How Vince McMahon Protected Dwayne Johnson’s Most Priceless Asset Long Before His Hollywood Takeover

WWE legend and Hollywood superstar Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock was invited to The Joe Rogan Experience. In the episode, The Rock talked about his entrepreneurial venture, rumors of his presidential campaign, and his wrestling days.

After a few years in the wrestling business, The Rock successfully transitioned into Hollywood. Though his physique helped him become a household name across the globe, Vince McMahon considered something else as The Rock’s most precious asset. During one of the segments, The Rock talked about his former’s boss advice for him.

Vince McMahon gives special advice to a young Dwayne Johnson

Narrating the advice, The Rock said, “So when I was leaving Vince McMahon’s office, he says, ‘By the way, don’t go down there and cut your forehead up with razor blades.’ Ok got it. Because in wrestling there was a time that’s how you bled with razor blades and he goes, ‘I wanna protect this’ and I said, ‘Good. I do too.”

The incident in reference is before The Rock made his debut in WWE in 1996. Back then, it was a common practice for wrestlers to bleed by using razors on their foreheads. It was also common for many smaller wrestling promotions to use violence as a means to attract an audience. Moving to a smaller wrestling promotion was also the idea of Vince McMahon. But why?

As per Dwayne Johnson, Vince wanted The People’s Champion to learn more about the wrestling business before joining WWE. Johnson recalled, “He [Vince] said ‘You’re not ready for WWE, you’re not ready for big time.” He further explained why the boss wanted him to join a wrestling promotion in Tennessee.

The Rock said, “You’re gonna go down there, learn how to cut your teeth down there, learn how to work, learn the business and when you’re ready, if you’re ready, I will bring you up.” These were the words of advice and encouragement from Vince McMahon to The Rock.

Read more: Dwayne Johnson Gets Dragged by History-Breaking WWE Champion Who Calls The Rock a “Showman”

But this was not the only life-changing advice The Rock received in his early days.

Dwayne Johnson receives life-changing advice

In the same podcast, The Rock revealed that despite being the son of Rocky Maivia and a member of the Anoa’i family, it was Pat Patterson who introduced him to the big boss of WWE. Pat Patterson was a former wrestler and the right-hand man of Vince McMahon in the 90s.

Johnson asked Patterson to give him either an offer or advice to kick-start his wrestling career. Patterson advised The Rock to work as a heel. In the coming years, it turned out to be a life-changing decision for the People’s Champion who developed the greatest rivalry with Steve Austin.

What do you think about Vince McMahon’s advice to The Rock?

Watch this story: Joe Rogan and Chael Sonnen’s most iconic moments in the UFC