Hack-Man Pro-Wrestling Humble Rock star grows Page

Last updated 17 November 2004


Humble Rock star grows

By Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald

When Dwayne Johnson strolled across the red carpet recently rolled out for the preview of his new movie The Rundown (Universal), the scene wasn't a chic LA movie theater but his very own hometown of (South Florida) Davie -- with family, neighbors, friends and starstruck fans joining the throngs outside Muvico Paradise.

''You have no idea what living in Davie does for me,'' said Johnson, better known as The Rock. ``My entire family is in Davie -- mom, dad, in-laws, grandmother, brother-in-law, sister-in-law. I moved everybody into Davie. I will never leave Davie. I might be able to have five houses all around the world, but Davie will always be home.''

The Rock and his lovely wife Dany moved into their brand new house in west Davie in May 1999. A week before the Hollywood premier of his latest flick, he returned home to celebrate with the hometown crowd.

``The fact that I go to Pizza Heaven (Weston). The fact that I go to Chicken Kitchen (Davie) and Dunkin Donuts (Sunrise) keeps my feet firmly planted on the ground.''

Well, using those feet to walk proudly on that red trail -- just several miles from his spacious Davie home -- with Dany by his side, The Rock signed some autographs outside Muvico for admiring fans who waited anxiously.

''He's so sexy,'' said Jessica Miller of Coconut Creek. ``I wanted to meet him because he's so hot.''

''I never ever considered myself a sex symbol at all,'' said The Rock, dubbed in 1999 one of the Miami Herald's breakthrough people of the new millennium. ``I'm still the same guy to me who gets up in such a fog that I can't find the bathroom. My breath stinks. I got one eye open.''

But World Wrestling Entertainment's The Rock became People Magazine's Sexiest Wrestler in 1999. The legend snowballed as everyone wanted a piece of The Rock.

``It's one thing when you're like People Magazine's sexiest people, but when you're In Style's sexiest people, it's like, `Wow.'''

How does Dany accept that moniker along with his on-screen relationships with his female co-stars?

''Dany's great,'' The Rock said. ``She's very secure with our relationship. As long as she thinks I'm the sexiest cat walking the earth, that's all that matters to me.''

Well, all things considered, in The Rundown, The Rock did not lip-lock the beautiful Rosario Dawson (Mariana). Quite a change from the Scorpion King.

''When he kissed Kelly Hu (Cassandra in the Scorpion King), I took my right fist and smacked him in the back of the head,'' Dany smiled. ``This one (The Rundown) there was no kissing scenes so it was much more enjoyable.''

The Rock participated in a Q&A with contest winning fans after the special screening at Muvico. The audience roared when he said he will return to wrestling and 'Lay The Smackdown On Candy Booty.' Just not right now. Other Universal movie projects are top priority.

''I still have a contract with WWE. It's up withing a year,'' he said. ``The biggest acquisition has just been my name and all rights to my name.

``The great thing is I know I can count on Vince [McMahon] opening the door for me and allowing me to go back, even if it's one night, a year or five nights a year -- letting me go back and have fun. Everytime I go back I just want to have fun. I want to entertain the fans, and I love going back and walking that very, very fine line of babyface and heel.''

The Rock made one female fan's day with a hug, eliciting screams from the female contingent in the audience. He joked about not winning the Oscar for The Scorpion King -- especially with lines like `I come for the woman and your head.'

To prepare for The Rundown, The Rock worked with an acting coach and learned from The Rundown director Peter Berg and actor Christopher Walken (Hatcher), the movie's villain.

Fans also inquired about his stuntwork in the movie (he did all but two), what dorm was home at UM, working with Seann William Scott (great, he was all buffed) and who else does he want to work with in Hollywood (Halle Berry).

Standing along the wall of the theater, Dany gave her blessing as the crowd applauded and laughed. The Rock simply smiled.

After answering questions from fans who won tickets to the special screening at Muvico, The Rock, Dany, his mother Ata, his grandmother Lia, former wrestler Meng, his brother-in-law Hiram and several Miami Dolphins including Junior Seau and Jason Taylor attended a follow-up screening of the flick.

'When I'm out in Hollywood and people ask me where else do you live, and I tell them I live in a little town called Davie, they say, `Where's Davie?' I say, `It's a little country town. It's outside of Fort Lauderdale. It's known for the annual Davie Rodeo, and the Miami Dolphins have their training facility there.''

Speaking of training, he is learning a new trade.

''A lot of entertainers switch from singing to TV to movies,'' said fan Jackson Innocent, 23, of Pompano. ``I think pro wrestling to movies is a good transition for him.''

And a smooth one.

Pro wrestling is scripted entertainment with action, comedy and drama. Couple that with Rock's good looks, charisma and sex appeal, and Hollywood is grinning wide, proclaiming him the next big action star.

'It's very flattering and appreciated, but I never got into film to be the next 'guy.' I got into film to grow, to challenge myself as well as make good movies that are entertaining and fun.''

Riding the wave of his pro wrestling fame in WWE, The Rock's movie debut occured with a small part as the Scorpion King in the action hit The Mummy Returns (Brendan Fraser).

''Whether it's from pro wrestling to movies or from singing to movies like what J-Lo did, it doesn't surprise me of his success at it,'' said Jorge Gonzalez, 21, of Hialeah. ``The Rock is the best.''

Pro wrestlers Hulk Hogan (Rocky III, Mr. Nanny, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando), Rowdy Roddy Piper (They Live, Tough & Deadly, No Contest) and Jesse Ventura (Running Man, Predator, Batman & Robin) made their run at big screen stardom. Now, Triple H and Kevin Nash are working on roles in major motion pictures, and WWE is starting its own film company.

''When I broke into film, I never compared myself to any of those guys, and I never thought, `Wow, I hope my movie is better than such-n-such's movie or this guy's movie,'' he said. ``I just want to make entertaining movies and be a decent actor as I still do. The respect I have for acting in immense. After being in it three years, I know the hard work it takes to become an artist in this craft, the craft of acting. It is very compelling and very satisfying, but it's tough.''

As quickly as he climbed the pro wrestling ladder in WWE, The Rock reached another level in movie making. He parlayed the character the Scorpion King into his own movie of the same name and first starring role. Universal believed in The Rock, signing him to a $5.5-million deal for that project.

It marked one of the highest sums paid to an actor in his first starring role. In accordance with the deal, WWE chairman Vince McMahon agreed to be executive producer (as well as in The Rundown), and WWE also received production credit.

WWE is also venturing in movie making with its own production company. Will The Rock be involved in any WWE movie projects?

''WWE hasn't asked me,'' The Rock hesitated. ``I'm open to any ideas as long as the story is good and as long as it makes sense.''

The Scorpion King made lots of sense and dollars. Records were broken as the movie took home $36.2-million opening weekend, surpassing the previous record for April set by The Matrix in 1999 which scored $27.8-million. To date, The Scorpion King grossed more than $400-million worldwide.

''I don't necessarily have a deal for a certain amount of movies with Universal,'' The Rock said. ``They are considered my movie home, and I have a great relationship with them. From the beginning, they took a chance by offering me a role in The Mummy Returns, took a big chance by offering me The Scorpion King, took a bigger chance with The Rundown. They're very proud of that and very proud to say they're a part of my success, and I'm proud to share that with them as well because they've been great and very loyal.''

The Rundown marks the third movie venture for The Rock, second in a starring capacity.

''The Scorpion King was a great first role for me, being period movies,'' he said, ``but it was nice to get away from that and get into a contemporary film with The Rundown and play a contemporary character with some complications and flaws and contemporary interests. Basically, it was great.''

With The Rundown opening Friday, Sept. 26, The Rock's movie career continues to grow. Playing the tough Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser, The Rock just completed filming an action remake -- with Johnny Knoxville (Jack Ass) -- of the 1970s movie Walking Tall, set to be released in the spring. He is currently preparing to star in Spy Hunter, an adaptation of the successful video game.

''My thoughts on his movie success are simple. I am ecstatic for him,'' said Jim Ross, executive vice president of talent relations for WWE. ``We are friends, and I'm always happy when my friends do well. I can't wait for him to earn a People's Oscar. Success begets success, and he is a WWE guy.''

Who ever thought this former back-up defensive tackle for the University of Miami football team would someday be a household name?

Dany Garcia did.

''I think it was a natural occurence. He was doing what he was doing in pro wrestling. He was growing, having great success. Dwayne's always been someone who's been looking to further grow and try new things,'' said Garcia, a former member of the UM crew team.

After his star power quickly rose in WWE, he started receiving offers from various TV shows. The Rock appeared on That 70's Show (playing his father Rocky, a wrestling legend), The Net, Star Trek: Voyager, DAG and Saturday Night Live.

''Once he got the opportunity to do television scenes it was just a natural growth process into movies because he does have the talent; he does have the skill and the timing,'' Garcia said. ``It is something I thought was well deserved, and I knew it was going to happen. I knew when I met him when he was 18-years-old.''

That's not all. His autobiography The Rock Says reached No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and he inspired and appeared in Wyclef Jean's music video It Doesn't Matter. WWE applauds and misses The Rock.

''Rock is one of our most important assets, more so when we have the opportunity to have him perform in the ring,'' said Ross. ''The WWE brand will always be attached to this multi-talented individual because he got his start or ``break'' with our company. We are proud of him.''

Johnson capped his college legacy at the University of Miami with a degree in criminology/exercise physiology and a couple of rings, one for winning a football national title in 1991 and the other for marrying his college sweetheart Garcia.

''Football has provided a lot of opportunities for me,'' Johnson said. ``I was able to get a scholarship and earn a college degree. I met my wife, and I also had a chance to play pro football.''

After the 1994 season, Johnson signed with the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. He played one season on a Stampeders team that featured quarterback Doug Flutie. A wise move, he then opted to concentrate solely on pro wrestling.

Garcia made her own mark at UM, rowing for the college's crew team. When Johnson was a freshman, Garcia was a senior. They first met in the college's weight room.

''I saw this fantastic looking man, and I said, `Who is that?','' Garcia chuckled. ``He was so unique looking. After that we happened to meet at a club where many of the UM athletes hung out.''

A confident young man, Johnson always believed in himself, whether he was crashing through an offensive lineman, tackling the books or as a freshman courting his future wife, an upperclassmen. Garcia graduated in 1991 with a degree in international finance and marketing. Married in May 1997, they are proud parents of a 2-year-old daughter Simone.

Just think. the life of this former (Bethlehem, PA) Freedom High School All-American and UM defensive tackle could be different if his NFL dreams came to fruition. But playing behind star defensive tackle Warren Sapp of the now Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers limited Johnson's playing time his senior season at UM.

''What's funny and ironic is I laugh about this all the time when I watch him [Sapp] play. I couldn't be prouder of the guy -- arguably the best defensive tackle today and will go down in history as one of the best ever,'' The Rock said. ``Here's the question I ask: what would have happened if Warren decided not to switch over to defense because he came into UM as a tight end? What would have happened if I was just a little better at football. Even though I played backup, there are a lot of backups from UM who are now in the NFL.''

Johnson's CFL days didn't last long with injuries, and soon The Rock began a career in the family business -- pro wrestling.

``What happens if I was a little bit better in football? Where would I be? What happens if I was that much better that I didn't get cut from the CFL. (Laughs) I'm not too sure he (Sapp) has me to thank for his career [and vice-versa], but life is funny and unpredictable, and our situation is one we can certainly laugh at.''

Now he proclaims himself ''the most electrifying man in sports entertainment.'' But for The Rock, that boast is more than WWE grandstanding. The ''Peoples Champion'' is a record seven-time WWE champion, and hes also a bona fide mainstream personality whose résumé includes speeches at the Republican and Democratic national conventions in 2000. At the Republican soiree, The Rock introduced the Speaker of the House.

The real-life Dwayne Johnson was educated in the ways of the wrestling world since childhood. His father is Rocky Johnson who, along with Tony Atlas, formed the first African-American duo to win the WWE Tag Team Titles. His maternal grandfather, Samoan High Chief Peter Maivia, was a perennial contender for the WWE Heavyweight Championship and a Hawaiian wrestling promoter. After his death, Maivias wife Lia, The Rocks grandmother, became one of the few women to run a wrestling territory.

''I'll always be involved in wrestling, and I love wrestling,'' The Rock said. ``I love the business. I grew up in the business. I'll always have a passion for it.''

In between traveling the wrestling circuit with his father and grandfather, Johnson entertained his friends by responding to their greetings with a raised eyebrow -- a gesture as much a part of The Rocks persona as his catch phrases, ''If Ya Smell What The Rock Is Cookin'', ''Layeth the Smacketh Down'' ''Jabroni'' and ``Just Bring It''

He appeared in WWE in 1996 as Rocky Maivia -- the name was a tribute to his father and grandfather. WWE was cultivating its edgy attitude, and traditional, squeaky clean good guys no longer elicited cheers.

After spotting a sign reading, ''Die, Rocky Die,'' Johnson began altering his image, incorporating his quick, sarcastic wit into his in-ring monologues. After changing his attitude and calling himself The Rock, he embarked on one of the longest Intercontinental Championship reigns ever and begin a classic rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The Rock won his first WWE title in November 1998. In subsequent months, the jeers fans once directed at the performer were long forgotten. The Rock evolved into one of the most popular superstars in WWE. He was the ''Peoples Champion,'' often winning matches with a move called the ''Rock Bottom,'' followed by the ``Peoples Elbow.''

The Rock actually uses the Rock Bottom in The Rundown. He means more to WWE than his TV character.

''There is no doubt Rock's fans miss him, especially when we are promoting his projects, and the fans are reminded that Rock's not here every Monday night on RAW,'' Ross said. ``He's one of our finest locker room leaders and positive influences to our younger talent, and I miss having him around for those reasons, certainly not withstanding I love to watch him compete and perform.

``He's very special, and special talents do not grown on trees. We are also missing some smack talk about my Oklahoma Sooners and his Miami Hurricanes college football teams and who is No. 1?''

With his father Rocky working the pro wrestling circuit abroad, The Rock spent his childhood in San Francisco and Hawaii before spending his later high school years in Pennsylvania. A gifted athlete, he earned a football scholarship to the University of Miami.

''I was in Philadelphia visiting family at the time, and people were telling me to go to Freedom High School in Bethlehem,'' longtime UM coach Art Kehoe said in a past interview. ``They were saying, `You gotta see him. You gotta see him.'''

The Rock enjoyed his time at UM and supports the program 110-percent.

''He made it big in wrestling,'' Kehoe said. ``Boy, he chose the right one. Now, there's a big Rock sign on the Ben Franklin Bridge in Pennsylvania, and all our players now follow him. They want to know about The Rock instead of all our past All Americans.''

First known as Flex Kavana working the indie circuit, Johnson soon landed in WWE and became one of the fastest rising stars in pro wrestling history. Things began to take off when the babyface Rocky Maivia changed his ways and played a heel role (bad guy) which evolved into the arrogant, slick-talking, brash character The Rock.

''Obviously, I'm a fan of The Rock,'' former UM lineman Eric Schnupp, a 1995 (Miami) American High School graduate, said in a prior interview. ``To see The Rock become a superstar in [WWE] within two years is unbelievable. It shows what kind of talent he has to capture a crowd.''

With catch phrases 'Do You Smell What The Rock Is Cooking,' 'Know Your Role And Shut Your Mouth,' 'It Doesn't Matter What You Think' and 'Jabroni,' a star was born. The scripted, sports entertainment genre created by McMahon developed into a blend of comedy, drama and athleticism. It was the perfect medium for the character The Rock.

Along with Gorgeous George, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Stev Austin, The Rock helped bridge the gap between pro wrestling and Hollywood.

With 'that' look, charisma, humor and physique, the media hailed him as the next big action movie star. Male fans admire him, and female fans peg him as their sex symbol.

''I realized I could do this after appearances on the TV show The Net and hosting Saturday Night Live the first time,'' he said.

Now, The Rock awaits the reviews and box office numbers for his second major role as Beck -- a no-nonsense bounty hunter who must complete one final mission before he can leave the business and open his own restaurant -- in The Rundown.

In 1999, WWE introduced The Rock and Sock Connection featuring The Rock and Mankind, also known as best-selling author Mick Foley. The tandem sold many tickets, moved much merchandise and entertained the masses. The Rundown features The Rock and (Seann William) Scott Connection. Their goals are somewhat similar.

Even with all the successes, he is still Dwayne Johnson. He understands his popularity and gives to the community by signing autographs, posing for photos and assisting in numerous charities including Make A Wish and The Children's Miracle Network.

Governor Rock:

Jesse Ventura was a wrestler, action movie star and then Governor of Minnesota.

The Rundown co-star Seann William Scott grew up in Minnesota.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is an action movie star running for Governor of California.

Schwarzenegger also made a cameo in The Rundown.

Rock is a wrestler and action movie star.

Is politics his next arena?

'Absoluelty, unequivocably, no way in `Blue &^%$' would I ever run for Governor,'' The Rock said. ``A: I'd rather run for President. B: There's too much bull in politics.''

This article was originally found at http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/wrestling/6865893.htm


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