When Dwayne Johnson Became The Rock

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Submitted by Bill Casticart on Tue, 10/29/2024 - 08:10

Much of today’s wrestling superstars went into the family business. That’s true for Vince McMahon, Jr. founder of Titan Sports, Inc. and executive chairman of the board of directors of the WWE. It’s also true for one of the WWE’s biggest stars ever, The Rock. But you might not know that McMahon helped shape The Rock’s career right down to the name he fights under.

It’s All in the Family

McMahon, Jr. bought out his father’s regional wrestling promotion in 1982. Merging it with his own Titan Sports brand, he created a national wrestling organization that hosted bouts coast-to-coast. In doing so, he built on the work of his father, Vince McMahon, Sr., and his grandfather, New York City wrestling, boxing, and musical events promoter Roderick James "Jess" McMahon.

The Rock also comes from a long line of professional wrestlers. His grandfather, Peter Maivia, established their legacy in wrestling, continued by his father, wrestler Rocky Johnson. The Rock didn’t intend on following in the family’s footsteps, though. Then known by his given name of Dwayne Johnson, he preferred American football, at which he excelled, playing in college at The University of Miami and in the Canadian Football League.

When The Rock Met McMahon, Jr.

Because both families worked in the wrestling industry, they all knew one another. In fact, The Rock first met his future boss at age 11. McMahon, then 38, had founded Titan Sports three years before and purchased his dad’s company the year before. Johnson, the future football player, had no idea he had met the man who helped him establish his wrestling and acting careers and from whom he would eventually purchase a football league, the XFL.

What’s in a Name?

After ending his football career at the age of 23, Johnson turned to wrestling. Initially, he chose his wrestling name, paying homage to his father and grandfather in his choice: Rocky Maivia. The name didn’t resound well with fans, and neither did the baby-faced Johnson. McMahon and his colleague Jim Patterson addressed the issue, renaming Johnson “The Rock.” The name still homaged his dad, and the wrestler’s interviews began to reveal his pride in his ethnic heritage.

A Guiding Hand to Many

Although many people recognize McMahon, Jr., from his television persona to many wrestlers, he’s a consummate businessman who has provided a guiding hand for their careers. Wrestling fans can firmly place Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson into the category of wrestlers whose careers would not have been the same without McMahon, Jr.