Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Then and Now: Be it wrestling or acting, the star has always looked buff
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: Jaw-dropping transformation over 25 years
At 51 years old, Dwayne Johnson has worn many hats throughout his almost 25-year career in the public spotlight. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson initially gaining recognition as a college football superstar. But his journey took a turn when he wasn't drafted into the NFL. Undeterred, he entered the professional wrestling world with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). After a successful career in wrestling until 2004, The Rock shifted his focus to acting, marking the beginning of an immensely successful chapter in his professional life.
Dwayne Johnson had big football dreams
Dwayne Douglas Johnson, widely acclaimed as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, initially ventured into the world of football. His journey began as a member of the Miami Hurricanes football team in 1991, culminating in winning the national championship during his freshman year. In 1995, Johnson earned a Bachelor of General Studies with a dual major in criminology and physiology. Following graduation, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League but was released two months into the 1995 season. According to the The Hollywood Reporter, had it not been for severe injuries to his shoulders and back, Johnson might have extended his football career into the NFL.
Wrestling debut in 1996
After parting ways with Calgary, Johnson transitioned to professional wrestling in 1996. Before becoming 'The Rock', Dwayne Johnson went by a different moniker when he embarked on his pro-wrestling journey in 1996. Initially known as "Rocky Miavia," the name held significance as it combined his father's first name and his grandfather's last name, both of whom were pro wrestlers. As he explained on WIRED's Autocomplete Interview with Emily Blunt in Aug. 2021, “My original nickname was ‘Rocky Miavia’ which was a combination of my dad’s first name and grandfather’s last name because both of them were pro wrestlers." Johnson even made his WWF debut as Rocky Maivia, Winning two Intercontinental Championship in 1997, the same year he had his first WrestleMania match.
Leaving behind his wresting days behind
Professional wrestling left an enduring impact on television, particularly during the dominant era of the 1990s. Dwayne Johnson, renowned as The Rock, left a memorable mark at the 1999 Emmy Awards alongside "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, taking on the role of presenting Emmy-vote counters. His presentation featured the showcase of his distinctive move, 'The People's Eyebrow'. In 2004, Dwayne Johnson made the decision to bid farewell to the world of professional wrestling and redirected his focus towards a career in acting. Before departing from the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), he had already begun establishing himself in the entertainment industry with notable roles, including an appearance in an episode of 'That '70s Show' in 1998 that was titled 'That Wrestling Show'. Another notable thing about 'The Rock' was his marriage to his first wife, Dany Garcia, in 1997. The couple publicly announced their separation after 10 years together in 2007. The ex-couple also had a daughter, Simone Johnson, born on August 14, 2001.
The Rock steps into the Hollywood limelight
By 2000, The Rock was neck deep in Hollywood projects. He made a notable appearance in the 'Star Trek: Voyager' episode 'Tsunkatse', portraying the character Seven of Nine. He then took on prominent roles in movies such as 'The Mummy Returns' (2001), 'The Scorpion King' (2002), 'The Rundown' (2003), and 'Walking Tall' (2004). This marked the beginning of his successful journey in the world of cinema. Unknown to some, in 2000, Dwayne Johnson also made a literary mark by publishing his autobiography, titled 'The Rock Says...', co-written with Joe Layden. The book made a remarkable debut at No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list. In 2007, Johnson also sparked a relationship with Lauren Hashian. The couple married on August 18, 2019, in Hawaii, and now reside in Los Angeles with their two daughters.
A man who wears many hats
Dwayne Johnson achieved his first major box-office triumph in 2011 by portraying the character Luke Hobbs in 'Fast Five' and reprised the character in 'Fast & Furious 6' too. The Rock also made a triumphant return to the wrestling ring after a seven-year hiatus in 2011 as well. Forbes bestowed upon Dwayne Johnson the title of the top-grossing actor of 2013. Johnson's cinematic success in 2013 extended to starring roles in two other blockbuster movies, namely 'Baywatch' and 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'. Johnson wasn't limited to his wresting and acting pursuits, as he went on to find his production company Seven Bucks Productions in 2012.
The Rock launches tequila brand
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's stellar trajectory has continued — from teaming up with Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot in Netflix's 'Red Notice' to producing the NBC series 'Young Rock', inspired by his life. He topped Forbes' highest-paid actor list in 2018 and 2019 again. Adding to his repertoire, Johnson ventured into entrepreneurship, launching his energy drink, ZOA, in 2021. Before that, he had launched his own tequila brand, Teremana Reposado, in early 2020. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson made a triumphant comeback to WWE on September 15, 2023 as a wave of nostalgic excitement swept through his fans. The revered 51-year-old icon energized the crowd in the initial moments of Smackdown, appearing in the midst of a heated exchange between Pat McAfee and Austin Theory.