Former WWE Head Writer Reveals the Former Champion Who Helped Out The Rock Immensely

The Rock had a roller coaster ride in the initial days of his WWE career. They debuted him as a happy babyface and his name was Rocky Maivia, which was a tribute to his father Rocky Johnson, and grandfather Peter Maivia.

As Rocky Maivia, The Rock won the Intercontinental Championship, but the fans became hostile towards him. They chanted ‘Die Rocky Die’ whenever he entered the arena. It was when he turned heel joining the Nation of Domination that The Rock became famous.

Recently, on The Hannibal TV podcast host, John Poz had a special guest, former WWE head-writer Vince Russo. They dedicated the episode to WrestleMania 14, and discussed one particular match, The Rock vs Ken Shamrock for the Intercontinental Championship.

While discussing, Vince praised Ken Shamrock and called him a stepping stone for The Brahma Bull’s success in WWE.

Russo stated, “Shamrock was such an integral part in The Rock becoming The Rock. I honestly feel if there wasn’t that Shamrock stepping stone, I don’t know if The Rock would have became The Rock. I don’t think Ken Shamrock gets enough credit for that, bro. He was so key to The Rock becoming The Rock and larger than life.”

Ken Shamrock was a hothead character in WWE back in the day. The Mixed Martial Artist turned pro-wrestler was the first feud for The People’s Champion alongside Stone Cold Steve Austin for the Intercontinental Championship when The Rock turned heel in 1997.

At WrestleMania 14, Ken Shamrock lost via disqualification and The Rock kept the title. The Brahma Bull could get over the fans while he was feuding with Shamrock. His hothead character made The Brahma Bull play mind games with Shamrock and win matches with disqualification.

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Dwayne Johnson admires Shamrock’s contribution to his career and the Attitude Era. When Ken Shamrock was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame, The Brahma Bull, at the request of Shamrock, inducted him and also shared a speech via a video. 

WWE didn’t know what to do with The Rock in 1997

Dwayne Johnson debuted as Rocky Maivia and quickly cemented him as a WWE superstar to watch out for. However, fans quickly started turning hostile towards him and booing him. When he got injured in 1997, WWE didn’t know what to do with Dwayne Johnson. So they added him to the Nation of Domination.

Vince Russo explained it by saying, “I wasn’t really doing the writing yet when they decided to put him in the Nation. They put him in the Nation because they didn’t knew what to do with him.”

The Brahma Bull started referring to himself in third-person, The Rock. He did nothing in the ring and easily stole the thunder of the group while they were cutting a promo. The People’s Champion got over the fans being hostile towards him and then went on to become the greatest WWE superstar of his generation.

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