ironworks
05-02-2012, 04:31 PM
Feed Source: Bleacher Report
Today is the 40th birthday for one of WWE's most recognizable and popular superstars in history. The Rock has hit the fourth decade of electrifying crowds and being a champion of the people.
All the while, The Rock has accomplished so much in the world of professional wrestling, as well as becoming a big movie star and a massive pop culture figure.
After a great high school and college football career, The Rock attempted to make it in professional football. He only got as high as the Canadian Football League before being cut and turning to the family profession of pro wrestling.
The Rock's bloodlines run deep through pro wrestling as he is a member of the legendary Anoa'i family tree, one of the greatest wrestling families ever. The Rock's father was Rocky Johnson, while his grandfather was High Chief Peter Maivia. Both men are currently Hall of Famers. The Rock was considered the first third-generation superstar when he came up to the main roster in WWE in 1996.
Quite simply, The Rock had one of the greatest rookie years of all-time. Go to the starts for Brock Lesnar, Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio all you want, but The Rock debuted in Madison Square Garden at the 1996 Survivor Series and was the sole survivor. Three months later, under the ring name of Rocky Maivia, he won the Intercontinental Championship.
Survivor Series 1998 was the setting for The Rock to win the Deadly Game tournament and become what was then the youngest WWE Champion of all-time. It also made him the first man with African-American descent to win the title.
The Rock was so electrifying and so entertaining that despite a few turns at being a heel, he was often cheered once he became The Rock. He was one of those men, along with Stone Cold Steve Austin, who blurred the line of being a face or a heel during WWE's Attitude Era. Austin and The Rock were the two biggest draws at the time and fought three times at WrestleMania.
The Rock was considered one of the greatest among a time period where his competition was about as tough as it had ever been in history. The Rock was around during the times of Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Kane, Chris Jericho and many others.
The Rock eventually made a splash in Hollywood, taking the role of The Scorpion King in The Mummy franchise. It became the launching point for other wrestlers to become movie stars. The sequel in 2002 called The Scorpion King was The Rock's first starring role and was the first film partially produced by WWE. This investment eventually morphed into the WWE Films that we see today. Well, a few of us see it, anyway.
All in all, The Rock is a nine-time world champion, a tag team champion on five occasions, a two-time Intercontinental Champion, a former Royal Rumble winner and the sixth man to become a Triple Crown Champion in WWE history.
Rocky also took over The Nation of Domination, as well as became The Corporate Champion for Vince McMahon's Corporation faction, the only two factions in his career. The Rock is also one of only 14 men in WrestleMania history to have competed in at least nine WrestleMania contests.
There have been significant moments in WWE history which had The Rock at the forefront. It was The Rock who helped name Smackdown, which became the second show for WWE and eventually became its own brand. The word "smackdown" is actually in the dictionary now, in part from its usage by The Great One.
The Rock was also the many who had the deciding fall that ended the Invasion storyline against WCW and ECW. It was also The Rock who, when the roster was split between the RAW and Smackdown brands, was the first man to be drafted in the first-ever WWE draft in 2002.
Forty years old is hardly an age to consider an athlete old, especially in the shape that The Rock is in. In professional wrestling, legends like The Rock are ageless. It's absolutely feasible for The Rock to still remain a top star in WWE today. His increased size, as well as his constant speed and agility, make him an incredible worker in the ring.
The Rock has that rare blend of so many athletic traits, as well as having such great charisma and microphone skills. Despite being larger than life, The Rock is somehow relatable to fans and has used his status with a microphone to make a joke at everyone's expense. Years before CM Punk dropped pipebombs, The Rock was verbally lashing his opponents.
The Rock has expressed his desire to be WWE Champion again following his WrestleMania win back in April. Since proclaiming that as a goal, The Rock has not appeared on television since. Perhaps it will be a belated birthday gift for The Great One during his 40th year.
Today is the 40th birthday for one of WWE's most recognizable and popular superstars in history. The Rock has hit the fourth decade of electrifying crowds and being a champion of the people.
All the while, The Rock has accomplished so much in the world of professional wrestling, as well as becoming a big movie star and a massive pop culture figure.
After a great high school and college football career, The Rock attempted to make it in professional football. He only got as high as the Canadian Football League before being cut and turning to the family profession of pro wrestling.
The Rock's bloodlines run deep through pro wrestling as he is a member of the legendary Anoa'i family tree, one of the greatest wrestling families ever. The Rock's father was Rocky Johnson, while his grandfather was High Chief Peter Maivia. Both men are currently Hall of Famers. The Rock was considered the first third-generation superstar when he came up to the main roster in WWE in 1996.
Quite simply, The Rock had one of the greatest rookie years of all-time. Go to the starts for Brock Lesnar, Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio all you want, but The Rock debuted in Madison Square Garden at the 1996 Survivor Series and was the sole survivor. Three months later, under the ring name of Rocky Maivia, he won the Intercontinental Championship.
Survivor Series 1998 was the setting for The Rock to win the Deadly Game tournament and become what was then the youngest WWE Champion of all-time. It also made him the first man with African-American descent to win the title.
The Rock was so electrifying and so entertaining that despite a few turns at being a heel, he was often cheered once he became The Rock. He was one of those men, along with Stone Cold Steve Austin, who blurred the line of being a face or a heel during WWE's Attitude Era. Austin and The Rock were the two biggest draws at the time and fought three times at WrestleMania.
The Rock was considered one of the greatest among a time period where his competition was about as tough as it had ever been in history. The Rock was around during the times of Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Kane, Chris Jericho and many others.
The Rock eventually made a splash in Hollywood, taking the role of The Scorpion King in The Mummy franchise. It became the launching point for other wrestlers to become movie stars. The sequel in 2002 called The Scorpion King was The Rock's first starring role and was the first film partially produced by WWE. This investment eventually morphed into the WWE Films that we see today. Well, a few of us see it, anyway.
All in all, The Rock is a nine-time world champion, a tag team champion on five occasions, a two-time Intercontinental Champion, a former Royal Rumble winner and the sixth man to become a Triple Crown Champion in WWE history.
Rocky also took over The Nation of Domination, as well as became The Corporate Champion for Vince McMahon's Corporation faction, the only two factions in his career. The Rock is also one of only 14 men in WrestleMania history to have competed in at least nine WrestleMania contests.
There have been significant moments in WWE history which had The Rock at the forefront. It was The Rock who helped name Smackdown, which became the second show for WWE and eventually became its own brand. The word "smackdown" is actually in the dictionary now, in part from its usage by The Great One.
The Rock was also the many who had the deciding fall that ended the Invasion storyline against WCW and ECW. It was also The Rock who, when the roster was split between the RAW and Smackdown brands, was the first man to be drafted in the first-ever WWE draft in 2002.
Forty years old is hardly an age to consider an athlete old, especially in the shape that The Rock is in. In professional wrestling, legends like The Rock are ageless. It's absolutely feasible for The Rock to still remain a top star in WWE today. His increased size, as well as his constant speed and agility, make him an incredible worker in the ring.
The Rock has that rare blend of so many athletic traits, as well as having such great charisma and microphone skills. Despite being larger than life, The Rock is somehow relatable to fans and has used his status with a microphone to make a joke at everyone's expense. Years before CM Punk dropped pipebombs, The Rock was verbally lashing his opponents.
The Rock has expressed his desire to be WWE Champion again following his WrestleMania win back in April. Since proclaiming that as a goal, The Rock has not appeared on television since. Perhaps it will be a belated birthday gift for The Great One during his 40th year.