10 Fascinating WWE Backstage Facts About The Rock
Everyone knows Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, but not everyone knows these facts!
Wrestling's Mount Rushmore would be incomplete without the face of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson carved into it. This once-in-a-lifetime multi-media star has risen to the top of almost every venture he has taken, climbing to the heights of WWE/F and Hollywood, respectively.
The fact that he's still considered one of the best of all time by wrestling fans and draws insane box office numbers from those who've never even seen an episode of SmackDown is a testament to how much of a megastar The Rock is. The Brahma Bull's influence is undeniable.
Johnson's iconic wrestling career has been well-documented, with his highs and lows forming some of the best stories ever seen in the industry. However, while most fans learned what they needed to know about The Great One from television and live events; there's plenty more to unpack behind the People's Champion.
Backstage stories, facts, and surprises are things that wrestlers cannot avoid, as WWE is a bizarre place where these gifted performers experience plenty of toil and fun. Thus, it comes as no shock that The Rock, in his storied career, has built up many fascinating tidbits.
Even the biggest Dwayne Johnson megafan will learn something new about him with these backstage facts.
10. Wrestling Initially Left Him So Broke He Nearly Quit
It's no secret that the wrestling industry can be a struggle for newcomers. The cost of travel, gear, beers, and more add up quickly, and it's not guaranteed that you'll earn much before making it big. This has led to plenty of hypothetical stars calling it quits before they can get the ball rolling, and The Rock came dangerously close to being one of them.
Dwayne Johnson started out in the industry with very little, especially during his developmental period before his debut as Rocky Maivia in 1996. At one particularly tough time, he turned to J.J. Dillon (an industry veteran who discussed this story on David Penzer's Sitting Ringside) and asked him to make some phone calls to "get me out of here [WWE]."
The Rock claimed he only had about two dollars in his pocket and wasn't sure if he could live like this, thanks to how vulnerable he felt. Thankfully, Dillon talked some sense into him and promised that he had a bright future ahead of him. He even loaned him some cash to keep him afloat, saving one of the biggest stars of his generation in the process.
Just think about that: money nearly became the reason why one of the biggest earning stars of WWE and Hollywood put a stop to his career. Perhaps this is a lesson in perseverance in the face of your dreams.