
 Has a wax figure of himself in Madame Tussasud’s Museum
 Skilled light tackle salt water fisherman
 Ranked #61 on VH1’s 100 Hottest Hotties
 Honored by the Congressional Award in Washington, DC on June 19, 2008 with the Horizon Award.
 The Horizon Award is a special recognition from the United States Congress and the Congressional Award
Board of Directors. It’s presented to individuals from the private sectors who have contributed to
expanding opportunities for all Americans through their own personal contributions, and who have set
exceptional examples for young people through their successes in life.
 In 2008 was the presenter at 80th Annual Academy Awards for Best Visual effects category
 Hosted 2009 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards in 2009
 Co-Wrote his autobiography “The Rock Says…” with Joe Laden in 2000 and it debuted at #1 on the New York
Times Bestseller List.
 August 2004: Dwayne Johnson was crowned a "high chief" after paying an emotional visit to his mother's
native Samoa.
 The Rock was given the title of "Son of Malietoa", by his Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II.
Fun Facts:
 Fear of Spiders
 Wants to play a James Bond Villain. His grandpa, Peter Malavia was in “You only live Twice”
 Has tattoos of cultural significance covering his left shoulder and upper chest (http://www.westlord.com/dwaynejohnson-the-rock-early-life/)
 His Twitter name is @TheRock
Friends:
 Michael Clarke Duncan (actor)
 Accidentally hit him in the face during a fight sequence when filming The Scorpion King
 His “Boys” Jon M Chu (director) and RayPark (actor) (http://www.whosay.com/DwayneJohnson/photos/54910)
 Dwayne and Ray will appear together in the film GI Joe: Rehabilitation upon its release directed by Jon.
 Hugh Jackman (actor) (http://www.impeccabledwaynejohnson.org/index.php/pages/biography/)
 Arnold Schwarzenegger (former governor and actor)
 Haku, also known as Tonga Fifita (wrestler)
 Was also best man at DJ’s wedding
Philanthropy:
 Johnson and Garcia have remained close to their alma mater, giving a $2-million donation in 2006 to build a living
room at the University's Newman Alumni Center.
Other Sources include: IMDB, Johnson’s Autobiography, FilmReference.com