Everybody knows that wrestling is ingrained in the DNA of Dwayne Johnson. The Great One comes from the Anoa’i family of Samoan descent. The Rock’s father, the late great Rocky Johnson, was of Black Nova Scotian heritage, making The Rock half-Black and half-Samoan. Hence, The Rock was born with all the ingredients needed to become a force to be reckoned with in WWE. Dwayne Johnson shared a rare clip of his father teaming up with Tony Atlas in a match while a young Rock was seated in the front row.
Way before The Rock learned the ropes of wrestling, he grew up watching his father. As a young boy coming from a long line of legendary wrestlers, Dwayne had some huge shoes to fill. The Rock’s maternal grandfather Peter Maivia was also famous for his legacy in the wrestling business.
Although The Rock surpassed the legacy of his father, Rocky Johnson is still his muse.
Dwayne Johnson reminisces about watching his father’s match in 1983
Dwayne Johnson took to Instagram to post a rare clip of a match from 1983. Rocky Johnson teamed up with Tony Atlas against The Wild Samoans. Interestingly, The Wild Samoans are Dwayne Johnson’s uncles. Anyway, an 11-year-old young Rock is seen anxiously watching the match from the front row in the video.
The 10-time WWE Champion confessed that pro wrestlers were his superheroes as an 11-year-old boy watching wrestling.
“By the age of 5, my dad had me in the gym, kicking my little ass all over the wrestling mats.
By 12 he’d make me get up with him at 5am every Saturday and Sunday to go workout on the weights.
Discipline.
Extreme at times but that was his way.”
“This is why the gym will always be my sacred place
My therapy, my refuge.
All thanks to my old man’s tough love.”
“How f*cking insane were my dad and Tony’s genetics???!!”
Dwayne Johnson’s caption says a lot! Johnson imparted to his fans that he started hitting the gym at the age of 5. By 12, he woke up early at 5 am on the weekends and lifted weights with Rocky Johnson. This just goes to show the discipline The Rock embodies.
The tough love from his father made The Rock the man he is today. Johnson also added that the gym will always remain his sacred place due to his upbringing. The Rock also praised Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson’s insane genetics.
Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas defeated The Wild Samoans to become the first-ever black WWE Tag Team Champions
Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas were collectively billed as “The Soul Patrol”. In 1983, The duo beat Wild Samoans to make history. Atlas and Johnson emerged as the first-ever black WWE Tag Team Champions. Although Rocky Johnson won an array of Championships throughout his career in NWA, this was his last Championship in WWE.
The wrestling legend retired from wrestling in 1991. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame class of 2008 by his son, The Rock. On January 15, 2020, Rocky Johnson passed away at the age of 75.
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