Long before Dwayne Johnson became “The Rock” we know and love today, he was cheering for another wrestling hero – his dad.
Rocky Johnson passed away suddenly on January 15, 2020, leaving behind an incredible legacy. Throughout his 75 years, he added many titles to his belt, including being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, winning the World Tag Team Championship, and most importantly, becoming a father.
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A young Dwayne could often be found cheering his dad on from the sidelines before he joined the wrestling world himself… with Rocky as his trainer!
One of his proudest moments came in 2008, when he got to welcome his father into the WWE Hall of Fame.
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Today, the actor credits Rocky for teaching him everything he knows. In fact, in 2018 Dwayne published a Father’s Day post to thank Rocky for showing him how to be an excellent parent to his own daughters.
“As a man and father of three girls, I know that tough love is … a lot better than no love at all,” he wrote. “I’ll take it. It’s made me who I am today. Grateful to the original Rock.”
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Obviously, Rocky means the world to his son. That’s why Dwayne decided to honor his idol with a heartfelt message of respect and admiration:
I love you. You broke color barriers, became a ring legend, and trail blazed your way through this world. I was the boy sitting in the seats, watching and adoring you, my hero from afar. … Grateful that you gave me life. Grateful you gave me life’s invaluable lessons. Dad, I wish I had one more shot to tell you, I love you, before you crossed over to the other side. … You lived a very full, very hard, barrier-breaking life and left it all in the ring. I love you, Dad, and I’ll always be your proud and grateful son.
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We’re sending all our love to the Johnson family as they mourn the loss of a legend. Rest in peace, Rocky. You will be missed!
Watch Dwayne’s moving tribute in the video below, and share this story to honor Rocky’s life.
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