The Rock outlines his life in "The Rock Says …"

Dwayne Johnson, better known to wrestling fans as The Rock, shares his life story in the appropriately named biography "The Rock Says …" which hit bookstands January 5th.

The book outlines the struggle for two eventual marriages; the union of Rocky Johnson to Ata Maivia (The Rock’s parents), and the courtship of The Rock and his wife Dany. The Rock’s grandfather, wrestling legend High Chief Peter Maivia, "vehemently opposed his daughter marrying Rocky Johnson."

The Rock met Dany Garcia in his freshmen year at the University of Miami at a nightclub. Garcia’s parents are Cuban immigrants, and rejected the relationship of their daughter and Johnson for three reasons. The Rock was half-black, had three years of college remaining without an income, and was three years younger than Dany.

In the book, Rock discusses his childhood. Life as the son of a wrestling legend, Rocky Johnson, meant frequent relocations - including stops in California, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania. The Rock was born on May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California.

The Rock realized he was born to be a professional wrestler, "by the time I was six years old I was practicing drop kicks and head locks on our dog," he recalls.

It was during his sophomore year of high school that the Rock’s family moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. At 6’4, 225 pounds, Dwayne stuck out and was noticed by the school’s wrestling coach. The Rock quickly realized that he was more interested in the entertaining aspects of the profession, not on the amateur skills, and quit the team.

He enjoyed a successful high school football career, leading recruiters from Florida State, Clemson, and the University of Pittsburgh to court Johnson. Despite a verbal commitment to Florida State, The Rock was more interested in a school not actively recruiting him - the Hurricanes of Miami. Johnson admitted that he contacted them.

Johnson also relieves that he was not the greatest student athlete. His grade point average after his first semester at the University of Miami was only 0.7. By the time of his graduation, he improved his GPA to 2.9.

It was during his college years that The Rock discovered that his father, now out of the wrestling business and struggling financially, had turned to the bottle. It may have been the wake up call the younger Johnson needed.

The Rock had aspirations of a NFL career, yet he went undrafted. He signed with the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL, but was later released. He returned and set out to do what he had been born to do - become a professional wrestler.

After being trained by his father, The Rock was offered a try out with the World Wrestling Federation. He debuted in Corpus Christi, Texas, and defeated mat veteran the Brooklyn Brawler in his pro debut.

The Federation sent Johnson to Memphis to improve his skills. He wrestled for six months as Flex Kavana in the now defunct USWA in Memphis. In August 1996, the Rock received the call he was anxiously awaiting.

Parental Warning: the book contains strong language.

[ HOME | [ LEGENDS/FREE AGENTS | [ WWE ROSTER | [ WWA ]