Dwayne Johnson made it big in Hollywood after a successful career in pro wrestling. After slow beginnings, DJ established himself as one of Hollywood’s top stars. Many of those who saw The Rock in his WWE days knew sooner or later he would flourish. But many raised questions about his ability as an actor when he first ventured into the film industry. This included a popular radio show host as well.
Johnson has become one of the biggest celebrities in the world today. He also enjoys a fan following that spans the globe.
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His peers laud him for his box-office drawing ability and what he has brought to the filmmaking industry since he rose to prominence. But this wasn’t always the case. Radio legend Howard Stern and his co-host Robin Quivers ‘once had a lot to say about The Rock when he was starting his Hollywood career.
Howard Stern had harsh words for Dwayne Johnson
Though Dwayne Johnson was hugely successful in WWE, he had to prove himself all over again when he went to Hollywood. Fans who had seen him in WWE knew he had the chops and the charisma to be a big-time movie star.
He started out with a role in The Mummy Returns in 2001, before landing his first major role in ‘The Scorpion King’ a year later. During this time, DJ made a few media appearances to promote his first major role in a movie. He also appeared on ‘The Howard Stern Show’ to talk about ‘The Scorpion King’. However, the hosts Howard Stern and Robin Quivers made some harsh comments about ‘The Brahma Bull’.
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At the very start of the interview, Stern mentioned that his co-host Quivers didn’t want The Rock on the show. Stern then asked Quivers to explain this to The Rock. She replied, “He’s one of the worst we ever had. He didn’t stop being The Rock for a second. I don’t know who this person is.”.
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Although this would have made DJ awkward, he candidly brushed aside the harsh words and maintained his composure. Stern himself didn’t hold back and had even harsher things to say to The Rock. The radio legend said that if he didn’t use his Rock name, nobody would ever watch a movie starring Dwayne Johnson. He stated, “As Dwayne? Who’s going to go to a Dwayne Johnson movie? I mean, honestly.”
Though he maintained his silence and dignity then, Dwayne Johnson eventually silenced both Stern and Quivers. The Rock went on to become one of the top stars of Hollywood, as well as being highly popular across the globe.
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Today, Dwayne Johnson is not merely a name, but a brand recognized worldwide. His net worth stands at $800 million and he is the highest-paid actor in the world right now. This, again, is a testament to his hard work and skill. But even after all this success, he has remained as humble and down to earth as he was during that tough interview. It would be interesting to hear how Howard Stern and Robin Quivers would react now after all the success The Rock has had.
Watch This Story: Broke teenager to highest paid Hollywood actor, the evolution of Dwayne The Rock Johnson