Dwayne Johnson's struggles before becoming the biggest movie star
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Kathy Hutchins/shutterstock
Kathy Hutchins/shutterstock
Not only is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson one of the biggest movie stars in the world today, he owns and runs many successful companies. You might think success had always come easy for Dwayne, who came to fame by being one of the most popular wrestlers, but that was not always the case.
In high school, Dwayne was a football star, one of the top ten defensive tackles in the country, but he was mainly a bench player in college. Johnson also dealt with depression after a shoulder injury that limited his playing time in college and his chances of a professional football career. No NFL team drafted him; a CFL team even cut him before he finished his first season.
Next, being broke with only seven dollars in his pocket, he tried to follow in his dad's footsteps and became a WWF wrestler, but struggled to get the fans to like him at first. The fans despised Dwayne's character unprecedentedly; they constantly chanted, "Rocky sucks" every chance they got. Johnson would reach his wrestling "rock bottom" when he lost the Intercontinental championship on a Raw episode in April 1998; he considered quitting wrestling then.
Despite all the booing, he persevered, especially once he realized the fans were not booing him but his character. Shortly after, Dwayne would switch from the Rocky Maivia act to The Rock, which would get him over with the fans. His popularity would skyrocket and make him the most popular wrestler in the early 2000s, leading him to try his hand at Hollywood next.
We all know what happened next: Dwayne would become the biggest movie star on the planet after starring in hits like Fast Five, Moana, and Jumanji. It is funny how a guy who was constantly booed in the wrestling ring now has almost 400 million followers on Instagram.
Social Media
Quotes
The gym became my best friend. You’re able to go to the gym to sweat out toxins and get a little bit more clarity when you walk out the door, It doesn’t fix the problem, but it helps.
Dwayne Johnson
Asking for help is not a weakness, As a matter of fact, asking for help is our superpower, and men, especially us, we fall into this trap of being really averse to vulnerability, because we always want to be strong and feel like we can take on the world.
Dwayne Johnson
That was my low because I'm at home, I have no money and I'm thinking my wrestling career is just like my football career. It's all just gonna end before it actually begins. I'm thinking Jesus Christ like do I go to law school because I wanted to work for the CIA. Well, I can't afford law school, and my study habits were the s--ts. Do I even consider UFC? I went well, I prefer not to get punched in the face. Do I go to Japan to wrestle in Japan? I don't know even if I could do that. I'd need a fresh start.
Dwayne Johnson
References
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CageMatch
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Dwayne Johnson has had ‘three bouts of depression’: ‘I didn’t know what mental health was’
Another experience with depression was during his divorce from his first wife, Dany Garcia, in 2008. At the time, Johnson said, he still didn’t know what depression was, and he again went through it alone.
Los Angeles Times
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Three Reasons Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Seven Bucks’ Story Is Worth Repeating
Johnson couldn’t afford a cab to the airport, so he asked a friend for a ride. His dad picked him up when he arrived in Miami. On the road home to his parents apartment in Tampa, Johnson looked at his wallet and realized he had only $7 to his name (a $5, a $1, and some change which he “rounded up to seven”).
Forbes
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Dwayne Johnson Discusses The Low Point of His WWE Career, Early Struggles
Years before wrestling Hulk Hogan at Toronto's Skydome in one of WrestleMania's most famous matches, or Steve Austin at the Astrodome in another iconic WrestleMania moment, Johnson was struggling as the Intercontinental Champion as fans openly revolted against his early push in 1996 and 1997.
ComicBook
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Throwback Thursday: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Gives the CFL a Shot
The Rock didn't make it to the NFL, but he did get a chance to play with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders in 1995. His stint in the league didn't last long. He was cut after just two months with the team.
Bleacher Report
