View source for Rocky Johnson

{{Short description|Canadian professional wrestler (1944–2020)}}
{{About|the Canadian professional wrestler|the American professional wrestler known as The Rock Johnson|Dwayne Johnson}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name        = Rocky Johnson
|image       = Rocky Johnson, circa 1983 02 (cropped).jpg
|caption     = Johnson in 1983
|names       = Sweet Ebony Diamond<ref name="OWOW"/><br />Drew Glasteau<ref name="OWOW"/><br />Rocky Johnson<ref name="OWOW"/><br /> "Soul Man" Johnson<ref name="OWOW"/>
|family      = [[Anoaʻi family|Anoaʻi]] (by marriage) 
|height      = {{cvt|6|ft|2|in}}<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/258 258]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/258}}</ref>
|weight      = 243 lb<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
|birth_name  = Wayde Douglas Bowles
|birth_date  = {{birth date|1944|8|24|mf=y}}
|birth_place = [[Amherst, Nova Scotia]], Canada
|death_date  = {{death date and age|2020|1|15|1944|8|24}}
|death_place = [[Lutz, Florida]], U.S.
|spouse      = {{ubl
  | {{marriage|Una Sparks|1966|1978|reason=divorce}}
  | {{marriage|Ata Maivia|1978|2003|reason=divorce}}
  }}
|children    = 8, including [[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne]]
|billed      = [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada<ref name=wwe/><br />[[Washington, D.C.]]
|trainer     = [[Peter Maivia]]<ref name=wwe/><br />Rocky Bollie<ref name="OWOW"/><br />[[Kurt Von Steiger]]<ref name="OWOW"/> 
|debut       = 1964<ref name="OWOW"/>
|retired     = 2004
}}
'''Rocky Johnson''' (born '''Wayde Douglas Bowles'''; August 24, 1944 – January 15, 2020) was a Canadian [[professional wrestler]].<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/rocky-johnson/|title=Rocky Johnson Profile|access-date=2008-04-28|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Among many [[National Wrestling Alliance]] titles, he was the first Black [[NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion]] as well as the [[NWA Television Champion]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|2 times]]). He won the [[WWF Tag Team Championship]] in 1983, along with his partner [[Tony Atlas]], to become the first black champions in [[WWE]] history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/rockyjohnson/bio|title=Superstars|website=WWE}}</ref> He was the father of actor and wrestler [[Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]] and the grandfather of wrestler [[Ava (wrestler)|Simone "Ava" Johnson]].<ref name=mick36>Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.36)</ref>

== Early life ==
Johnson was born Wayde Douglas Bowles in [[Amherst, Nova Scotia]], where he was raised, the fourth of five sons of Lillian ({{nee|Gay}}; 1919–1996) and James Henry Bowles (1888–1957).<ref name="slam">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/07/16/1134510.html|archive-date=2012-07-17|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717122827/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/07/16/1134510.html|title=Rocky Johnson returns home|access-date=2010-09-03|publisher=SLAM! Sports|date=2005-07-16 |url-status=usurped|quote=Growing up, Mr. Johnson was known as Wayde Bowles}}</ref><ref name=Solomon>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WrFWKBBQzAAC |last=Solomon|first=Brian|title=WWE Legends|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2006|page=146|isbn=0-7434-9033-9 |quote=He was born Wayde Douglas Bowles in Amherst, Nova Scotia, in 1944, the fourth of five sons born to James Henry Bowles and Lillian Bowles. His family members were descended from slaves who had escaped the plantations of the American South}}</ref><ref name="ringer">{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/2020/1/20/21070806/rocky-johnson-obituary-the-rock-dwayne-johnson|title=Where the Soul of Man Never Dies|access-date=January 25, 2020|publisher=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]|date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> As a [[Black Nova Scotians|Black Nova Scotian]], he was descended from [[Black Loyalists]] who immigrated to [[Nova Scotia]] after escaping from a [[plantation]] in the United States after the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref name=Solomon/> The Loyalist lineage traces back to Dembo Sickles, son of a chief in present-day [[Benin]] who was captured by slavehunters in 1762, brought to the United States, and later brought to [[Prince Edward Island]] in 1785 and bought his freedom in 1803, his granddaughter Maria Sickles migrated to Nova Scotia later in the same century.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cole |first1=Darrell |title=From slavery to celebrity, drawing a line from Africa to Hollywood - through Amherst, N.S. |url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/from-slavery-to-celebrity-drawing-a-line-from-africa-to-hollywood-through-amherst-ns-100688697/ |website=[[SaltWire]] |publisher=SaltWire Network |date= Feb 3, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tattrie|first1=Jon |author-link=Jon Tattrie |title='How am I related to The Rock?' Nova Scotia boy's question sparks museum exhibit |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-amherst-nova-scotia-family-history-1.6352097 |website=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date= Feb 18, 2022}}</ref>

At the age of 16, Johnson moved to [[Toronto]], where he began wrestling and worked as a truck driver.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.garywill.com/wrestling/canada/johnson.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110230723/http://www.garywill.com:80/wrestling/canada/johnson.htm |archive-date=10 January 2008 |title="Soulman" Rocky Johnson |publisher=Gary Will's Wrestling History |accessdate=28 January 2023}}</ref> Initially, he trained to be a [[boxing|boxer]] and eventually sparred with greats such as [[Muhammad Ali]] and [[George Foreman]], but was always fascinated by wrestling.<ref name="slam"/>

Rocky's brother Ricky was also a wrestler.<ref>{{cite web |author=Oliver, Greg |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2015/12/07/mat-matters-here-you-go-ricky-johnson/ |title=Mat Matters: Here you go, Ricky Johnson |access-date =2024-09-03 |date =7 December 2015 |work=SLAM! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canoe.com]]}}</ref>

==Professional wrestling career==
===National Wrestling Alliance (1964–1982)===
Johnson began his career as a professional wrestler in 1964 in [[Southern Ontario]]; soon after his debut, he legally changed his name to his moniker.<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=wwe>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/rockyjohnson|title=Rocky Johnson: Hall of Fame|publisher=World Entertainment|access-date=2011-03-31}}</ref><ref name=legal>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WrFWKBBQzAAC |last=Solomon |first=Brian |title=WWE Legends |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2006 |page=147 |isbn=0-7434-9033-9 |quote=In 1964, the already ripped twenty-year-old debuted as a wrestler in the southern Ontario area. He took on the ring name Rocky Johnson, and wound up liking it so much that he soon had his name legally changed.}}</ref> He chose the name Rocky Johnson as a tribute to two of his favorite boxing greats: [[Rocky Marciano]] and [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]], the latter being the first black heavyweight boxing champion.<ref name="nytobit">Levenson, Michael. [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/15/sports/rocky-johnson-dead.html "Rocky Johnson, Pro Wrestler Who Trained His Son the Rock, Dies at 75"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. January 15, 2020.</ref> In the late 1960s to mid 1970s, he was a major star in California. In Los Angeles he took on [[Freddie Blassie]], [[Dick Beyer|The Destroyer]] and [[John Tolos]].

He was a top contender in the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] in the 1970s, receiving title matches against then-[[NWA World Heavyweight Championship|World Champions]] [[Terry Funk]] and [[Harley Race]].<ref name=wwe/> He was well-suited for [[tag team]] wrestling, winning several regional tag team championships in the NWA. Johnson wrestled off and on in the Memphis promotion, often feuding with [[Jerry Lawler]], winning Lawler's crown at one point. He also wrestled under a mask as "Sweet Ebony Diamond" in the Mid-Atlantic area.<ref>{{cite web |title= Book Review: Soulman – The Rocky Johnson Story |url=https://www.postwrestling.com/2019/08/19/book-review-soulman-the-rocky-johnson-story/ |author=Staff |website=POST Wrestling |date=19 August 2019 |access-date=6 December 2019 |quote=The book wraps up with Johnson’s time in Mid-Atlantic territory working under a mask as Sweet Ebony Diamond…}}</ref>
[[File:Rocky Johnson armlock Terry Funk.png|thumb|Johnson applies an armlock to [[Terry Funk]]]]

===World Wrestling Federation (1982–1985)===
In 1982, Johnson feuded with [[Don Muraco]], [[Greg Valentine]], [[Mike Sharpe]], [[Buddy Rose]], and [[Adrian Adonis]]. He was then paired with [[Tony Atlas]] as a tag team.<ref name=wwe/> They defeated [[the Wild Samoans]] ([[Afa Anoaʻi|Afa]] and [[Sika Anoaʻi|Sika]]) for the Tag Team Championship on the December 10, 1983 episode of ''Championship Wrestling'' (taped November 15).<ref name=mick36/> They were the first black men to hold a WWF championship.<ref name=wwe/> Together, they were billed as "The Soul Patrol".<ref name=geurts>{{cite web |title=Mick Foley, Rocky Johnson to visit Sarasota wrestling charity event |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/entertainmentlife/20190617/mick-foley-rocky-johnson-to-visit-sarasota-wrestling-charity-event |author=Jimmy Geurts |website=Sarasota Herald Tribune |date=17 June 2019 |access-date=6 December 2019 |quote=Johnson joined the WWE in 1983, where he and Tony Atlas formed The Soul Patrol and became the first black tag team to win the World Tag Team Championship.}}</ref>

===Later career (1985–1991)===
After leaving WWF in June 1985, Johnson went to Central States, Tennessee, Hawaii, Portland, Puerto Rico and the independent circuit. In Hawaii, he teamed with his brother Ricky Johnson.

=== Retirement ===

After retiring in 1991, Johnson, along with [[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]], trained his son Dwayne to wrestle. While he initially resisted his son's entry into what he knew to be an extremely difficult business, Johnson agreed to train him on the condition that he would not go easy on him. Johnson was instrumental in getting Dwayne (later dubbed "Rocky Maivia" after both Rocky Johnson's and [[Peter Maivia]]'s ring names) signed to a WWF developmental deal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whatwire.com/news/pro-wrestling/rocky-johnson-dies-at-75/ |title=Rocky Johnson, father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson dies at 75 |date=16 January 2020 |publisher=Whatwire |access-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219161036/https://www.whatwire.com/news/pro-wrestling/rocky-johnson-dies-at-75/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Initially, Johnson had an on-camera presence at his son's matches, and jumped into the ring on his behalf after he was attacked by [[Solofa Fatu|The Sultan]] and [[The Iron Sheik]] at [[WrestleMania 13]]. Johnson was not seen on-camera again after the Rocky Maivia character flopped, and soon Dwayne achieved crossover popularity as a cocky [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]], [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]].

In early 2003, Johnson was hired as a trainer for the WWE developmental territory, [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]], but was let go in May.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2003/08/20/rocky-johnson-the-unknown-wwe-trainer/|title=Rocky Johnson: The unknown WWE trainer|website=Slamwrestling.net|date=August 20, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/r/rocky-johnson/|title=Rocky Johnson - OWW|website=Onlineworldofwrestling.com|access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref> He made a return to the ring, and defeated [[Viscera (wrestler)|Mabel]] in a boxing match at [[Memphis Wrestling]] on November 29, 2003.

On February 25, 2008, Johnson was announced as an inductee into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] along with his father-in-law, "[[Peter Maivia|High Chief" Peter Maivia]]. Both Johnson and his father-in-law were inducted into the Hall of Fame on March 29, 2008, by his son, The Rock.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/132970/rocky-johnson-a-career-overview.html?p=1|title=Rocky Johnson: A Career Overview|website=Pwinsider.com}}</ref>

On December 20, 2019, Johnson joined the board of directors of the International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ipwhf.org/post/rocky-johnson-joins-ipwhf-board-of-directors |title=Rocky Johnson Joins IPWHF Board of Directors |website=www.ipwhf.org |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806173240/https://www.ipwhf.org/post/rocky-johnson-joins-ipwhf-board-of-directors |archive-date=6 August 2020 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Johnson recounted in his autobiography ''Soulman'' that he met his first wife, Una Sparks, at a dance while he was training to become a boxer. Una was from [[Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia]] and a devout [[Jehovah's Witness]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mSulDwAAQBAJ&q=una&pg=PT289 "Chapter 5: Job Men"] ''Soulman: The Rocky Johnson Story'' by Rocky Johnson with Scott Teal; [[ECW Press]] (2019). Via [[Google Books]]. Retrieved January 15, 2020</ref> They had two children, Curtis and Wanda, whom he thanked at his 2008 [[WWE Hall of Fame]] induction. While married to Una, he became romantically involved with Ata Fitisemanu Maivia, daughter of wrestling legend "High Chief" [[Peter Maivia]].<ref name=wwe/> Ata met Rocky after Maivia and Johnson were tag team partners in a match on the independent circuit.

Johnson stated that, in order to provide for his two families, he adopted a frugal lifestyle on the road; he subsisted on beer, sliced cheese, and bologna, and was not a "partier".<ref name="google1">[https://books.google.com/books?id=mSulDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22rocky+johnson%22+una&pg=PT289 "Chapter 27: Bubba Von Dougas"] ''Soulman: The Rocky Johnson Story'' by Rocky Johnson with Scott Teal; [[ECW Press]] (2019). Via [[Google Books]] Retrieved January 16, 2020</ref> He did not reveal if Una knew about Ata and Dwayne, but stated that she gave him an ultimatum to quit wrestling, or they would have to separate as Jehovah's Witnesses "didn't believe in blood sport".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mSulDwAAQBAJ&q=una&pg=PT289 "Chapter 10: White Women"] ''Soulman: The Rocky Johnson Story'' by Rocky Johnson with Scott Teal; [[ECW Press]] (2019). Via [[Google Books]] Retrieved January 15, 2020</ref> He stated that he and Una parted amicably and remained good friends. He obtained a divorce in [[Texas]], then filed for a marriage license in [[Florida]] on December 21, 1978, to marry Ata. By marrying her, he became a member of the famous Samoan [[Anoaʻi family]]. Ata's father opposed their marriage because Johnson was black. Their son [[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne]] was born May 2, 1972. They divorced in 2003.<ref name="google1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/08/20/164845.html |title=Rocky Johnson: The unknown WWE trainer |access-date=2010-08-25|first=Greg|last=Oliver |publisher=Slam! Sports |date=2003-08-20|archive-date=2015-12-23| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151223072652/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2003/08/20/164845.html| url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In 2019, Johnson co-wrote an autobiography alongside Scott Teal, ''Soulman: The Rocky Johnson Story'', released October 15 of that year. The book was recalled by the publisher shortly after release, due to payment disputes between Johnson and the co-author.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2020/01/18/the-controversy-over-rocky-johnsons-now-pulled-autobiography/|title=The controversy over Rocky Johnson's now-pulled autobiography|website=Slamwrestling.net|date=18 January 2020 |access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>

In 2022, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' published an article stating that Johnson had five other known children, in separate relationships, confirmed via genealogical [[Genetic testing|DNA testing]] in the 2010s which connected them to Rocky's brother Ricky: Paula Parsons (b. 1964 in [[Lucasville, Nova Scotia]]), Trevor Edwards (b. 1967 in [[Montreal]]), Lisa Purves (b. 1968 in [[Vancouver]]), Adrian Bowles (b. 1970 to in [[Truro, Nova Scotia]]) and Aaron Fowler (b. 1970 in [[Amherst, Nova Scotia]]).<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Oliver |first=Greg |title=How Five Strangers Figured Out Rocky Johnson Was Their Dad—and The Rock Is Their Half Brother |url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2022/06/30/rocky-johnson-the-rock-daily-cover |access-date=2022-07-01 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref>

==Legal issues==
In 1987, Johnson was arrested and charged for rape of a 19-year-old Tennessee woman.<ref name="grantland">{{Cite web|url=https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/started-from-the-bottom-now-hes-the-rock-and-other-inspirational-tales-from-this-weeks-tabloids/|title=Started From the Bottom, Now He's the Rock … and Other Inspirational Tales From This Week's Tabloids|first=Molly|last=Lambert|date=April 25, 2013}}</ref> He claimed he was "set up" by rival wrestlers.<ref name="grantland"/> The charges had him blacklisted from wrestling, leading him to alcoholism and a strained relationship with his son until several years later when he became sober.<ref name="grantland"/>

In 2000, while working at the Pine Island Community Center in [[Davie, Florida]], Johnson was investigated for several cases of misconduct, including unwanted groping of female coworkers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2000-10-14-0010140209-story.html|title=Ex-Wrestler at Center of Furor Over Sex Allegations|first=John W.|last=Greto|website=Sun-Sentinel.com|date=14 October 2000 }}</ref> He later faced charges of battery and theft after he allegedly took home a piece of athletic equipment, as well as allegedly inappropriately grabbing a female coworker.<ref name="sentinel">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2001-03-17-0103170213-story.html|title=Ex-Wrestler Won't Face Prosecution|last1=Allman|first1=John W.|last2=Greto|first2=Victor|website=Sun-Sentinel.com|date=17 March 2001 }}</ref> The Broward State Attorney's Office, while noting there was "sufficient evidence" that Johnson had groped his coworker, declined to prosecute because the woman feared the publicity it would bring her.<ref name="sentinel"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2001-03-27-0103270163-story.html|title=Ex-Worker Won't Face Criminal Prosecution|first=John W.|last=Greto|website=Sun-Sentinel.com|date=27 March 2001 }}</ref>

== Death ==

On January 15, 2020, at the age of 75, Johnson died of a [[pulmonary embolism]] at the home his son bought for him in [[Lutz, Florida]]; the embolism was caused by a blood clot that traveled from a [[deep vein thrombosis]] in his leg.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://heelbynature.com/wrestling-news/wwe-news/rocky-johnsons-cause-of-death-revealed/|title=Rocky Johnson's Cause Of Death Revealed|date=19 January 2020 |publisher=Heel By Nature|access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://noroman.net/news/wwe/rocky-johnson-dies-at-75/|title=Rocky Johnson, father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson dies at 75|date=16 January 2020|publisher=noroman.net|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=5 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205222845/https://noroman.net/news/wwe/rocky-johnson-dies-at-75/|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>[https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/fl-et--20200115-fminjbna5rc67c4s5d7qynvy2a-story.html "The Rock’s dad, who was also a professional wrestler, has died; Rocky Johnson was 75"] by Brett Clarkson ''[[Sun-Sentinel]]'' Retrieved January 15, 2020</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2020/01/15/the-rock-father-dad-rocky-johnson-soulman-dead-dies-75/|title=Rocky 'Soulman' Johnson, The Rock's Dad and WWE Superstar, Dead at 75|date=January 15, 2020|publisher=[[TMZ]]}}</ref> [[B. Brian Blair]] told the [[Associated Press]] that Johnson "thought he had the flu or something" but refused to see a doctor.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/28492121/rocky-johnson-wwe-hall-famer-father-rock-dies-75 "Rocky Johnson, WWE Hall of Famer and father of 'The Rock,' dies at 75] (January 15, 2020) [[ESPN]] retrieved February 19, 2020</ref> Dwayne Johnson paid tribute, stating, "I'm in pain. You lived a very full, very hard, barrier breaking life and left it all in the ring. I love you dad and I'll always be your proud and grateful son."<ref>{{cite web|last=Burch |first=Sean |url=https://www.thewrap.com/dwayne-johnson-posts-loving-tribute-to-late-father-and-wwe-star-rocky-johnson-im-in-pain/ |title=Dwayne Johnson Posts Loving Tribute to Late Father and WWE Star Rocky Johnson: 'I'm in Pain' |date=17 January 2020 |publisher=Thewrap.com |access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2020/01/17/dwayne-johnson-dad-emotional-post-death-rocky/|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Posts Emotional Goodbye To Dad After Death, 'I'm In Pain'|website=TMZ|date=17 January 2020 }}</ref> [[Hulk Hogan]] tweeted condolences, describing Rocky as "a great man, great friend" and "one of only a few that was kind and helpful when I first broke in".<ref>{{cite web|last=Casey |first=Connor |url=https://comicbook.com/wwe/2020/01/16/hulk-hogan-rocky-johnson-death-tribute-wwe-the-rock/ |title=Hulk Hogan Remembers Rocky Johnson Following His Death |publisher=Comicbook.com |date=2020-01-16 |access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
In his first television acting job, his son Dwayne, known at the time by his ring name The Rock, portrayed his father in a [[That '70s Show (season 1)|season 1]] (1999) episode of ''[[That '70s Show]]'' titled "That Wrestling Show".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/dwayne-johnson-70s-show-cameo-father-rocky-wrestling/|title=That '70s Show: Dwayne Johnson's Cameo As His Father Explained|date=January 23, 2020|website=ScreenRant}}</ref>

He is portrayed by Joseph Lee Anderson in the show ''[[Young Rock]]'', based on his son's life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/young-rock-cast-guide-characters-actors-comparison/|title=Young Rock Cast Guide: What Every Real Wrestler Looks Like|date=February 17, 2021|website=ScreenRant}}</ref> The series, which was green-lit for production by [[NBC]] four days before Johnson's death, dedicated the [[Television pilot|pilot episode]] in Johnson's memory.

== Championships and accomplishments ==
[[Image:Rocky Johnson - Championship Wrestling - 28 June 1976 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Johnson is a two-time [[NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion]]]]

*'''[[Big Time Wrestling (Detroit)|Big Time Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Detroit World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Detroit World Tag Team Championship#Title history|4 time]]) – with Ben Justice<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/mi/nwa/mi-nwa-t.html|title=NWA World Tag Team Title (Detroit)|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref><ref name=Jan19F4W>{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0118-ivan-koloff-defeats-bruno-sammartino-wwwf-title | title=Pro wrestling history (01/18): Ivan Koloff defeats Bruno Sammartino for WWWF title | date=January 18, 2019 | access-date=January 18, 2019 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]] | first=Brian | last=Hoops}}</ref>
*'''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]'''
**[[NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version)|NWA Brass Knuckles Championship ''(Florida version)'']] ([[NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version)#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-bk.html|title=NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship#Title history|6 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-h.html|title=Florida Heavyweight Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Pedro Morales]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-t.html|title=Florida Tag Team Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[NWA Florida Television Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Television Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-tv.html|title=NWA Florida Television Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[Continental Wrestling Association]]'''
**[[AWA Southern Tag Team Championship]] ([[AWA Southern Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]]) – with [[Jimmy Valiant]] (1) and [[Mike Jones (wrestler)|Soul Train Jones]] (1)<ref name=SouthernTag>{{cite book | first1=Royal |last1=Duncan |first2=Gary |last2=Will | title=Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present |location=Waterloo, Ontario |orig-year=2000.|chapter= (Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title [Roy Welsch & Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett from 1977] | pages= 185–189| publisher=Archeus Communications |year=2006 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=SouthernTagWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/awa-s-t.html | title=Southern Tag Team Title | work=Wrestling-Titles | access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref>
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-h.html|title=NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Gerald Brisco|Jerry Brisco]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-t.html|title=NWA Georgia Tag Team Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[NWA Macon Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Macon Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Danny Little Bear]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/nwa/macon-t.html|title=Macon Tag Team Title (Georgia)|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''International Championship Wrestling Alliance'''
**ICWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Crash the Terminator<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=50925 |title=ICWA |website=cagematch.net |access-date=July 19, 2022}}</ref>
*'''[[International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2025 – with [[Tony Atlas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/tony-atlas-rocky-johnson-join-international-pro-wrestling-hall-fame-class-2025/|title=Tony Atlas & Rocky Johnson Join International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2025|work=411Mania|first=Jeffrey|last=Harris|date=May 10, 2025|access-date=June 7, 2025}}</ref>
*'''[[Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2022
*'''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[WCW World Television Championship|NWA Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|2 times]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-tv.html#850316|title=WCW World Television Championship history|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412062225/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-tv.html#850316|archive-date=2008-04-12}}</ref>
*'''[[NWA All-Star Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)|NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship ''(Vancouver version)'']] ([[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Don Leo Jonathan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/bc/nwa/bc-can-t.html|title=NWA Canadian Tag Team Title (British Columbia)|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[World Class Championship Wrestling|NWA Big Time Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Texas Hardcore Championship|NWA Brass Knuckles Championship ''(Texas version)'']] ([[NWA Texas Hardcore Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name=BrassBook>{{Cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories |chapter= (Texas) Dallas: NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title | page= 271 | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=BrassWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/nwa/nwa-tx-bk.html | title=Texas Brass Knucks Title [East Texas] | access-date=December 22, 2019 | work=Wrestling-Titles}}</ref>
**[[NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref name=TexasBook>{{cite book| last1=Will | first1=Gary | first2=Royal | last2= Duncan | title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000 | location=Pennsylvania | chapter=Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich] | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 | pages=268–269}}</ref><ref name=TexasWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-h.html | title= NWA Texas Heavyweight Title | access-date=March 30, 2017 | work=Wrestling-Titles}}</ref>
**[[WCWA Texas Tag Team Championship|NWA Texas Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Texas Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Jose Lothario]]<ref name=ETexTagTitleBook>{{cite book| last1=Will | first1=Gary | first2=Royal | last2= Duncan | title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000 | location=Pennsylvania | chapter=Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich] | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 | pages=275–276}}</ref><ref name=ETexTagTitle>{{cite web| url = http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-t.html | title = NWA Texas Tag Team Title [E. Texas]| access-date = December 27, 2019 | work= wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[NWA Hollywood Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/hw/ams-h.html|title=NWA Americas Heavyweight Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref><ref name=Jan16F4W>{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0116-arn-anderson-bobby-eaton-win-wcw-tag-team-titles | title=Pro wrestling history (01/16): Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton win WCW Tag Team Titles | date=January 16, 2019 | access-date=January 18, 2019 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]] | first=Brian | last=Hoops}}</ref>
**[[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Earl Maynard]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/hw/ams-t.html|title=NWA Americas Tag Team Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship]] ([[NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship#title history|2 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/hw/ams-tv.html|title=Beat the Champ Television Title (Los Angeles)|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[NWA Mid-America]] / [[Continental Wrestling Association]]'''
**[[CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship]] ([[CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Bill Dundee]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/cwa-int-t.html|title=CWA International Tag Team Title (Memphis)|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship|NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship ''(Memphis version)'']] ([[Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/awa-s-h.html|title=NWA (Mid-America)/AWA Southern Heavyweight Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[NWA San Francisco]]'''
**[[NWA San Francisco United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship ''(San Francisco version)'']] ([[NWA San Francisco United States Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/n/bigtime/sf-us-h.html|title=AWA/NWA United States Heavyweight Title (San Francisco)|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[NWA San Francisco Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(San Francisco version)'']] ([[NWA San Francisco Tag Team Championship#Title history|4 times]]) – with [[Pierre Clemont|Pat Patterson]] (3) and Pepper Gomez (1)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/n/bigtime/sf-bigtime-t.html|title=World Tag Team Title (San Francisco 1960s - 1970s)|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[NWA Polynesian Pro Wrestling]]'''
**NWA Polynesian Pacific Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Ricky Johnson<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/hi/poly/poly-t.html|title=NWA Polynesian Pacific Tag Team Title (Hawaii)|website=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[Pacific Northwest Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pnw/nwa/pnw-h.html|title=NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]]) – with [[Brett Sawyer]] (1) and [[King Parsons|Iceman Parsons]] (1)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pnw/nwa/pnw-t.html|title=NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title|website=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
**Ranked No. 258 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''[[PWI 500]]'' in 1992<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=746&page=12 |title=Rocky Johnson: Awards |website=cagematch.net |access-date=July 19, 2022}}</ref>
**Ranked No. 211 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years|access-date=2008-08-05|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822112502/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm|archive-date=2007-08-22}}</ref>
*'''[[St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**([[St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame|Class of 2008]])
*'''[[WWE|World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment]]'''
**[[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)|1 time]]) – with Tony Atlas<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413212113|title=Rocky Johnson's and Tony Atlas' first World Tag Team Championship reign|website=Wwe.com|access-date=22 February 2022|archive-date=16 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216115720/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413212113|url-status=dead}}</ref>
**[[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[List of members of the WWE Hall of Fame|Class of 2008]])

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book | author = Mick Foley | title = Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2001 | isbn = 0-06-103101-1 | page = 768}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*{{wwe superstar}}
*{{Professional wrestling profiles}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
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