Dwayne Johnsons Complicated Relationship With His Father Explained

Numerous members of illustrious families have competed inside the squared circle in the wrestling world. Generation after generation, these family clans have sent their offspring to the industry to become stars. The Rock and his father, ‘Soulman’ Rocky Johnson, were just two of those talented wrestling families. To get into the wrestling industry, Dwayne Johnson turned to his father. However, the two always had a complex relationship as father and son. Here is a look at The Rock‘s relationship with his father, the great Rocky Johnson.

A trailblazer in the wrestling industry, Rocky Johnson won the first major championship for a Black wrestler. He won the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Georgia Heavyweight Championship and the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship during his career in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2008, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Rocky Dwayne’s relationship with his father was strained despite Rocky’s success in the ring. Dwayne Johnson and Ata Maivia were left to fend for themselves by Rocky, who frequently disappeared from his family’s life. He revealed in his autobiography, “The Rock Says…”, that he often felt abandoned as a child due to his father’s absence.

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Additionally, Rocky Johnson was kicked out of his house at the age of 13 and was subjected to tough love as a result, as he mentioned in an interview with The People.

“Growing up, and you know we specifically went with these timelines in my life that were very defining times at 10 years old, 15 and 18 … there’s a lot of things in between those years that took place … but it was complicated and the relationship that I had with my dad was incredibly complicated — that was fueled by tough love. My dad was kicked out of his house at 13 and he was homeless, so that then shaped the man who then raised me. And in that complication came an extraordinary life that was full of travel. I lived in 13 different states by the time I was 13 years old, also lived in New Zealand.”

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The strict and authoritarian parenting style of Rocky Johnson led to conflicts between him and his son as he grew up. The Rock discussed the physical and emotional abuse he suffered from his father in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying they had a complicated, tumultuous relationship. Despite this, Oprah made a toast to Rocky Johnson’s father, claiming their relationship was not over, but had evolved.

“I would like to make a toast to your father. I’d like to make a toast to the man who helped make you the man you that you are. May your relationship with him in the beyond be stronger, more profound and bring you all the love that you’ve always deserved.”

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As a result of his father’s success in wrestling, The Rock followed in his footsteps and became a WWE superstar. Their relationship remained fraught with tension as their careers progressed. Rocky Johnson confronted his son on WWE television in 2003, challenging him to a match. A father-son tag team match was supposed to be the centerpiece of the angle, but it never took place. Despite the tension between the two men, Dwayne later admitted that the segment was emotionally draining for him.

Rocky Johnson publicly criticized his son in 2008 for focusing on his acting career rather than returning to the WWE. Additionally, he accused Dwayne of neglecting his family and not being a good father. Dwayne continued to speak fondly of his father in interviews despite these public outbursts, expressing his admiration for Rocky’s accomplishments and acknowledging their difficult relationship.

Rocky Johnson passed away in January 2020, leaving behind a complicated legacy and a son who continues to struggle with their relationship. In an emotional post on Instagram, Dwayne wrote

“I love you. You broke color barriers, became a ring legend, and trailblazed your way through this world. I was the boy sitting in the seats, watching and adoring you, my hero from afar.”

Rocky Johnson’s complicated relationship with The Rock is a reminder that success and fame can still be impacted by family dynamics and personal struggles. Even though their relationship was fraught with tension and conflict, it is clear that they also shared love and respect for each other.

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