Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made his WWE in-ring debut as Rocky Maivia at Survivor Series, on November 17, 1996, in an eight-man elimination tag team match.
The Rock was the sole survivor and eliminated the final two members of the opposing team, Crush and Goldust.
On a recent edition of his “The Snake Pit” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts discussed The Rock’s WWE debut at Survivor Series 1996, his relationship with The Great One’s family, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On his history with The Rock’s family: “I used to travel with his father, Rocky Johnson. But I traveled with him of course, and met his mother and all that back in — oh, gosh, back when I was in Florida. Just a young kid [Rock], and then years later — that kind of tells you you’re getting old whenever you’re thinking about a nine-year-old boy and now all of a sudden, he’s 19 or 20. Ynd you’re like, ‘Holy s**t, what happened there?’ So 12 years went by, I don’t even remember it. But so when he came into the WWF, it was cool, man.”
On a young Rock: “His dad wrestled. His grandfather wrestled. My dad wrestled. It’s one big family-type situation. And he was real humble. His body was just unbelievable. Of course, you know, he had it all. All he needs to learn. That was how to have a character be a character. Does he add all the parts and pieces? He just didn’t know how to use them, how to project them, or how to get them over. But he learned quickly.”
On whether he spent time with Peter Maivia: “No, I didn’t, I was never around him. I spent a lot of time with Rocky Johnson but never around the chief. I missed that.”
On Rocky Johnson being too cartoonish: “Too much. Yeah. Too soft. Yeah, it was a cartoon. Everything was loose.”
On The Rock’s debut gimmick: “You gotta start somewhere.”
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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a name that is synonymous with professional wrestling. Known for his charismatic personality, incredible athleticism, and larger-than-life persona, The Rock has become one of the most beloved and successful wrestlers in history. But do you know how it all started for him?
On November 17, 1996, The Rock made his WWE in-ring debut as Rocky Maivia at Survivor Series. He participated in an eight-man elimination tag team match and emerged as the sole survivor, eliminating the final two members of the opposing team, Crush and Goldust. This debut marked the beginning of an illustrious career that would see The Rock become a household name.
Recently, WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts discussed The Rock’s WWE debut on his podcast, “The Snake Pit.” Roberts revealed that he had a history with The Rock’s family, particularly his father, Rocky Johnson. Roberts used to travel with Rocky Johnson and even met The Rock when he was just a young boy. He described The Rock as humble and praised his incredible physique, which he inherited from a long line of wrestlers in his family.
Roberts also discussed how The Rock had to learn the art of character development and projection. While The Rock had all the physical attributes to succeed in the wrestling business, he initially struggled with fully utilizing them. However, Roberts noted that The Rock quickly learned and improved, becoming one of the most captivating characters in WWE history.
When asked about spending time with Peter Maivia, The Rock’s grandfather, Roberts admitted that he had never been around him. However, he did spend a significant amount of time with Rocky Johnson and described his wrestling style as “cartoonish” and “too soft.” This suggests that The Rock’s debut gimmick might have been influenced by his father’s approach to wrestling.
Despite any initial challenges, Roberts acknowledged that every wrestler has to start somewhere. And for The Rock, his debut as Rocky Maivia was just the beginning of an incredible journey that would see him become a global superstar both in and out of the wrestling ring.
Today, The Rock’s impact on the wrestling industry is undeniable. He has transcended the world of professional wrestling and achieved immense success as an actor, producer, and entrepreneur. His charisma, work ethic, and dedication to his craft have made him an inspiration to millions of fans around the world.
In conclusion, The Rock’s WWE debut at Survivor Series 1996 marked the beginning of a legendary career. From his humble beginnings as Rocky Maivia to his transformation into The Rock, he has left an indelible mark on the wrestling industry. Through hard work, determination, and a larger-than-life personality, The Rock has become one of the most iconic figures in both wrestling and entertainment history.