“A Lot of Racial Prejudice”: Dwayne Johnson Goes Unfiltered on His Father’s Hardship to Make a Name in Pro Wrestling

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a name that needs no introduction. From his stint in the WWE to his numerous box-office blockbusters, everyone knows and loves The People’s Champion. Recently, Johnson took to Instagram to share his joy on his father’s birthday, August 24, and celebrate the man that Rocky “The Soulman” Johnson was.

Rocky Johnson was a historic wrestler – not only was his the first black Wrestler to win the Georgia Heavyweight Championship, but he also set a landmark with Tony Atlas by being the first black champions in the WWE when he won the World Tag Team Championship in 1983. The Brahma Bull talked candidly about his relationship with his dad, what his dad taught him, and the importance of Rocky Johnson in the world of black athletes.

Dwayne Johnson talks about the impact his dad had

Addressing his fans after a rough and satisfying workout in the ‘Iron Paradise’, Johnson said, “My dad, he was a bad dude in the game as i like to say, in the world of pro-wrestling. He came up at a very hard time, when there was a lot of racial prejudice. He came up in the 60s and 70s. That was a hard business at that time, in the world of pro-wrestling before it became this global juggernaut that it is today.”

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Johnson choked up as he shared the impact his father had on the world of pro-wrestling and on the African-American community as well, revealing that many black athletes have come up to him saying that ‘The Soulman’ was their inspiration. Johnson even gave a very particular example, saying, “Mike Tyson, my boy Mike Tyson, told me long time ago when I first met him, like “Man your dad was my inspiration.” That shit blew me away because Mike was my inspiration and you know I got a lot of love and respect for my brother Mike. He was one example of many great athletes who looked at my dad in that way and really illuminated my dad’s work ethic.” 

Dwayne Johnson continues in his dad’s footsteps

Johnson is truly his father’s son. Despite their admittedly “problematic” relationship, The Great One has always been a source of support for his community, be it black or Samoan. Johnson has been nothing but proud of his identity and his heritage, and always gives back to the people whenever he can.

For many fans, it is ‘The Rock’ who inspires them to get up and work till they earn respect or become somebody, just like The Rock’s father did for other athletes. No matter what they think of him, no one can deny that The Brahma Bull is truly one of the most inspiring athletes there is today.

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