8 Wrestlers Who Admitted To Cracking Under Pressure

2. The Rock

Rocky Maivia
WWE

One of the most dramatic career turnarounds in WWE history belongs to Dwayne Johnson, whose transformation from Rocky Maivia to The Rock took him from failed vanilla babyface to a persona that would make him the most successful man in the business.

As infallible as the man may seem, the vitriol got to a young Rock. He revealed as much in an interview for Oprah's Master Class in 2016, speaking specifically on his experience at WrestleMania 13, where his match with the Sultan was met with loud "Rocky sucks!" chants - like many before and after it.

"That was a sobering moment. It wasn't me personally that they didn't like: it's that I wasn't being me. I wasn't being real or authentic. Who is this guy in wrestling who's smiling when he's getting beat?"

This potential spirit crusher came a short while before a knee problem placed Maivia on the injury reserve. Things would be different when he came back, Vince McMahon promised, pitching that Rock may as well go heel if the people are going to boo him anyway, and thus began the meteoric rise.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.