Despite finding success as a college football player for the University of Miami, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson took up the family business when he joined the then WWF as Rocky Maivia. Initially despised by fans ("Die Rocky, Die!" chants weren't uncommon), it took no time at all for The Rock to become one of the most beloved and iconic wrestlers in history. Having won over the fans, it became clear as time passed that The Rock was something special, and the charismatic performer soon found himself thrust into the public spotlight on a worldwide scale. Did he outgrow the WWE? Not necessarily, but it was pretty obvious that he could find success elsewhere, so Johnson took the plunge and went to Hollywood. it was a risky move, but one which paid off in a major way. Just like he'd managed to win over fickle wrestling fans, The Rock soon became a legitimately bankable star, unlike most of wrestlers who had turned their hand to acting. He's now quickly getting to the stage where he's on an entirely different plane: he's a cultural phenomenon, in a similar way that Hulk Hogan was (only with more acting chops). Whether it's the way he inspires fans, his amazing workout regime, or the fact that he breaks records and officiates weddings like it's just a normal day in the life of The Great One, The Rock is undeniably one of the coolest men on the planet, and here's why...
