Most wrestling fans know that Johnson's "The Rock" persona only came about as a backlash against his earlier babyface character of Rocky Maivia. The heel turn was a hit with the fans, he was eventually made back into a face, and the rest is history. However, early shades of The Rock are very much present in Johnson's first ever wrestling gimmick, a character he portrayed in the Memphis-based United States Wresting Association. Acting as a sort of feeder-territory for young developing stars, the USWA allowed Johnson to hone his charismatic microphone abilities under the name of Flex Kavana. Interviews from the era show a character much closer to the eventual superstar Rocky would become, sharing the same intensity and cocksure attitude that would endear him to WWF fans in the Attitude Era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRx57e54PGE
