:Dwayne Johnson

File:Freedom High School Gym (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - 2008).jpg in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, Johnson was a member of the school's football, track and field, and wrestling teams when, he says, his "thought process started to change. That's when I started thinking about goals and what I wanted to accomplish."]]

Johnson was born in Hayward, California,{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/dwayne-johnson/ |title=Dwayne Johnson |work=Forbes |access-date=December 18, 2017 |archive-date=June 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607094250/https://www.forbes.com/profile/dwayne-johnson/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Barney |first=Chuck |date=January 27, 2021 |title=Sorry, Hayward, Johnson's TV show skips his time in the Bay Area |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/01/26/sorry-hayward-dwayne-johnsons-show-skips-over-his-time-in-the-bay-area/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=The Mercury News |archive-date=December 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231221012/https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/01/26/sorry-hayward-dwayne-johnsons-show-skips-over-his-time-in-the-bay-area/ |url-status=live }} on May 2, 1972,{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/dwayne-johnson-11818916 |title=Dwayne Johnson Biography: Film Actor, Athlete (1972–) |publisher=Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks) |access-date=December 12, 2017 |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213142522/https://www.biography.com/people/dwayne-johnson-11818916 |url-status=live }} the son of Mataniufeagaimaleata "Ata" Fitisemanu (née Maivia){{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/rockyjohnson |title=Rocky Johnson: Hall of Fame |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517102539/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/rockyjohnson |url-status=live }}{{Citation | year=2023 | title=What is The Rock's mother's real name? It's not Ata Johnson | url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/what-the-rock-s-mother-s-real-name-it-s-ata-johnson | access-date=December 11, 2023 | archive-date=December 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211183011/https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/what-the-rock-s-mother-s-real-name-it-s-ata-johnson | url-status=live }} and former professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles).{{cite web |url=http://www.islandconnections.com/edit/dwayne_johnson.htm |title=Dwayne Johnson – How The Rock Transformed from Pro Wrestler to Bankable Movie Star |access-date=December 29, 2006 |publisher=Island Connections |author=Morgan, Kaya |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829034426/http://www.islandconnections.com/edit/dwayne_johnson.htm |archive-date=August 29, 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Levenson |first1=Michael |title=Rocky Johnson, Professional Wrestler and Father of Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson, Dies at 75 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/15/sports/rocky-johnson-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116033004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/15/sports/rocky-johnson-dead.html |archive-date=January 16, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=January 16, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=January 15, 2020}} Growing up, he briefly lived in Grey Lynn in Auckland, New Zealand, with his mother's family,{{cite web |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/archive/peoplearchive.php/The_Rock/biog |title=Actors – The Rock |access-date=April 21, 2008 |publisher=Monsters&Critics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514174901/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/archive/peoplearchive.php/The_Rock/biog |archive-date=May 14, 2008}} where he played rugby{{Cite web|date=April 17, 2016|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: Rugby's the toughest sport I ever played|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/79022967/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-rugbys-the-toughest-sport-i-ever-played|access-date=July 14, 2020|website=Stuff|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715005509/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/79022967/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-rugbys-the-toughest-sport-i-ever-played|url-status=live}} and attended Richmond Road Primary School before returning to the U.S.

File:Rocky Johnson, circa 1983 02.jpg]]

Johnson's father was a Black Nova Scotian with a small amount of Irish ancestry{{cite web|url=https://www.irishpost.com/entertainment/dwayne-johnson-irish-heritage-revealed-154204|title=Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Irish heritage revealed|website=Irishpost.com|date=May 2, 2018|access-date=January 19, 2021|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127202559/https://www.irishpost.com/entertainment/dwayne-johnson-irish-heritage-revealed-154204|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=http://entertainment.ie/cinema/news/Watch-We-chat-to-Dwayne-Johnson-about-Hercules-getting-ripped-and-his-Irish-roots/274428.htm |title=Watch: We chat to Dwayne Johnson about Hercules, getting ripped and his Irish roots |last=Entertainment.ie |website=Entertainment.ie |access-date=December 28, 2017 |archive-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229052412/http://entertainment.ie/cinema/news/Watch-We-chat-to-Dwayne-Johnson-about-Hercules-getting-ripped-and-his-Irish-roots/274428.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Tattrie |first1=Jon |author1-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=February 18, 2022 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420023548/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-amherst-nova-scotia-family-history-1.6352097 |url-status=live }} and his mother is Samoan.{{cite magazine |title=Museum Corrects Dwayne Johnson Wax Figure Skin Tone: 'We Just Made an Honest Mistake' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-wax-figure-skin-tone-updated-paris-museum-1234862090/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030010159/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-wax-figure-skin-tone-updated-paris-museum-1234862090/ |archive-date=October 30, 2023 |date=October 25, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=The Rock urges skin tone change to wax figure in Paris museum |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-67193578 |website=BBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026191526/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-67193578 |archive-date=October 26, 2023 |date=October 23, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{Cite tweet |author=Dwayne Johnson |user= TheRock |number= 1108202967671496704 |date=March 19, 2019 |title=I identify as exactly what I am - both. Equally proud. Black/Samoan. |link= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530232035/https://twitter.com/TheRock/status/1108202967671496704 |archive-date=May 30, 2021 |quote= }} His father and Tony Atlas were the first black tag team champions in WWE history, in 1983.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/rockyjohnson/bio/ |title=Superstars |website=Wwe.com |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116015443/https://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/rockyjohnson/bio |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WrFWKBBQzAAC |last=Solomon |first=Brian |title=WWE Legends |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2006 |pages=146 |isbn=0-7434-9033-9}} Johnson's uncle Ricky was also a wrestler.{{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=September 3, 2024 |date=December 7, 2015 |work=SLAM! Wrestling |publisher=Canoe.com |archive-date=September 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903125759/https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2015/12/07/mat-matters-here-you-go-ricky-johnson/ |url-status=live }} His mother is the adopted daughter of Peter Maivia, who was also a professional wrestler.{{cite news |last=Young |first=Graham |title=The Rock's on a roll in Hollywood |newspaper=The Birmingham Post |date=April 10, 2010 |url=http://www.birminghampost.net/life-leisure-birmingham-guide/postfeatures/2009/04/10/the-rock-s-on-a-roll-in-hollywood-65233-23360885/ |access-date=November 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223202537/http://www.birminghampost.net/life-leisure-birmingham-guide/postfeatures/2009/04/10/the-rock-s-on-a-roll-in-hollywood-65233-23360885/ |archive-date=December 23, 2010}} Johnson's maternal grandmother Lia was one of the first female pro wrestling promoters, taking over Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling after her husband's death in 1982 and managing it until 1988.{{cite news |title=Grandmother of 'The Rock,' promoter |first=Elinor J. |last=Brecher |newspaper=The Miami Herald| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116046769/obituary-for-leah-maivia/ |date=October 25, 2008}}{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/feature/through-the-years-the-rock.html |title=Through The Years – Dwayne 'Not Just The Rock' Johnson |date=March 12, 2008 |last=Crow |first=Jonathan |access-date=March 13, 2009 |publisher=Yahoo Movies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316064529/http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/through-the-years-the-rock.html |archive-date=March 16, 2009}} Through his maternal grandfather Maivia, Johnson is a non-blood relative of the Anoaʻi wrestling family.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/petermaivia/bio/ |title=Hall of Fame: High Chief Peter Maivia |publisher=WWE |quote=Maivia, born in Samoa in the 1930s, was a "blood brother" of the Anoaʻi family. |access-date=February 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220124422/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/petermaivia/bio/ |archive-date=February 20, 2010}}{{Citation |title=The Anoaʻi family wrestling dynasty: photos |newspaper=WWE |quote=High Chief Peter Maivia, The Rock's grandfather, was "blood brothers" with The Wild Samoans' father, Amituanai Anoaʻi. |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/anoai-family-photos |access-date=November 29, 2015 |archive-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205182030/http://www.wwe.com/inside/anoai-family-photos |url-status=live }}{{Citation |last=Sonny |first=Julian |title=Samoan Strength: The Rock's Family Tree Is A Wrestling Dynasty |newspaper=Elite Daily |date=November 16, 2015 |url=http://elitedaily.com/sports/the-rock-family-tree-infographic/1282191/ |access-date=November 29, 2015 |archive-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128051153/http://elitedaily.com/sports/the-rock-family-tree-infographic/1282191/ |url-status=live }}{{Citation |last=Pockross |first=Adam |title=The Rock's Grandfather Was a Bond Villain: Could It Be Another Family Business? |newspaper=Yahoo! Movies |quote=the "High Chief" is most often remembered as a prominent member of one of the greatest families in all of professional wrestling: the Anoaʻi/Maivia family of Samoans. |date=March 27, 2013 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/rock-grandfather-bond-villain-could-another-family-business-005014491.html |access-date=November 29, 2015 |archive-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215021355/https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/rock-grandfather-bond-villain-could-another-family-business-005014491.html |url-status=live }}{{Citation |title=Wrestler 'Umaga' Edward Fatu dies of heart attack, friend says |newspaper=CNN |quote=[...]was a member of the famous Anoaʻi wrestling family, which includes cousin Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, his two uncles, who wrestled as The Wild Samoans in the 1980s, and brothers, Sam "Tonga Kid" and Solofa Jr. "Rikishi," according to Wrestlers Rescue, a support group for retired professional wrestlers. |date=December 5, 2009 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/04/umaga.eddie.fatu/index.html |access-date=November 29, 2015 |archive-date=June 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615031241/http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/04/umaga.eddie.fatu/index.html |url-status=live }} In 2008, he inducted his father and grandfather into the WWE Hall of Fame.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/articles/rockathof |title=Johnson Family Reunion |publisher=WWE |date=February 25, 2008 |access-date=March 4, 2009 |archive-date=March 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304191537/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/articles/rockathof |url-status=live }}

Johnson attended Montclaire Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina, and then moved to Hamden, Connecticut, where he attended Shepherd Glen Elementary School and then Hamden Middle School.{{Cite tweet|user=TheRock|number=1137049609610571776 |title=Wow check out my 8yr old AFRO!! I loved Montclaire Elementary!! Had my first crush (see what you could've had Eve??!) and was bullied by a punk and waited for him after school and punched him in the face. End of that, bs. Big love to all the kids and staff. #CharlotteNC |first=Dwayne |last=Johnson |date=June 7, 2019}}[http://www.nhregister.com/news/article/NEW-HAVEN-200-Introducing-a-summer-series-11511479.php "NEW HAVEN 200: Introducing a summer series looking back on two centuries of sports"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052100/http://www.nhregister.com/news/article/NEW-HAVEN-200-Introducing-a-summer-series-11511479.php |date=December 22, 2017 }}, Chip Malafronte, New Haven Register, June 23, 2012 He attended President William McKinley High School in Honolulu and then Glencliff High School and McGavock High School, both in Nashville, Tennessee, and then Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state, where he graduated in 1990.{{cite web |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/09/rock-remembers-nashville-past/31370895/ |title='The Rock' remembers Nashville past |website=The Tennessean |access-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930111917/https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/09/rock-remembers-nashville-past/31370895/ |url-status=live }}

At Freedom High School, Johnson initially struggled and was drawn into a culture of conflict and petty crime. By age 17, he had been arrested several times for fighting, theft, and cheque fraud, and was suspended two weeks for fighting.{{cite web |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/people/2014/09/17/dwayne-johnson-past-arrest-theft-ring/15761517/ |title=Dwayne Johnson talks past arrest and theft ring |website=azcentral |access-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412193700/https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/people/2014/09/17/dwayne-johnson-past-arrest-theft-ring/15761517/ |url-status=live }} An article in the local newspaper labeled him "a troubled teenager with a history of run-ins with police". But Freedom High School football coach Jody Cwik saw athletic potential in Johnson, and recruited him to join the school's football team, where he played defensive tackle, an experience that proved to be a significant personal transformation for Johnson. "My thought process started to change. That's when I started thinking about goals and what I wanted to accomplish", he has since said about his high school football experience. In addition to playing football, Johnson also was a member of Freedom High School's track and field and wrestling teams.

By his senior year at Freedom High School, Johnson had played only two years of football, but was offered a full athletic scholarship offer from the University of Miami, whose football program was beginning to emerge as one of the nation's top-level NCAA Division 1 teams.

{{Infobox college football player

| name = Dwayne Johnson

| image =

| caption =

| school =

| currentnumber = 94

| currentposition = Defensive tackle

| major = Criminology and physiology

| death_date =

| death_place =

| heightft = 6

| heightin = 5

| weight = 253

| highschool = Freedom High School
(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

|pastschools=

• Miami (FL) (1990–1994)

| bowlgames=

• Cotton Bowl Classic (1991)
• Orange Bowl (1992)

| highlights =

• National champion (1991)

}}

As he did in high school, Johnson continued to play defensive tackle at the University of Miami, where he was a member of the Miami Hurricanes 1991 team, which won that year's national championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.ncaaticketsnow.com/miami-tickets.asp |title=University of Miami Famous Alumni |publisher=NCAA Tickets Now |access-date=December 29, 2006 |author=Morgan, Kaya |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209124650/http://www.ncaaticketsnow.com/miami-tickets.asp |archive-date=December 9, 2006}} Despite playing four years there, however, Johnson found himself behind elite players on the depth chart, including future NFL star and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Warren Sapp, and appeared mostly in backup roles.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/tech-media/2016/11/30/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-nfl-wrestling-hollywood-star |title=How football helped transform Dwayne Johnson into Hollywood's biggest star |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413061347/https://www.si.com/tech-media/2016/11/30/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-nfl-wrestling-hollywood-star |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|date=December 11, 2012|title=How good was The Rock at football?|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/15186/how-good-was-the-rock-at-football|access-date=January 3, 2021|website=ESPN|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120103206/https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/15186/how-good-was-the-rock-at-football|url-status=live}} In his time at Miami, Johnson played in 39 games with one start. He recorded 4.5 sacks and 77 tackles.

In 1995, Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies and a dual major in criminology and physiology.{{Cite web |url=https://magazine.miami.edu/ |title=Miami Magazine | University of Miami |website=magazine.miami.edu |access-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715015532/https://magazine.miami.edu/ |url-status=live }} He was also one of the university's most prolific student speakers in the Miami-area community, frequently delivering positive messages about his own struggles and encouraging students to remain in school and avoid the dangers of drug use.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-johnson-is-used-to-w/157298098/|date=August 27, 1994|title=Johnson is used to wrestling with misconceptions|work=The Palm Beach Post|access-date=October 17, 2024|archive-date=November 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127203943/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-johnson-is-used-to-w/157298098/|url-status=live}}

After graduating, Johnson was signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. Calgary moved him from defensive tackle to linebacker. He was assigned to Calgary's practice roster, but was cut two months into Calgary's 1995 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-calgary-stampeders/article36282340/ |title=Rising from rock bottom |date=September 15, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2019 |last=Cryderman |first=Kelly |work=The Globe and Mail |archive-date=December 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205213407/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-calgary-stampeders/article36282340/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/Johnson+Stamps+could+party+like+1995/8935342/story.html |title=Johnson: Stamps could party like it's 1995 |last=Johnson |first=George |date=September 18, 2014 |work=Calgary Herald |access-date=December 5, 2014 |archive-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224005351/http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Johnson+Stamps+could+party+like+1995/8935342/story.html |url-status=dead}}

{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}

After being cut by Calgary, Johnson began his professional wrestling career the next year, in 1996. Veteran wrestler Pat Patterson secured several tryout matches for Johnson with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1996. Wrestling at first under his real name, Johnson defeated The Brooklyn Brawler at a house show on March 10{{cite book |author=The Rock |first2=Joe |last2=Layden |title=The Rock Says... |year=2000 |publisher=Harper Entertainment |isbn=0-06-039298-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/rocksaysmostelec00john/page/186 186–188] |url=https://archive.org/details/rocksaysmostelec00john/page/186 }} and lost matches to Chris Candido and Owen Hart. After wrestling at Jerry Lawler's United States Wrestling Association under the name Flex Kavana and winning the USWA tag team championship twice with his partner Bart Sawyer in the summer of 1996, Johnson was signed to a WWF contract. He received additional training from Tom Prichard, alongside Achim Albrecht and Mark Henry.{{cite web |url=http://www.michaeldworkis.com/TheCage/WWE/DrTom.htm |title=Dr. Tom Prichard: The Doctor of Talent |author=Dworkis, Michael |publisher=MichaelDworkis.com |access-date=September 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103141618/http://www.michaeldworkis.com/TheCage/WWE/DrTom.htm |archive-date=November 3, 2013}}

Johnson made his WWF debut as Rocky Maivia, a combination of his father and grandfather's ring names, although announcers acknowledged his real name.{{cite episode |title=Marc Mero, Rocky Maivia, Jake Roberts, and The Stalker vs. Crush, Jerry Lawler, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and Goldust |series=Survivor Series (1996) |credits=World Wrestling Federation |airdate=November 17, 1996}} He was initially reluctant to take this ring name but was persuaded by Vince McMahon and Jim Ross.{{cite book |author=The Rock |first2=Joe |last2=Layden |title=The Rock Says... |publisher=Harper Entertainment |year=2000 |location=Chapter 10, "Rocky Maivia" |page=[https://archive.org/details/rocksaysmostelec00john/page/146 146] |isbn=0-06-039298-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/rocksaysmostelec00john/page/146 }} He was given the nickname "The Blue Chipper", and to play up his lineage, he was hyped as the WWF's first third-generation wrestler. A clean-cut face character, Maivia was pushed heavily from the start despite his wrestling inexperience. He debuted on Monday Night Raw as a member of Marc Mero's entourage on November 4, 1996.{{cite episode |title=Episode 183 |series=WWF Monday Night Raw |series-link=WWE Raw |network=USA Network |airdate=November 4, 1996 |minutes=4:15}} His first match came at Survivor Series on November 17, in an eight-man elimination tag match; he was the sole survivor and eliminated the final two members of the opposing team, Crush and Goldust.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1996/results/ |title=Survivor Series 1996 official results |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=December 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211021831/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1996/results/ |url-status=live }} On February 13, 1997, he won the Intercontinental Championship from Hunter Hearst Helmsley on a Thursday edition of Monday Night Raw.{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997/raw021397 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026201823/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997%2Fraw021397 |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |title=WWF Thursday Raw: February 13, 1997 |publisher=The Other Arena |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322532 |title=Rocky Maivia's first Intercontinental Championship reign |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410102450/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322532 |archive-date=April 10, 2007}}{{cite episode |series=WWF Television |title=WWF Monday Night Raw |network=USA Network |airdate=March 31, 1997 |quote=The camera goes backstage after Steve Austin's in-ring interview, and Jim Ross says: "There, you see The Rock."}} Maivia then successfully defended the title against Helmsley at In Your House 13: Final Four on February 16.

Johnson's first WrestleMania match came at WrestleMania 13 on March 23, where he was victorious in his Intercontinental Championship defense against The Sultan. WWF fans started to reject his character and push from the company.{{cite AV media |title=Monday Night War S01 E12:The War Gets Electrified |publisher=WWE}} He defeated Bret Hart by disqualification in a title defense on the March 31 episode of Raw is War.{{cite web|url=http://thehistoryofwwe.com/97.htm|title=Ring Results: 1997|first=Graham|last=Cawthon|date=January 16, 2023|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=January 2, 2023|archive-date=January 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102180618/http://thehistoryofwwe.com/97.htm|url-status=live}} Behind the scenes, Hart mentored Johnson for his first year in WWF{{cite web |author=Oliver, Greg |url=http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb24_rocky.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991011034221/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb24_rocky.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 1999 |title=A piece of The Rock |work=Slam! Wrestling |date=February 24, 1998 |access-date=August 26, 2018 |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer |author-link=Greg Oliver }} and refused to be booked to take the title from him.{{Cite book |ref={{harvid|Hart, Bret|2007}} |last1=Hart |first1=Bret |title=Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling |publisher=Random House Canada (Canada), Grand Central Publishing (US) |year=2007 |page=420 |no-pp=y |isbn=9780307355676|title-link=Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling }} {{ISBN|978-0-307-35567-6}} (Canada) {{ISBN|978-0-446-53972-2}} (US) On April 20, at In Your House 14: Revenge of the 'Taker, he lost to Savio Vega by countout but retained the title. Audiences became increasingly hostile toward Maivia, with chants of "die, Rocky, die" and "Rocky sucks" being heard during his matches.{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/rock.html |title=The Rock Bio |last=Milner |first=John |access-date=April 13, 2008 |work=Slam! Sports |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519192214/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/rock.html |archive-date=May 19, 2015}}

After losing the Intercontinental Championship to Owen Hart on the April 28 episode of Raw Is War,{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997/raw042897 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026201852/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997%2Fraw042897 |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |title=WWF Raw: April 28, 1997 |publisher=The Other Arena |access-date=March 18, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Maivia suffered a legitimate knee injury in a match against Mankind in June and spent several months recovering.

{{see also|Nation of Domination}}

Upon returning in August, Maivia turned heel for the first time in his career by lashing out at fans who had been booing him and joining Faarooq, D'Lo Brown and Kama in the stable called the Nation of Domination.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/n/nation-of-domination.html |title=Nation of Domination Profile |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307074516/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/n/nation-of-domination.html |url-status=live }} He then refused to acknowledge the Rocky Maivia name, instead referring to himself in the third person as the Rock, though he would still be billed as "the Rock" Rocky Maivia until 1998. The Rock would then regularly insult the audience, WWF performers, and interviewers in his promos.

At D-Generation X: In Your House on December 7, Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated the Rock in under six minutes to retain the Intercontinental Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse19.html |title=In Your House 19: D-Generation X results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514225935/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse19.html |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }} The next night on Raw Is War, Austin was ordered by Mr. McMahon to defend the title in a rematch, but forfeited it to the Rock instead, handing him the title belt before hitting him with the Stone Cold Stunner.{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997/raw120897 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026202130/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1997%2Fraw120897 |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |title=WWF Raw: December 8, 1997 |publisher=The Other Arena |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322552 |title=The Rock's second Intercontinental Championship reign |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428234605/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322552 |archive-date=April 28, 2007}} The Rock feuded with Austin and Ken Shamrock through the end of 1997 and beginning of 1998.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811511/results/ |title=Royal Rumble 1998 official results |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501114652/http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811511/results/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm14/results/ |title=WrestleMania XIV official results |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313110737/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm14/results/ |archive-date=March 13, 2008}} On January 19, 1998, at the Royal Rumble, the Rock defeated Shamrock by disqualification to retain the Intercontinental Championship. Later that night, he entered the Royal Rumble match and lasted until the final two before he was eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin. On March 29, at WrestleMania XIV, he defeated Shamrock by disqualification once again to retain the title. The next night, on Raw is War, the Rock debuted a new Intercontinental Championship design and would later overthrow Faarooq as leader of the Nation of Domination to spark a feud between the two. He then successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Faarooq at Over the Edge: In Your House on May 31. The stable would then refer to themselves as simply "The Nation".{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse22.html |title=In Your House 22: Over the Edge 1998 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=February 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205170956/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse22.html |url-status=live }}

The Rock and the Nation then feuded with Triple H and D-Generation X (DX), with the two stable leaders first meeting in the quarter-final of the 1998 King of the Ring tournament, which the Rock won. At King of the Ring on June 28, the Rock defeated Dan Severn in the semi-final match and lost to rival Ken Shamrock in the final. The Rock then resumed his feud with Triple H, as the two had a two out of three falls match at Fully Loaded: In Your House on July 26 for the Intercontinental Championship, which the Rock retained in controversial fashion.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse23.html |title=In Your House 23: Fully Loaded 1998 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905200036/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse23.html |url-status=live }} This led to a ladder match at SummerSlam on August 30, where the Rock lost the title to Triple H.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/1998/results/ |title=SummerSlam 1998 official results |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620164459/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/1998/results/ |archive-date=June 20, 2007}}

In the latter half of 1998, the Rock saw a big uptick in fan support. He also started consolidating his famous persona during this time, which would last until 2000.{{Cite news|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/791462-video-tributes-ten-things-to-love-about-wwe-legend-dwayne-the-rock-johnson|title=Video Tributes: 10 Things to Love About WWE Legend Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson|first=Kevin|last=Germany|website=Bleacher Report}} His popularity caused him to be booked in a feud with fellow Nation members Mark Henry and D'Lo Brown, turning babyface in the process. Henry defeated the Rock at Judgment Day: In Your House on October 18 after interference from Brown, effectively breaking up the stable.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/breakdown98.html |title=In Your House 24: Breakdown 1998 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514225942/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/breakdown98.html |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/judgementday98.html |title=In Your House 25: Judgment Day 1998 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128011334/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/judgementday98.html |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

{{See also|The Corporation (professional wrestling)|l1=The Corporation|Rock 'n' Sock Connection}}

File:WWE - Sheffield 020499 (49) b.jpg, the Rock feuded with Stone Cold Steve Austin and stole Austin's personalized WWF Championship and his "Smoking Skull" belt.]]

The Rock was then entered into the "Deadly Game" tournament for the vacant WWF Championship. The finals occurred at Survivor Series on November 15, where the Rock defeated Vince McMahon's associate, Mankind, to win his first WWF Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541401 |title=The Rock's first WWE Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313105504/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541401 |archive-date=March 13, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1998/mainevent/ |title=The Rock def. Mankind to become new WWE Champion |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224064736/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1998/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}} A "double turn" then occurred as the Rock turned heel again after allying with Vince and Shane McMahon as the crown jewel of their stable, The Corporation, after the McMahons betrayed Mankind.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/c/corporation.html |title=The Corporation Profile |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514225923/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/c/corporation.html |url-status=live }} On December 13, at the pay-per-view named after him, Rock Bottom: In Your House, the Rock had a rematch with Mankind for the WWF Championship. Mankind appeared to win the match when the Rock passed out to the Mandible Claw submission move, but Vince McMahon ruled that since the Rock did not tap out, he retained his title.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/rockbottom98.html |title=In Your House 26: Rock Bottom results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107061306/https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/rockbottom98.html |url-status=live }}

In the main event of the January 4, 1999, episode of Raw Is War, Mankind defeated the Rock for the championship after interference from Stone Cold Steve Austin.{{cite web |url=https://www.wwe.com/videos/stone-cold-helps-mankind-win-the-big-one-raw-january-4-1999 |title="Stone Cold" Helps Mankind Win the Big One |access-date=January 2, 2023 |publisher=WWE}} Then at the Royal Rumble on January 24, the Rock regained the title in an "I Quit" match, a type of submission match that only ends if one of the combatants says "I quit" on a microphone. Intended to show a vicious streak in the Rock's character, the Rock hit Mankind in the head with a steel chair 11 times instead of the scripted five, five shots already being risky (most wrestling matches in the Attitude Era involving steel chairs had at most 2 or 3 shots to the head). After the fifth shot, Mankind was still ringside instead of two-thirds up the entrance ramp where he was supposed to be, and after the eleventh shot, which knocked Mankind out, a recording of Mankind saying "I Quit" from an earlier interview was played over the public address system.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/19881143/results/ |title=Royal Rumble 1999 official results |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=January 12, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060112160248/http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/19881143/results/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541412 |title=The Rock's second WWE Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309231225/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541412 |archive-date=March 9, 2008}} On January 31, during an episode of Sunday Night Heat, the Rock and Mankind participated in an Empty Arena match, a match that took place in an arena with 22,000 empty seats where any part of the facility could be used to contest the match. After 20 minutes of chaotic brawling in the ring, the stands, a kitchen, the catering area, an office, the arena corridors and finally a basement loading area, Mankind pinned the Rock using a forklift truck to win the WWF Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/130790/20160204/wwe-looks-back-super-bowl-halftime-heat-rock-vs-mankind.htm|title=WWE Looks Back At Super Bowl 'Halftime Heat' With The Rock vs. Mankind|first=Mark|last=Lelinwalla|date=February 4, 2016|website=Tech Times|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-date=January 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129010319/https://www.techtimes.com/articles/130790/20160204/wwe-looks-back-super-bowl-halftime-heat-rock-vs-mankind.htm|url-status=live}} The two faced off again, at St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House on February 14, in a Last Man Standing match which ended in a draw, meaning Mankind retained the title. Their feud ended on the February 15 Raw Is War, when the Rock won his third WWF Championship in a Ladder Match after a debuting Big Show interfered on his behalf.{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1999/raw021599 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026204143/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?1999%2Fraw021599 |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |title=Monday Night Raw: February 15, 1999 |publisher=The Other Arena |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/30445414121 |title=The Rock's third WWE Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327050913/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/30445414121 |archive-date=March 27, 2008}} The Rock then lost the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XV on March 28.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm15/mainevent/ |title=Stone Cold vs. The Rock for the WWE Championship |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223191232/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm15/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 23, 2008}}

File:WWE - London 6+70500 (22) b.jpg

The Rock's popularity continued to grow and audiences still cheered for him even though he was a heel. He then lost the title rematch against Stone Cold Steve Austin at Backlash: In Your House on April 25.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash1999/mainevent/ |title=WWE Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin def. The Rock |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221164543/http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash1999/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 21, 2008}} The next night on Raw is War, the Rock was fired from The Corporation after he was betrayed by Shane McMahon, turning him face again and starting a feud with Triple H, The Undertaker and The Corporate Ministry. On April 29, 1999, WWF aired the pilot episode of SmackDown!, a term derived from one of the Rock's catchphrases. In the episode, the Rock continued his feud with The Corporate Ministry. This led to a match with Triple H, at Over the Edge on May 23, which the Rock won,{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/overtheedge99.html |title=Over the Edge 1999 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=January 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120002030/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/overtheedge99.html |url-status=live }} and a match for the WWF Championship against The Undertaker, at King of the Ring on June 27, which the Rock lost.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering99.html |title=King of the Ring 1999 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217032104/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering99.html |archive-date=February 17, 2008}} The Rock then lost a number one contender's match to Triple H, at Fully Loaded on July 25, after interference from "Mr. Ass" Billy Gunn.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/fullyloaded99.html |title=Fully Loaded 1999 results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=February 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207222429/https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/fullyloaded99.html |url-status=live }} The Rock then defeated Gunn in a Kiss My Ass match at SummerSlam on August 22. The Rock was also given the privilege of having his own signature match, like The Undertaker with the Buried Alive match, Kane with the Inferno Match and Mankind with the Boiler Room Brawl: the Brahma Bullrope match, a variant of a strap match was a normal singles match where the components are tied together with a rope used for cattle farming, and the rope and its attached cowbell could both be used as weapons. The Rock contested this match twice, both times in Texas (vs Triple H in Dallas, and vs Al Snow in Houston).{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/1999/results/ |title=SummerSlam 1999 official results |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620173807/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/1999/results/ |archive-date=June 20, 2007}}

Shortly after SummerSlam, the Rock began teaming with former opponent Mankind and the two became known as the Rock 'n' Sock Connection.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1999/ |title=WWE Raw Results – August 30, 1999 |date=August 30, 1999 |access-date=May 4, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607173232/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1999/ |archive-date=June 7, 2008}} They became WWF Tag Team Champions for the first time after defeating The Undertaker and Big Show for the titles on the August 30 episode of Raw is War.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132135 |title=Rock 'n' Sock Connection's first World Tag Team Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325074122/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132135 |archive-date=March 25, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321116 |title=Rock 'n' Sock Connection's third World Tag Team Championship reign |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224220518/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321116 |archive-date=February 24, 2007}} The two performed a number of critically acclaimed comedic skits together, including one called "This Is Your Life", which saw Mankind bring parody versions of people from the Rock's past on television, such as his high school girlfriend and his high school football coach, only to have the Rock insult them. The segment earned an 8.4 Nielsen rating, one of the highest ratings ever for a Raw segment.{{cite web |url=http://slashwrestling.com/raw/990927.html |title=Slashwrestling RAW report – with ratings |access-date=January 13, 2007 |author=Christopher Robin Zimmerman |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102112807/http://slashwrestling.com/raw/990927.html |archive-date=November 2, 2006}} The two lost the titles back to Undertaker and Big Show on the September 9 episode of SmackDown! and won them back from them on the September 20 episode of Raw is War.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013101134/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132126 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19990909 – Undertaker & Big Show |date=October 13, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132117 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051127181916/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132117 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19990920 – Mankind & The Rock |date=November 27, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}} The Rock and Mankind then lost the titles to The New Age Outlaws on the very next episode of SmackDown!.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413218 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123031447/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413218 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 23, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19990923 – New Age Outlaws |date=November 23, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}} The Rock and Mankind would win the tag titles for the third and final time after beating the New Age Outlaws on the October 14 episode of SmackDown! before losing the titles to The Holly Cousins on the October 18 episode of Raw is War.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051128114939/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321116 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 28, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19991014 – Mankind & The Rock |date=November 28, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413211115 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230211555/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413211115 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2005 |title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team > 19991018 – Crash & Hardcore Holly |date=December 30, 2005 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}

At the Royal Rumble on January 23, 2000, the Rock entered the Royal Rumble match and was one of the final two remaining, along with Big Show. In an attempt at a "false finish", Big Show intended to throw the Rock over the top rope in a running powerslam-like position, before the Rock countered the move on the ring apron, sending Big Show to the floor before reentering the ring as the winner.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811411/mainevent/ |title=The Rock (No. 24) wins the Royal Rumble Match |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |archive-date=January 17, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117061721/http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811411/mainevent/ |url-status=live }} But the Rock's feet accidentally hit the floor during the reversal attempt, though those watching the event on television did not see that. This was played up in the storyline as Big Show provided additional video footage showing it and claimed to be the rightful winner. The Rock's number one contendership for the WWF Championship was then put on the line against Big Show at No Way Out on February 27, which Big Show won after Shane McMahon interfered.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2000/results/ |title=No Way Out 2000 official results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319121436/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2000/results/ |archive-date=March 19, 2008}} The Rock then defeated Big Show on the March 13 episode of Raw Is War, to regain the right to face the WWF Champion, Triple H, at WrestleMania 2000 on April 2, in a Fatal Four-way elimination match, also including Big Show and Mick Foley.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_2000/ |title=Raw 2000 results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607173238/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_2000/ |archive-date=June 7, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/results/ |title=WrestleMania 2000 official results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309233852/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/results/ |archive-date=March 9, 2008}} Each wrestler had a McMahon in his corner: Triple H had his wife, Stephanie, Foley had Linda, the Rock had Vince and Big Show had Shane.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/mainevent/ |title=Triple H w/ Stephanie McMahon vs. Mick Foley w/ Linda McMahon vs. Big Show w/ Shane McMahon vs. The Rock w/ Mr. McMahon |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221171738/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 21, 2008}} The Rock lasted until the final two but was eliminated by Triple H after Vince betrayed him by hitting him with a chair.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/wrestlemania16/ |title=WrestleMania 2000 results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218001433/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/wrestlemania16/ |archive-date=February 18, 2009}}

Due to his image at the time, a Magic: The Gathering deck archetype was named after him.{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzGjBLuSgLc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/IzGjBLuSgLc| archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Where Did The Deck Name "The Rock" Come From? {{!}} MTG #Shorts|date=August 17, 2021|last=Olive|first=Saffron|publisher=MTGGoldfish}}{{cbignore}}

File:Therockaswwfchampion b.jpg

In the following weeks, the Rock continued his feud with Triple H and eventually won his fourth WWF Championship, which he won on April 30, at Backlash, after Stone Cold Steve Austin intervened on his behalf.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2000/mainevent/ |title=The Rock defeats Triple H to become new WWE Champion |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219071938/http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2000/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 19, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141111 |title=The Rock's fourth WWE Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331191439/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141111 |archive-date=March 31, 2008}} The following night on Raw is War, the Rock successfully defended his title against Shane McMahon in a Steel Cage match. On May 21, at Judgment Day, the Rock faced Triple H in an Iron Man match with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2000/mainevent/ |title=The Rock vs. Triple H in a 60-Minute WWE Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224054925/http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2000/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}} With the score tied at five falls each, and with seconds left on the time limit, the Rock was disqualified when The Undertaker attacked Triple H, thus giving Triple H the 6–5 win and the title.{{cite web |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw5-22-00.html |title=Raw results – May 22, 2000 |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=Lords of Pain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219025907/http://www.lordsofpain.net/reports/raw/raw5-22-00.html |archive-date=December 19, 2007 |url-status=dead}} The Rock won the WWF Championship for a fifth time at King of the Ring on June 25 by scoring the winning pin in a six-man tag team match, teaming with Kane and The Undertaker against Shane McMahon, Triple H and Vince McMahon, whom he pinned.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering00.html |title=King of the Ring 2000 results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216070305/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering00.html |archive-date=February 16, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454140 |title=The Rock's fifth WWE Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224032006/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454140 |archive-date=February 24, 2008}} The Rock successfully defended the championship against Chris Benoit on July 23 at Fully Loaded. The next month, he successfully defended his title against Kurt Angle and Triple H at SummerSlam on August 27. The Rock had another successful title defense against Benoit, Kane and The Undertaker on September 24 at Unforgiven.{{Cite web |url=http://profightdb.com/wrestlers/the-rock-229.html?title=263 |title=The Rock: Profile & Match Listing – Internet Wrestling Database (IWD) |website=profightdb.com |access-date=November 22, 2012 |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221225015/http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/the-rock-229.html?title=263 |url-status=live }}

The Rock then lost the WWF Championship to Kurt Angle at No Mercy on October 22, 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2000/mainevent/ |title=The Rock vs. Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219054407/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2000/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 19, 2008}} The next month, The Rock feuded with Rikishi and defeated him at Survivor Series on November 19.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2000/results/ |title=Survivor Series 2000 official results |access-date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224051027/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2000/results/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}} The Rock wrestled a six-man Hell in a Cell match for the WWF Championship at Armageddon on December 10, which Angle won to retain the title.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2000/mainevent/ |title=Six-Man Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224001810/http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2000/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}} On the December 18 episode of Raw is War, the Rock won the WWF Tag Team Championship with The Undertaker, defeating Edge and Christian, before losing the titles back to Edge and Christian the next night at a SmackDown! taping.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132112212 |title=Undertaker and Rock's first World Tag Team Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319100130/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132112212 |archive-date=March 19, 2008}} The Rock continued to feud with Angle over the WWF Championship, culminating at No Way Out on February 25, 2001, where he pinned Angle to win the WWF Championship for a sixth time.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2001/mainevent/ |title=Kurt Angle vs. The Rock for the WWE Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319113212/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2001/mainevent/ |archive-date=March 19, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141121 |title=The Rock's sixth WWE Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331201241/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141121 |archive-date=March 31, 2008}} The Rock then feuded with the Royal Rumble winner, Stone Cold Steve Austin, whom he lost the title to at WrestleMania X-Seven on April 1 after Austin allied with Vince McMahon, who interfered on his behalf. On the next night's Raw is War, during a steel cage title rematch, Triple H attacked the Rock, allying with McMahon and Austin and helping Austin retain the championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2001/raw040201 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060115131945/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2001%2Fraw040201 |archive-date=January 15, 2006 |title=WWF Raw: April 2, 2001 |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=The Other Arena |url-status=dead}} Austin and Triple H then formed a tag team called The Power Trip,{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/p/power-trip.html |title=The Power Trip Profile |access-date=April 13, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |archive-date=January 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101015950/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/p/power-trip.html |url-status=live }} while the Rock was indefinitely suspended in storyline. Johnson used this time off to act in The Scorpion King.

File:WWF RAW 2001-10-15 The Rock at ringside b.jpg at ringside at WWF Raw, October 2001]]

The Rock returned in late July when the WWF was feuding with rival promotions World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) during what is known as The Invasion storyline. In reality, WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon and the WWF, and ECW had gone out of business in early 2001. Many former WCW and ECW wrestlers were then brought onto WWF television and formed The Alliance to compete with the WWF in storyline. The Alliance and Vince McMahon then both attempted to persuade the Rock to join their team. The Rock then aligned with McMahon and the WWF. The next month, the Rock defeated Booker T at SummerSlam on August 19 to win the WCW Championship for the first time.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2001/mainevent/ |title=The Rock vs. Booker T w/Shane McMahon for the WCW Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621123202/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2001/mainevent/ |archive-date=June 21, 2007}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/304454110223 |title=The Rock's first WCW Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331155507/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/304454110223 |archive-date=March 31, 2008}} He later lost the title to Chris Jericho at No Mercy on October 21.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2001/results/ |title=No Mercy 2001 official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224055025/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2001/results/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321134 |title=Chris Jericho and The Rock's first World Tag Team Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311084859/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321134 |archive-date=March 11, 2008}} The next night on Raw, he teamed with Jericho to win the WWF Tag Team Championship from The Dudley Boyz. The two then lost the tag titles to Booker T and Test on the November 1, 2001, episode of SmackDown!.{{Cite web |url=http://profightdb.com/wrestlers/the-rock-229.html?title=261 |title=The Rock: Profile & Match Listing – Internet Wrestling Database (IWD) |website=profightdb.com |access-date=November 22, 2012 |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221231948/http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/the-rock-229.html?title=261 |url-status=live }} The Rock defeated Jericho on the November 5 episode of Raw for his second WCW Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/30445411028 |title=The Rock's second WCW Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221192855/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/30445411028 |archive-date=February 21, 2008}}

As part of the WWF's battle against The Alliance, the Rock wrestled in a "winner takes all" five-on-five elimination tag team match at Survivor Series on November 18 where the losing team's company would be dissolved in storyline. He was a member of Team WWF along with Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Kane, and Big Show. The Alliance's team consisted of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and Shane McMahon. In the end, it came down to a one-on-one between the Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Rock seemed to have the upper hand, until his teammate Jericho entered the ring and attacked the Rock. Austin tried to capitalize on this by pinning the Rock, but Kurt Angle revealed his true allegiance by attacking Austin. The Rock then pinned Austin, giving Team WWF the victory and forcing The Alliance to disband. The Rock's WCW Championship was renamed the unbranded "World Championship" following the Alliance's loss.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2001/mainevent/ |title=The Rock, Chris Jericho, Big Show, Kane & Undertaker def. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Shane McMahon, Booker T & Rob Van Dam; Sole Survivor: The Rock |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224064801/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2001/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}} At the next pay-per-view, Vengeance on December 9, The Rock lost the World Championship to Jericho, who would then unify the WWF and World titles later that night.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2001/results/ |title=Vengeance 2001 official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224065720/http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2001/results/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008 |url-status=live}} The Rock then unsuccessfully challenged Jericho for the now Undisputed WWF Championship at Royal Rumble on January 20, 2002.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811413/results/ |title=Royal Rumble 2002 official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |archive-date=November 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122185729/http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811413/results |url-status=live }}

File:Rockwrestling b.jpg (bottom right) at WrestleMania X8, March 2002]]

At the next pay-per-view, No Way Out on February 17, the Rock defeated The Undertaker in a singles match. The event also saw the WWF debut of the famed WCW faction New World Order (nWo), which at the time consisted of "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2002/results/ |title=No Way Out 2002 official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |quote=The Rock def. Undertaker |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309220538/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2002/results/ |archive-date=March 9, 2008}} This later led to a match between the Rock and Hogan at WrestleMania X8 on March 17. The match was billed as "icon versus icon", with both men representing the top tier of two generations of wrestling; ultimately the Rock pinned Hogan at WrestleMania X8 to win the match.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm18/results/ |title=WrestleMania X8 official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311090004/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm18/results/ |archive-date=March 11, 2008}} Despite the Rock portraying a heroic character and Hogan a villain, a portion of the crowd attending the SkyDome was rooting heavily for Hogan.{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Gramlich |title=WrestleMania X8 results |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingWM18/mar18_wmgramlich-can.html |publisher=SLAM! Sports |access-date=March 2, 2008 |archive-date=July 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731100656/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingWM18/mar18_wmgramlich-can.html |url-status=usurped }}{{cite web |title=WrestleMania X8 results |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingWM18/mar18_wrestlemania-can.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630174936/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingWM18/mar18_wrestlemania-can.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |publisher=SLAM! Sports |access-date=March 2, 2008 }} In an interview in 2013, Hogan said he and the Rock changed the style of the match on the fly based on the crowd's response.{{cite web |url=http://www.fightingspiritmagazine.co.uk/art/news/263/hulk-hogan-i-changed-rock-match-on-the-fly |title=Hulk Hogan: I Changed Rock Match On The Fly |work=Fighting Spirit Magazine |date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=April 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325001711/http://www.fightingspiritmagazine.co.uk/art/news/263/hulk-hogan-i-changed-rock-match-on-the-fly|archive-date=March 25, 2013|url-status=dead}} After the introduction of the first-ever brand extension, the WWF held a "draft lottery" on the March 25, 2002, episode of Raw. The Rock was the number one overall pick, going to the SmackDown! brand before taking a sabbatical from wrestling.{{cite web |url=http://www.gerweck.net/wrestlemania18.htm |title=WrestleMania 18 review |publisher=Gerweck.net |access-date=April 16, 2008 |date=March 17, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324113713/http://www.gerweck.net/wrestlemania18.htm |archive-date=March 24, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

The Rock made a surprise return on a June episode of Raw before going to his assigned brand of SmackDown!. There, he was named the number one contender for the WWE Undisputed Championship, which he won for a record-setting seventh time at Vengeance on July 21, by defeating Kurt Angle and then-champion The Undertaker in a Triple Threat match.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141122 |title=The Rock's seventh WWE Championship reign |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311084919/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454141122 |archive-date=March 11, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2002/mainevent/ |title=The Rock defeats Undertaker and Kurt Angle in a triple threat match to become WWE Champion |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224010913/http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2002/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008 |url-status=live}} The Rock successfully defended the title at the Global Warning event on August 10 against Triple H and Brock Lesnar after pinning Triple H.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/liveevent/020810s.html |title=Global Warming results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828193410/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/liveevent/020810s.html |url-status=live }} On August 25, at SummerSlam, the Rock lost the WWE Undisputed Championship to Lesnar along with the record for the youngest WWE Champion, which he had set in 1998.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2002/mainevent/ |title=Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman vs. The Rock for the Undisputed Championship |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526181034/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2002/mainevent/ |archive-date=May 26, 2007}} In 2018, writing for ESPN.com, Sean Coyle noted in a retrospective review of the event, that following his victory over Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8, The Rock "started to see a dip in fan support" and "that dip turned into a plunge" by the time the Rock had his match with Lesnar at SummerSlam because fans knew he was leaving WWE to pursue an acting career,{{cite web |last1=Coyle |first1=Sean |title=SummerSlam 2002: A look back at a landscape-shifting moment in WWE history |url=https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/20286399/look-back-landscape-shifting-moment-wwe-history |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN Inc. |access-date=December 2, 2018|date=August 8, 2017 }} as evidenced by the negative crowd response during his match with Lesnar.{{cite web |first=Rick |last=Scaia |url=http://www.oowrestling.com/recaps/ppv/20020825.shtml |title=WWE SummerSlam |access-date=January 23, 2008 |date=August 25, 2002 |publisher=Online Onslaught |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609224551/http://www.oowrestling.com/recaps/ppv/20020825.shtml |archive-date=June 9, 2008}} After SummerSlam ended, the Rock was visibly angry at the crowd reaction. When he tried to do a post-show speech for the crowd, the fans booed him. He eventually cut a short promo, declaring that "sing-along with the Rock is over!"{{cite web |title=WWE SummerSlam 2002 |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wwe/wweppv/summerslam/summerslam02/ |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |access-date=December 2, 2018 |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221231954/https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wwe/wweppv/summerslam/summerslam02/ |url-status=live }} The Rock then took time off to kickstart his acting career.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Vaughn |title=Throwback Thursday: Looking back at WWE Summerslam 2002 |url=http://www2.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-squared-circle/Throwback-Thursday-Looking-back-at-WWE-Summerslam-2002.html |work=Philly.com |date=July 3, 2014 |access-date=December 2, 2018 |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110233412/http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/the-squared-circle/Throwback-Thursday-Looking-back-at-WWE-Summerslam-2002.html |url-status=live }}

File:Rockaustinxix b.jpg (left) in Austin's final match at WrestleMania XIX in March 2003.]]

The Rock returned on the January 30, 2003, episode of SmackDown! to set up another match with Hulk Hogan at No Way Out on February 23.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030130.html |title=WWE SmackDown! Results – January 30, 2003 |date=January 30, 2003 |access-date=May 2, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |archive-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823210316/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030130.html |url-status=live }} Because of negative fan reaction during previous matches as a result of his budding acting career, the Rock turned heel for the first time since 1999. He also started a new persona that has been called Hollywood Rock, with a new look and a shaved head.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/the-rock-wwe-phases-dwayne-johnson-versions/|title=Every Version Of The Rock, Ranked|date=February 13, 2021|website=TheSportster|access-date=January 24, 2022|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124162806/https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/the-rock-wwe-phases-dwayne-johnson-versions/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://tjrwrestling.net/review/wwe-ruthless-aggression-hollywood-rock/|title=WWE Ruthless Aggression Review: Hollywood Rock – TJR Wrestling|date=July 12, 2021|website=tjrwrestling.net|access-date=January 24, 2022|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124162802/https://tjrwrestling.net/review/wwe-ruthless-aggression-hollywood-rock/|url-status=live}} The Rock defeated Hogan at No Way Out before moving to the Raw brand.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2003/mainevent/ |title=The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219180229/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2003/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 19, 2008}} There, he had various small feuds, including one with The Hurricane.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030224.html |title=WWE Raw Results – February 24, 2003 |date=February 24, 2003 |access-date=May 2, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |archive-date=January 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102114330/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030224.html |url-status=live }} He also began performing "Rock Concerts", segments in which he played the guitar and mocked WWE performers and fans in song.{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030324.html |title=RAW results – March 24, 2003 |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |archive-date=November 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106224121/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030324.html |url-status=live }}

After failing to win a number one contendership for the World Heavyweight Championship, the Rock went into another program with Stone Cold Steve Austin. This led to a match at WrestleMania XIX on March 30, which called back to their previous two WrestleMania encounters, both of which Austin had won.{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Hamish |date=January 4, 2023 |title=Ranking Every Steve Austin vs The Rock Match At Wrestlemania (Worst To Best) |url=https://atletifo.com/wrestling/wwe/the-rock-vs-steve-austin/ |access-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127225922/https://atletifo.com/wrestling/wwe/the-rock-vs-steve-austin/ |url-status=live }} The Rock won after delivering three consecutive Rock Bottoms, ending their long-running rivalry in what turned out to be Austin's final match, until WrestleMania 38.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm19/results/ |title=WrestleMania XIX official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |archive-date=July 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709133741/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/19 |url-status=live }} The next night, Raw was billed as "the Rock Appreciation Night", in honor of his victory over Austin. That night, he was attacked by a debuting Goldberg.{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news/1049212077.shtml |access-date=March 9, 2008 |title=WWE Raw (March 31, 2003) Results |last=Moore |first=Wesley |publisher=WrestleView |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221231947/http://www.wrestleview.com/news/1049212077.shtml |url-status=live }} At Backlash on April 27, Goldberg defeated the Rock, who then briefly left WWE to film Walking Tall.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2003/mainevent/ |title=Goldberg defeats The Rock |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224033134/http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2003/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008}}

On the June 2 episode of Raw, the Rock joined the Highlight Reel and attacked Christian and Chris Jericho with Booker T, turning face once again.{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2003/06/03/102478.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723162842/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2003/06/03/102478.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |title=Raw: Rock-ing and rolling in San Diego |first=Nick |last=Tylwalk |access-date=May 2, 2008 |publisher=Slam! Sports}} He would later return on the December 8 episode of Raw to help Mick Foley against La Résistance. In 2004, the Rock aided Mick Foley in his feud against Evolution,{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040308.html |title=RAW results – March 8, 2004 |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105080322/https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040308.html |url-status=live }} leading to a reunion of the Rock 'n' Sock Connection. They lost against Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista in a handicap match at WrestleMania XX on March 14, 2004, when Orton pinned Foley after an RKO.{{cite web |url=http://wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm20/results/ |title=WrestleMania XX official results |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319101057/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm20/results/ |archive-date=March 19, 2008}} This was Johnson's final wrestling match until November 2011. The Rock appeared in WWE sporadically following WrestleMania XX. He made returns to provide support for Eugene against Jonathan Coachman and made a cameo in his hometown of Miami, where he confronted Randy Orton. On the August 23 episode of Raw, he hosted a pie-eating contest, as part of the WWE Diva Search, and ended the segment by giving Coachman a People's Elbow. The Rock's contract with WWE then ended and he started his full-time acting career.{{cite web |url=http://www.rootzoo.com/articles/view/Pro-Wrestling/WWE/The-Great-OneThe-Rock-A-Biography_3277 |title=The Great One, The Rock-A Biography |date=March 30, 2008 |access-date=April 13, 2008 |website=RootZoo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614095053/http://www.rootzoo.com/articles/view/Pro-Wrestling/WWE/The-Great-OneThe-Rock-A-Biography_3277 |archive-date=June 14, 2008}}

On March 12, 2007, the Rock appeared on a WWE show after nearly three years, via a pre-taped promo shown during Raw. He correctly predicted that Bobby Lashley would defeat Umaga at WrestleMania 23 in Donald Trump's and Vince McMahon's "Battle of the Billionaires" Hair vs. Hair match.{{cite web |first=Noah |last=Starr |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/03122007/ |title=Billion dollar burn |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE |archive-date=June 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630180834/http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/03122007/ |url-status=live }} On March 29, 2008, Johnson inducted his father Rocky Johnson and grandfather Peter Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/articles/hoffacts |title=Be a part of the 2008 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony |publisher=WWE |access-date=April 1, 2008 |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102200851/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/articles/hoffacts |url-status=live }} His next appearance was through a pre-taped promo on October 2, 2009, during the Decade of SmackDown.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2009/10/02/11248986.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107141105/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2009/10/02/11248986.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 7, 2016|title=Smackdown: A decade of memories|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|first=Matt|last=Bishop|date=October 2, 2009}}

On September 30, 2009, the Rock appeared at a World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) show to support the professional wrestling debut of Sarona Snuka, the daughter of his longtime friend and mentor Jimmy Snuka.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1254334057.php?style=dark|title=Video: Dwayne Johnson at WXW|publisher=Wrestle View|date=September 30, 2009|access-date=September 30, 2009|first=Adam|last=Martin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004081734/http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1254334057.php?style=dark|archive-date=October 4, 2009|url-status=dead}}

File:The rock en WM !!!!.jpg host, April 2011]]

On February 14, 2011, the Rock was announced as the host of WrestleMania XXVII on April 3, 2011, appearing live on Raw for the first time in almost seven years. During a lengthy promo, he addressed the fans and started a feud with John Cena.{{Cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1512427-john-cenas-fruity-pebbles-cookiepuss-and-other-unflattering-wwe-nicknames |title=John Cena's Fruity Pebbles, Cookie Puss and Other Unflattering WWE Nicknames |first=Alfred |last=Konuwa |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125042626/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1512427-john-cenas-fruity-pebbles-cookiepuss-and-other-unflattering-wwe-nicknames |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2011/02/15/17278316.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212345/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2011/02/15/17278316.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |title=Raw: Finally, The Rock has returned to WWE |last=Bishop |first=Matt |date=February 15, 2011 |access-date=February 15, 2011 |work=Slam! Sports |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer}} After numerous appearances via satellite, the Rock appeared live on the Raw before WrestleMania XXVII to confront Cena. After he and Cena exchanged insults, The Miz and Alex Riley appeared and attacked the Rock; he fended off Miz and Riley, only for Cena to blindside him with an Attitude Adjustment.{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/03/28/17788296.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715004938/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/03/28/17788296.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |title=Raw: One last push toward Wrestlemania |last=Plummer |first=Dale |date=March 28, 2011 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |work=Slam! Sports |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer }}

File:Rock and Cena shake hands.jpg (left) on Raw, agreeing to a match at WrestleMania XXVIII one year in advance]]

On April 3, at WrestleMania XXVII, the Rock opened the show by cutting a promo. After appearing in numerous backstage segments, the Rock came to ringside to restart the main event between Cena and the Miz as a No Disqualification match, after it had ended in a double countout. As revenge for the Attitude Adjustment Cena had given him on Raw, the Rock hit Cena with the Rock Bottom, allowing the Miz to pin him and retain the WWE Championship. After the match, the Rock attacked the Miz and hit him with the People's Elbow.{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania27/2011/04/03/17863646.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212345/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania27/2011/04/03/17863646.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |title=The Rock costs Cena retained the championship at WrestleMania XXVII |date=April 3, 2011 |last=Bishop |first=Matt |access-date=April 4, 2011 |work=Slam! Sports |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer}} The next night on Raw, the Rock and Cena agreed to a match at WrestleMania XXVIII the next year. They then worked together to fend off an attack by The Corre, which at the time consisted of Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, and Ezekiel Jackson.{{cite web |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_49042.shtml |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw results 4/4: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live Raw – The Rock & Austin live, fall-out from WrestleMania 27, Sin Cara debut |date=April 4, 2011 |access-date=April 8, 2011 |last=Caldwell |first=James |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |archive-date=April 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408123358/http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_49042.shtml |url-status=live }}

The Rock appeared live on Raw in his hometown of Miami to celebrate his 39th birthday.{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2011/05/02/18095156.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723040347/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2011/05/02/18095156.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2015 |title=Raw: Happy Birthday Rock |last=Plummer |first=Dale |work=Slam! Sports |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer |access-date=May 3, 2011 |date=May 2, 2011}} On September 16, WWE announced the Rock would wrestle in a traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series tag team match, teaming with Cena at Survivor Series in November.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/2011/the-rock-to-appear-at-survivor-series |title=The Rock to appear in Survivor Series tag team match |publisher=WWE |date=September 16, 2011 |access-date=December 29, 2011 |archive-date=December 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221043527/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/2011/the-rock-to-appear-at-survivor-series |url-status=live }} But on the October 24 episode of Raw SuperShow, Cena instead suggested the Rock be his partner in a standard tag team match against The Miz and R-Truth, a team called Awesome Truth,{{cite web |last=Stephens |first=David |title=Raw Results – 10/24/11 |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1319512277 |publisher=Wrestleview |access-date=April 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126183912/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1319512277 |archive-date=January 26, 2012}} which Rock agreed to the next week.{{cite web |last=Stephens |first=David |title=Raw Results – 10/31/11 |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1320118468 |publisher=Wrestleview |access-date=April 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207082859/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1320118468 |archive-date=February 7, 2012}} On November 14, during the special Raw Gets Rocked, the Rock appeared live, delivering Rock Bottoms to Mick Foley, who had been hosting a "This Is Your Life"-style segment for Cena, and later both members of Awesome Truth.{{cite web |last=Stephens |first=David |title=Raw Results – 11/14/11 |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1321330953 |publisher=Wrestleview |access-date=April 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115034408/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1321330953 |archive-date=January 15, 2012}} The Rock and Cena defeated Awesome Truth on November 20 at Survivor Series, when the Rock pinned The Miz. After the match, the Rock gave Cena a Rock Bottom.{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Adam |title=WWE Survivor Series: The Rock and John Cena vs. The Miz and R-Truth |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/pbp/317.php |publisher=Wrestleview |access-date=April 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103170248/http://www.wrestleview.com/pbp/317.php |archive-date=November 3, 2013}}

File:The Rock celebrating Wrestlemania 28 b.jpg, April 2012]]

Leading up to WrestleMania, the Rock and Cena had several verbal confrontations on Raw SuperShow.{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 2/27: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw – The Rock returns to Raw, WM28 hype |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_58604.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=April 14, 2012 |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401085448/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_58604.shtml |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 3/12: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw – Rock Concert vs. Cena Rap, Taker returns |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_59046.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=April 14, 2012 |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415074042/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_59046.shtml |url-status=live }} On the March 12, 2012, episode of Raw SuperShow, the Rock hosted his first "Rock Concert" segment since 2004, mocking Cena in his songs.{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 3/26: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw – final WM28 hype, Cena-Rock & Hunter-HBK confrontation |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_59548.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=April 14, 2012 |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330200744/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_59548.shtml |url-status=live }} On April 1, at WrestleMania XXVIII, the Rock defeated Cena in the main event after countering Cena's attempt at a People's Elbow into a Rock Bottom and pinning Cena.{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=Caldwell's WWE WrestleMania 28 PPV Report 4/1: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV – Rock-Cena, Taker-Hunter, Punk-Jericho |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_59831.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=April 2, 2012 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330170241/https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_59831.shtml |url-status=live }} This event broke the record for biggest professional wrestling pay-per-view buyrate. The following night on Raw SuperShow, the Rock praised Cena, calling their match "an honor". He then vowed to once again become WWE Champion.{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 4/2: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw – WM28 fall-out, how will Cena respond to Rock loss?, two big title matches |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_59548.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=April 14, 2012 |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330200744/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_59548.shtml |url-status=live }}

On July 23, at Raw 1000, the Rock announced he would wrestle for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. During the show, he encountered then-reigning WWE Champion CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and John Cena, all of whom expressed a desire to face him. The Rock later saved Cena from an assault by Big Show, only to be laid out by CM Punk.{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 7/23: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw No. 999 – WWE recognizes 1,000 episodes, WWE Title match, Lesnar, Rock, DX, wedding |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_63621.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=July 29, 2012 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306062051/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_63621.shtml |url-status=live }} On the January 7, 2013, episode of Raw, the Rock returned to confront his Royal Rumble opponent CM Punk.{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 1/7: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw – WWE Title match, The Rock returns, Cena vs. Ziggler (updated w/Box Score) |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_67712.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=January 13, 2013 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403011528/https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_67712.shtml |url-status=live }} On January 11, he made his first SmackDown appearance in ten years, getting into an altercation with Team Rhodes Scholars, resulting in him delivering a Rock Bottom to Damien Sandow and a People's Elbow to Cody Rhodes.{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=Caldwell's WWE Smackdown Results 1/11: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of The Rock's big return, new World Champ crowned (updated w/Box Score) |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwesmackdownreport/article_67812.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=January 13, 2013 |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115041309/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwesmackdownreport/article_67812.shtml |url-status=live }} The Rock closed out the 20th-anniversary episode of Raw, on January 14, with one of his "Rock Concerts", leading to a brawl with CM Punk.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_67875.shtml |title=PWTorch.com – Parks's WWE Raw Report 1/14: Complete "virtual time" coverage of the 20th Anniversary of Raw, including Rock Concert, Divas Title Match |website=Pwtorch.com}} The following week on Raw, the Rock was attacked by The Shield. Vince McMahon then asserted that if The Shield attacked the Rock in his title match with CM Punk, Punk would be stripped of the WWE Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/videos/the-shield-attack-the-rock-raw-jan-21-2013-26086012 |title=WWE videos |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125141540/http://www.wwe.com/videos/the-shield-attack-the-rock-raw-jan-21-2013-26086012 |archive-date=January 25, 2013}}

File:Rock revealed his title.jpg, February 2013]]

On January 27, at the Royal Rumble, CM Punk would seemingly defeat the Rock after the arena lights went out and someone attacked the Rock. Vince McMahon then came out and was about to strip Punk of the championship, however, at the Rock's request, he instead restarted the match. This culminated in the Rock defeating Punk to win his eighth WWE Championship.{{cite web |title=Caldwell's WWE Royal Rumble PPV Results 1/27: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of Punk vs. Rock, 30-man Rumble |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_68181.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=February 18, 2013 |last=Caldwell |first=James |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171417/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_68181.shtml |url-status=live }} Punk received a title rematch with the Rock, at Elimination Chamber on February 17, 2013, with the added stipulation that if the Rock was disqualified or counted out, he would still lose the WWE Championship. The Rock would pin Punk to defeat him and retain the championship.{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=WWE News: Chamber PPV results & notes – WM29 main event set, World Title match set, Shield big win, more |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_68728.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=February 18, 2013 |archive-date=June 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623100250/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_68728.shtml |url-status=live }} The following night on Raw, the Rock unveiled a new WWE Championship design, with a different center plate and removable customizable side-plates which had his "Brahma Bull" logo.{{cite web |title=Rock unveiled the new WWE Title |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2013-02-18/wwe-raw-results-26092607/page-13 |access-date=February 18, 2013 |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511000614/https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2013-02-18/wwe-raw-results-26092607/page-13 |url-status=live }} The Rock then resumed his rivalry with John Cena, who won that year's Royal Rumble to set up a rematch of the previous WrestleMania match between the two at WrestleMania 29, only this time with the WWE Championship on the line.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_69088.shtml |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 3/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live "Old-School Raw" – Taker returns, Rock-Cena in-ring confrontation, WM29 hype, more |website=Pwtorch.com |access-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926122510/https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_69088.shtml |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_69509.shtml |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 3/25: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw – Rock returns for Q&A debate with Cena, Hunter punts Barrett, latest WM29 hype |website=Pwtorch.com |access-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403010103/https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_69509.shtml |url-status=live }}

On April 7, at WrestleMania 29, the Rock lost the WWE Championship to Cena, ending his reign at 70 days.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_69830.shtml |title=Caldwell's WWE Wrestlemania 29 PPV Results: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live PPV from MetLife Stadium – Rock-Cena II, Taker-Punk, Lesnar-Hunter, more |website=Pwtorch.com |access-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403010032/https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_69830.shtml |url-status=live }} Despite being advertised for Raw after WrestleMania, where it was stated that the Rock was still entitled a rematch for the WWE Championship,{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 4/8: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw – WM29 fall-out, new World Champ, no Rock, Taker live, crowd takes over |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_69884.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=August 3, 2013 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403092537/https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_69884.shtml |url-status=live }} The Rock did not appear because of a real injury sustained during his match with Cena, in which his abdominal and adductor tendons tore from his pelvis.{{cite web |title=WWE News: New update on Rock's WrestleMania injury |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_69934.shtml |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=August 3, 2013 |archive-date=July 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727013537/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_69934.shtml |url-status=live }} Johnson underwent surgery on April 23 to reattach the torn tendons.{{Cite web |url=https://www.news24.com/You/Archive/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-undergoes-successful-surgery-20170728 |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson undergoes successful surgery |date=April 25, 2013 |website=News24 |access-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422205210/https://www.news24.com/You/Archive/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-undergoes-successful-surgery-20170728 |url-status=live }} Post surgery, it made his abdomen look far less muscular than the rest of his body, notably his arms.{{Cite web |last=Landsverk |first=Gabby |title=The Rock says he doesn't have a six-pack, but he weighs his food and lifts weights to sculpt his 'five-and-a-half-pack' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-six-pack-abs-wrestling-injury-2021-8 |access-date=February 15, 2024 |website=Business Insider}}

File:WWE 2014-04-06 18-22-41 NEX-6 9458 DxO (13918972796).jpg at WrestleMania XXX, April 2014.]]

In April 2014, the Rock appeared in the opening segment of WrestleMania XXX along with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan.{{cite web |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |title=WWE Wrestlemania 30 live coverage & results: The Streak is over, Daniel Bryan's reign begins |url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/36326-wrestlemania-live-coverage-from-the-superdome-in-new-orleans |work=Wrestling Observer |access-date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701230803/http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/36326-wrestlemania-live-coverage-from-the-superdome-in-new-orleans |url-status=live }} On the October 6 episode of Raw, the Rock made a surprise appearance to confront Rusev and Lana; this resulted in the Rock clearing Rusev from the ring. On the 15th Anniversary of SmackDown on October 10, the Rock would make an appearance in a backstage segment, where he and Triple H would reminisce on their past feud.{{cite web |last1=Caldwell |first1=James |title=Raw News: Rock surprise return, Reigns non-live return, Edge back on TV, Lesnar MIA, next week's Raw guest star, more |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_81098.shtml |website=PWTorch.com |access-date=October 7, 2014 |archive-date=October 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007072045/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_81098.shtml |url-status=live }}

The Rock appeared at the 2015 Royal Rumble event on January 25, 2015, during the main event match, where he helped his relative Roman Reigns fend off Big Show and Kane after Reigns eliminated them from the match. Reigns then won the match and the Rock endorsed him in the ring.{{cite web |last1=Scherer |first1=Dave |title=How and why everything went so badly wrong for WWE last night at the Rumble |url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=91127 |website=PWInsider.com |access-date=January 27, 2015 |archive-date=April 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430000021/http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=91127 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Rock's role, crowd response to Rumble winner, Bully Ray returns & other surprise entrants, more |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_82942.shtml |website=PWTorch.com |access-date=January 26, 2015 |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127230646/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_82942.shtml |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Schwartz |first1=Nick |title=Daniel Bryan was eliminated early from the Royal Rumble and fans are furious |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/01/wwe-daniel-bryant-royal-rumble-eliminated-reaction |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=January 26, 2015 |archive-date=January 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126100348/http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/01/wwe-daniel-bryant-royal-rumble-eliminated-reaction |url-status=live }} The Rock appeared at WrestleMania 31 on March 29, 2015, alongside Ronda Rousey, getting into an in-ring altercation with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Rock and Rousey prevailed after he attacked Triple H and she overpowered McMahon.{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=John |title=WrestleMania 31 the best Mania ever |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2015/03/26/22309101.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704201205/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2015/03/26/22309101.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 4, 2015 |work=Slam! Wrestling |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer |access-date=March 30, 2015}} On June 27, the Rock appeared at a live event in Boston, where he confronted Bo Dallas and gave him a Rock Bottom.{{cite web |last1=Gentile |first1=Mark |title=Show Results – 6/27 WWE in Boston, Mass.: Detailed second report – The Rock cameo, Rollins vs. Ambrose steel cage main event, Jericho, Cena vs. Owens, more |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Arena_Reports_10/article_85898.shtml |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-date=August 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831203810/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Arena_Reports_10/article_85898.shtml |url-status=live }}

File:The Wyatt Family confronts The Rock at WrestleMania 32.jpg confronting the Rock at WrestleMania 32, April 2016]]

On the January 25, 2016, episode of Raw, the Rock was in a segment that saw him converse with the Miz, Big Show, Lana and Rusev before he and his relatives, the Usos, got into an altercation with then-WWE Tag Team Champions, the New Day.{{cite web |last1=Tedesco |first1=Mike |title=WWE Raw Results – 1/25/16 (The Rock, Fastlane main event) |url=https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-raw-results/57562-wwe-raw-results-1-25-16-live-results-from-miami/ |website=WrestleView.com |access-date=April 29, 2019 |date=January 26, 2016 |archive-date=January 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127204619/https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-raw-results/57562-wwe-raw-results-1-25-16-live-results-from-miami |url-status=live }} The Rock appeared at WrestleMania 32 on April 3, 2016, where he announced that WWE had broken the all-time WrestleMania attendance record before being interrupted by The Wyatt Family. The Rock got into a verbal back-and-forth with Bray Wyatt before having an impromptu match with Wyatt Family member Erick Rowan. The Rock won after giving Rowan a Rock Bottom and pinning him in six seconds, which set the record for the fastest win in WrestleMania history. The Rock was then aided by a returning John Cena to fend off Wyatt, Rowan and Braun Strowman.{{cite web |last1=Caldwell |first1=James |title=4/3 WrestleMania 32 PPV Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Live Report on Main PPV |url=http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/04/03/wm32liveresults/ |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch |access-date=April 3, 2016 |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404040347/http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/04/03/wm32liveresults/ |url-status=live }}

On the February 20, 2017, episode of Raw, the Rock made an untelevised appearance after the broadcast had gone off the air, where he promoted and filmed a scene for his then-upcoming film Fighting with My Family.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/dwayne-johnson-wwe-cm-punk-voicemail/|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Returns to WWE Ring to Leave CM Punk a Voicemail (Video)|work=TheWrap|first=Jeremy|last=Fuster|date=February 21, 2017|access-date=February 22, 2017|archive-date=February 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222192851/http://www.thewrap.com/dwayne-johnson-wwe-cm-punk-voicemail/|url-status=live}} On August 3, 2019, the Rock officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling.{{cite magazine |last1=Ellis |first1=Philip |title=The Rock Just Announced His Official Retirement From Wrestling |url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a28597187/the-rock-wwe-wrestling-retirement/ |access-date=September 1, 2019 |magazine=Men's Health |date=August 3, 2019 |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129081223/https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a28597187/the-rock-wwe-wrestling-retirement/ |url-status=live }} On September 30, 2019, after weeks of speculation, the Rock announced that he would appear on SmackDown{{'}}s 20th Anniversary on October 4, 2019, marking his first appearance on SmackDown since October 2014 and his first televised appearance since April 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-returns-to-wwe-friday-night-smackdown-fox-1202748570/|title=Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Rolls Back To WWE For Fox's 'SmackDown!' Debut|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=September 30, 2019|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=October 2, 2019|archive-date=October 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016060023/https://deadline.com/2019/09/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-returns-to-wwe-friday-night-smackdown-fox-1202748570/|url-status=live}} At the event, he cut a promo with Becky Lynch before they were interrupted by King Corbin. After attacking Corbin, the Rock and Lynch celebrated in the ring.{{cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Jason|title=10/04 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of The Rock's return, Kofi Kingston vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship, Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon in a career vs. career ladder match, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks and Bayley|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2019/10/04/10-04-wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-powells-review-of-the-rocks-return-kofi-kingston-vs-brock-lesnar-for-the-wwe-championship-kevin-owens-vs-shane-mcmahon-in-a-career-vs-career-ladder-m/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=October 4, 2019|date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=October 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006060619/https://prowrestling.net/site/2019/10/04/10-04-wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-powells-review-of-the-rocks-return-kofi-kingston-vs-brock-lesnar-for-the-wwe-championship-kevin-owens-vs-shane-mcmahon-in-a-career-vs-career-ladder-m/|url-status=live}}

On September 15, 2023, the Rock made a surprise return to SmackDown, in a segment with Pat McAfee and Austin Theory, who Rock took out within the segment. This marked his first televised appearance in WWE since October 4, 2019.{{cite web | last=Mahjouri | first=Shakiel | title=The Rock surprises with return to WWE SmackDown in segments with John Cena, Pat McAfee | website=CBSSports.com | date=September 16, 2023 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/watch-the-rock-surprises-with-return-to-wwe-smackdown-in-segments-with-john-cena-pat-mcafee/ | access-date=September 16, 2023 | archive-date=September 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919032557/https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/watch-the-rock-surprises-with-return-to-wwe-smackdown-in-segments-with-john-cena-pat-mcafee/ | url-status=live }}

{{See also|The Bloodline (professional wrestling)|l1=The Bloodline}}

File:The Rock and Roman reigns and Seth Rollins at WMXL (cropped).jpg face to face with Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins at WrestleMania XL.]]

It was teased that a former WWE Champion would be appearing on the Day 1 edition of Raw on January 1, 2024; the unidentified champion was at first revealed to be Jinder Mahal, who insulted the crowd before being interrupted by the Rock in his first live appearance on Raw since 2016.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Raw results (1/1): Powell's live review of Day 1 with Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship, Rhea Ripley vs. Ivy Nile for the Women's World Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/01/01/wwe-raw-results-1-1-powells-live-review-of-day-1-with-seth-rollins-vs-drew-mcintyre-for-the-world-heavyweight-championship-rhea-ripley-vs-ivy-nile-for-the-womens-world-championship-becky-ly/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=January 1, 2024|access-date=January 1, 2024|archive-date=January 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102010745/https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/01/01/wwe-raw-results-1-1-powells-live-review-of-day-1-with-seth-rollins-vs-drew-mcintyre-for-the-world-heavyweight-championship-rhea-ripley-vs-ivy-nile-for-the-womens-world-championship-becky-ly/|url-status=live}} The two brawled and the Rock emerged victorious, after which he asked the crowd if he should sit at "the head of the table" in a direct reference to Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, his relative whose nickname is "The Head of the Table".{{cite web|url=https://www.postwrestling.com/2024/01/01/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-appears-on-day-1-wwe-raw-asks-crowd-if-he-should-sit-at-the-head-of-the-table/|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson appears on Day 1 WWE Raw, asks crowd if he should sit at the 'head of the table'|date=January 1, 2024|last=Thompson|first=Andrew|work=POST Wrestling|access-date=February 5, 2024|archive-date=February 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205085955/https://www.postwrestling.com/2024/01/01/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-appears-on-day-1-wwe-raw-asks-crowd-if-he-should-sit-at-the-head-of-the-table/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Boone |first=Matt |date=January 2, 2024 |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Makes Surprise Return At WWE Raw: Day 1 |url=https://wrestlingheadlines.com/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-makes-surprise-return-at-wwe-raw-day-1/ |access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=Wrestling Headlines |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102031832/https://wrestlingheadlines.com/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-makes-surprise-return-at-wwe-raw-day-1/ |url-status=live }} The Rock also appeared on the February 2 episode of SmackDown, where he confronted Reigns after Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes decided against choosing Reigns as his WrestleMania 40 opponent to allow the Rock to face Reigns.{{Cite magazine |last=Barrasso |first=Justin |date=February 2, 2024 |title=The Rock Returning for WrestleMania |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/news/the-rock-returning-for-wrestlemania |access-date=February 3, 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated|archive-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203034032/https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/news/the-rock-returning-for-wrestlemania |url-status=dead }} This was met by intense backlash from fans who wanted Rhodes to face Reigns; the WrestleMania XL media event on February 8 thus saw The Rock align himself with Reigns, chastise Rhodes for reversing his decision not to choose Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent, and slap Rhodes for speaking out against the Anoaʻi family (of which the Rock and Reigns are both members), thus turning heel for the first time since 2003.{{cite web | url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/127613-the-rock-volvera-a-su-personaje-heel-de-hollywood | title=WWE quiere traer de vuelta al personaje 'Hollywood' the Rock | work=Solowrestling | date=February 12, 2024 | access-date=March 13, 2024 | archive-date=March 13, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313105535/https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/127613-the-rock-volvera-a-su-personaje-heel-de-hollywood | url-status=live | author1=Solowrestling }}{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/02/08/wrestlemania-xl-kickoff-press-conference-live-coverage-cody-rhodes-announces-his-decision-the-rock-roman-reigns-seth-rollins-rhea-ripley-bianca-belair-and-triple-h-appear/|title=WrestleMania XL Kickoff press conference live coverage: Cody Rhodes announces his decision, the Rock, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, and Triple H appear|date=February 8, 2024|last=Powell|first=Jason|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=February 8, 2024|archive-date=February 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217032828/https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/02/08/wrestlemania-xl-kickoff-press-conference-live-coverage-cody-rhodes-announces-his-decision-the-rock-roman-reigns-seth-rollins-rhea-ripley-bianca-belair-and-triple-h-appear/|url-status=live}} As WWE's chief creative officer Triple H was being interviewed backstage over what had just transpired, the Rock and Reigns walked by and told him to "fix it" or they would, though Triple H would later appear on SmackDown to stand by Rhodes' decision.

File:The Rock in 2024.jpg ]]

On the February 16 episode of SmackDown, the Rock officially joined Reigns' faction The Bloodline; he also debuted a new persona that incorporated facets of his arrogant "Hollywood Rock" incarnation from 2003, such as insulting the audience, wearing gaudy expensive clothes, and entering the arena to a new entrance theme that began with his heroic character's music before transitioning into his "Hollywood Rock" music.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_IqiDsEldI|title=FULL SEGMENT — Rock and Reigns lay the SmackDown on the WWE Universe: SmackDown, Feb. 16, 2024|date=February 16, 2024|work=WWE YouTube|access-date=February 16, 2024|archive-date=April 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402222859/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_IqiDsEldI|url-status=live}} He then appeared on the March 1 episode of SmackDown, where he gave his new character the nickname of "The Final Boss" and issued a challenge to Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins: if they beat him and Reigns in a tag team match at WrestleMania Night 1, Rhodes' championship match against Reigns on Night 2 would be free of interference from The Bloodline, but if Rhodes and Rollins lost, the championship match would be contested under "Bloodline Rules". Rhodes and Rollins accepted the challenge the following week. On the March 25 episode of Raw, the Rock attacked Rhodes backstage, leaving him beaten and bloody in the parking lot.{{Cite web |last=Beaston |first=Erik |title=WWE Raw Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From March 25 |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10114330-wwe-raw-results-winners-live-grades-reaction-and-highlights-from-march-25 |access-date=October 14, 2024 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en |archive-date=November 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127213112/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10114330-wwe-raw-results-winners-live-grades-reaction-and-highlights-from-march-25 |url-status=live }} During the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame, the Rock received a "People's Championship" from Muhammad Ali's wife Lonnie, which he would begin carrying over his shoulder whenever he appeared onscreen.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewy4jDf_Tr8|title=The Rock receives the People's Championship from Lonnie Ali: 2024 WWE Hall of Fame highlights|date=April 5, 2024|work=WWE YouTube|access-date=April 5, 2024}} In the Night 1 main event of WrestleMania XL, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Rollins.{{Cite web |title=411MANIA |url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/slimmers-wwe-wrestlemania-xl-night-one-review/ |access-date=April 7, 2024 |website=Slimmer’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Night One Review |archive-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407044946/https://411mania.com/wrestling/slimmers-wwe-wrestlemania-xl-night-one-review/ |url-status=live }} During the Night 2 main event between Reigns and Rhodes, multiple people interfered on behalf of both men; the Rock appeared and hit John Cena with a Rock Bottom after the two stared each other down, but The Undertaker then appeared and chokeslammed the Rock. Rhodes went on to defeat Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship.{{Cite web |last=Rathi |first=Ishaan |date=April 8, 2024 |title=Cody Rhodes Wins Undisputed WWE Championship In Match Filled with Surprises at WrestleMania 40 Sunday |url=https://www.ringsidenews.com/2024/04/07/cody-rhodes-wins-undisputed-wwe-championship-in-match-filled-with-surprises-at-wrestlemania-40-sunday/ |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=Ringside News |archive-date=April 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408025749/https://www.ringsidenews.com/2024/04/07/cody-rhodes-wins-undisputed-wwe-championship-in-match-filled-with-surprises-at-wrestlemania-40-sunday/ |url-status=live }} The following night on Raw, the Rock interrupted Rhodes' celebration to congratulate him and reveal that he would be leaving for a while, but would be coming after Rhodes when he returns; this allowed Johnson time off to film the biopic The Smashing Machine.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOqwZwh4wPo|title=FULL SEGMENT: Cody Rhodes and The Rock's story has just begun: Raw highlights April 8, 2024|date=April 8, 2024|work=WWE YouTube|access-date=April 8, 2024|archive-date=April 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409052440/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOqwZwh4wPo|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/report-a24-s-smashing-machine-starring-rock-set-begin-filming-may-1 | title=Report: A24's 'The Smashing Machine', Starring the Rock, Set to Begin Filming on May 1 | Fightful News | access-date=May 23, 2024 | archive-date=May 23, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523133812/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/report-a24-s-smashing-machine-starring-rock-set-begin-filming-may-1 | url-status=live }} During his hiatus, Solo Sikoa became the new leader of The Bloodline, starting the Bloodline Civil War.{{cite web|last=Barnett|first=Jake|title=WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (4/12): Barnett's review of the appearances of new champs Cody Rhodes and Bayley, Triple Threats for a shot at the WWE Universal Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/04/12/wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-4-12-barnetts-review-of-the-appearances-of-new-champs-cody-rhodes-and-bailey-triple-threats-for-a-shot-at-the-wwe-universal-championship/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=April 12, 2024|date=April 12, 2024|archive-date=May 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518041802/https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/04/12/wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-4-12-barnetts-review-of-the-appearances-of-new-champs-cody-rhodes-and-bailey-triple-threats-for-a-shot-at-the-wwe-universal-championship/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Backlash France results: Powell's live review of Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship, Damian Priest vs. Jey Uso for the World Hvt. Title, Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Title|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/05/04/wwe-backlash-france-results-powells-live-review-of-cody-rhodes-vs-aj-styles-for-the-wwe-championship-damian-priest-vs-jey-uso-for-the-world-hvt-title-bayley-vs-naomi-vs-tiffany-str/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=May 4, 2024|access-date=May 4, 2024|archive-date=May 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505144507/https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/05/04/wwe-backlash-france-results-powells-live-review-of-cody-rhodes-vs-aj-styles-for-the-wwe-championship-damian-priest-vs-jey-uso-for-the-world-hvt-title-bayley-vs-naomi-vs-tiffany-str/|url-status=live}}

Six months later, in the main event of Bad Blood on October 5, Rhodes and Reigns teamed up to face members of The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu) from which Reigns had been ousted, defeating Sikoa and Fatu with the help of a returning Jimmy Uso. Following the match, the Rock returned and stood at the top of the entrance ramp, where he silently counted to three and made a throat slashing gesture to Reigns, Rhodes, and Uso before leaving.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Bad Blood results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/10/05/wwe-bad-blood-results-powells-review-of-roman-reigns-and-cody-rhodes-vs-solo-sikoa-and-jacob-fatu-cm-punk-vs-drew-mcintyre-in-a-hell-in-a-cell-match/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=October 5, 2024|access-date=October 5, 2024|archive-date=October 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006115412/https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/10/05/wwe-bad-blood-results-powells-review-of-roman-reigns-and-cody-rhodes-vs-solo-sikoa-and-jacob-fatu-cm-punk-vs-drew-mcintyre-in-a-hell-in-a-cell-match/|url-status=live}} The Rock returned on the Raw premiere on Netflix on January 6, 2025, thanking Rhodes for all his work as the face of the company and hugging him. Later that night, the Rock embraced Reigns after the latter defeated Sikoa to reclaim his Ula Fala and Tribal Chief title.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Raw results (1/6): Powell's live review of the Netflix premiere with CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins, Solo Sikoa vs. Roman Reigns in a Tribal Combat match, The Rock, John Cena, Logan Paul|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/01/06/wwe-raw-results-1-6-powells-live-review-of-the-netflix-premiere-with-cm-punk-vs-seth-rollins-solo-sikoa-vs-roman-reigns-in-a-tribal-combat-match-the-rock-john-cena-logan-paul/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=January 6, 2025|access-date=January 6, 2025}} The next night at New Year's Evil, the Rock made his first appearance on the NXT brand.{{Cite web |last=McPherson |first=Chris |date=2025-01-09 |title=Dwayne Johnson's Special Appearance on WWE NXT Earns Biggest Ratings in Five Years |url=https://collider.com/dwayne-johnson-wwe-nxt-ratings/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Collider |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=2025-01-08 |title=NXT's 'New Year's Evil' Draws Show's Biggest Viewership in Five Years |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/nxt-new-years-evil-ratings-cw-1236270377/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} He sought advice from his daughter, NXT general manager Ava, and spoke to Ethan Page. In a promo that closed out the television special, he addressed criticism towards his actions the night before on Raw.{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Doc-Chris |title=WWE NXT New Year's Evil 2025 Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10149977-wwe-nxt-new-years-evil-2025-results-winners-live-grades-reaction-and-highlights |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-08 |title=The Rock Addresses Criticism Of His Raw On Netflix Promo During NXT Appearance |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/wwe/the-rock-addresses-criticism-of-his-wwe-raw-on-netflix-promo-during-nxt-appearance |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Wrestling On Fannation |language=en-US}} On the February 21 episode of SmackDown, the Rock made an appearance to announce that WrestleMania 42 will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, where SmackDown was being taped. The Rock also called out Cody Rhodes, where he offered to elevate Rhodes as a star in exchange for Rhodes' loyalty and cryptically stated that he wanted Rhodes' soul.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-22 |title=WWE SmackDown live results: The Rock returns |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/results/wwe-smackdown-live-results-the-rock-returns-2/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=F4W/WON |language=en-GB}} On March 1 at Elimination Chamber: Toronto, Rhodes refused the Rock's offer, who responded by signalling Elimination Chamber match winner John Cena to attack Rhodes, leaving him beaten and bloodied in the assault.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Elimination Chamber results: Powell's live review of Cody Rhodes responding to The Rock's offer, two Elimination Chamber matches, Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn in an unsanctioned match|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/03/01/wwe-elimination-chamber-results-powells-live-review-of-cody-rhodes-responding-to-the-rocks-offer-two-elimination-chamber-matches-kevin-owens-vs-sami-zayn-in-an-unsanctioned-match/|date=March 1, 2025|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=March 1, 2025}}

File:The ROCK b.jpg photo shoot]]

The Rock appeared on Wyclef Jean's 2000 single "It Doesn't Matter" and in its music video.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429153/20000607/fugees.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515002434/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429153/20000607/fugees.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 15, 2008 |title=Wyclef, The Rock Shoot "It Doesn't Matter" Video |date=June 7, 2000 |last=Nazareth |first=Errol |access-date=April 22, 2008 |work=MTV}}{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_3_2/ai_65858896?tag=artBody;col1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009225339/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_3_2/ai_65858896?tag=artBody%3Bcol1|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2008 |title=Rock On |date=October 2000 |access-date=July 17, 2008 |publisher=Wrestling Digest}} He also recorded "Pie" with Slick Rick for WWF The Music, Vol. 5.{{Cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingReviews/feb20_wwfvol5-can.html |title=New WWF CD disappoints | last = Ristic | first = Alex | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120803055513/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingReviews/feb20_wwfvol5-can.html | archive-date = August 3, 2012 | url-status=usurped}} In 1999, Johnson appeared on That '70s Show as his father Rocky Johnson. The next year, he was on Star Trek: Voyager as an alien wrestler who used the Rock's moves.Star Trek: Voyager Tsunkatse In 2000, he hosted Saturday Night Live (SNL) for the first time.{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_2/ai_68951382?tag=artBody;col1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925122845/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_2/ai_68951382?tag=artBody%3Bcol1|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 25, 2008 |title=7 Superstars Shining Brightly |first=Anderson |last=Steve |publisher=Wrestling Digest |access-date=July 17, 2008 |date=February 2001}} Fellow wrestlers Triple H, Big Show, and Mick Foley also appeared on the show.{{cite web |url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2000/2000_03_21.jsp |title=What 'The Rock' Is Cooking |date=May 21, 2000 |access-date=July 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE Corporate |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323103620/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2000/2000_03_21.jsp |archive-date=March 23, 2008}} Johnson has said the success of that episode is the reason he began receiving offers from Hollywood studios.{{cite web |url=http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=17317 |title=Chat with Dwayne The Rock Johnson! |access-date=April 22, 2008 |work=ESPN |archive-date=January 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105102914/http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=17317 |url-status=dead }} He has since hosted SNL four more times.

In 1999, the Rock was listed No. 1 on Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s Top 12 Entertainers of the Year.{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(o1bk3hmqc1llksq0zm0fzg0z))/collection.aspx?collection=10555 |title=AmIAnnoying.com – Entertainment Weekly's Top 12 Entertainers of the Year [1999] |website=Amiannoying.com |access-date=November 12, 2016}} In 2000, Access Hollywood ranked him No. 1 in their list of the Top 10 Celebrities of 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.pwi-online.com/ |title=PWI Online :: Home |website=Pwi-online.com |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227064313/http://pwi-online.com/// |url-status=live }} That year, Rock was also listed in the Forbes Celebrity 100 and People Magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People.{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(o1bk3hmqc1llksq0zm0fzg0z))/collection.aspx?collection=79 |title=AmIAnnoying.com – Forbes' Celebrity 100 Power Ranking [2000] |website=Amiannoying.com |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222123218/https://www.amiannoying.com/%28S%28tejgorogrsnpdhwjnvs4i54y%29%29/collection.aspx?collection=79 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(o1bk3hmqc1llksq0zm0fzg0z))/collection.aspx?collection=107 |title=AmIAnnoying.com – People Magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People [2000] |website=Amiannoying.com |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212151747/https://www.amiannoying.com/(S(3lidosu2s2njh0icvuzcwp2z))/collection.aspx?collection=107 |url-status=live }} The Rock was listed on Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s 101 Most Influential People in both 2000 and 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(o1bk3hmqc1llksq0zm0fzg0z))/collection.aspx?collection=375 |title=AmIAnnoying.com – Entertainment Weekly's 101 Most Influential People [2001] |website=Amiannoying.com |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222131418/https://www.amiannoying.com/(S(uwd4qkuopipgmbeb3innh3l3))/collection.aspx?collection=375 |url-status=live }} In 2001, he was also listed on E!'s 20 Top Entertainers.{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(o1bk3hmqc1llksq0zm0fzg0z))/collection.aspx?collection=1449 |title=AmIAnnoying.com – E!'s 20 Top Entertainers [2001] |website=Amiannoying.com |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212140548/https://www.amiannoying.com/%28S%28eo25hkcclaylhtqjgpezpu1w%29%29/collection.aspx?collection=1449 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(o1bk3hmqc1llksq0zm0fzg0z))/collection.aspx?collection=374 |title=AmIAnnoying.com – Entertainment Weekly's 101 Most Influential People [2000] |website=Amiannoying.com |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212150455/https://www.amiannoying.com/%28S%28grzfmjrzbzb15upyxhqqxsk2%29%29/collection.aspx?collection=374 |url-status=live }} In 2002, the Rock was listed on E!'s 25 Toughest Stars.{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(o1bk3hmqc1llksq0zm0fzg0z))/collection.aspx?collection=1454 |title=AmIAnnoying.com – E!'s 25 Toughest Stars [2002] |website=Amiannoying.com |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222102809/https://www.amiannoying.com/%28S%284hzhgxs3ds3f4gh0cp5jii0z%29%29/collection.aspx?collection=1454 |url-status=live }} In 2003, he was listed in VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(o1bk3hmqc1llksq0zm0fzg0z))/collection.aspx?collection=1413 |title=AmIAnnoying.com – VH-1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons [101–200] |website=Amiannoying.com |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222111413/https://www.amiannoying.com/%28S%28l2mg4m3shmdesfemfzjcch1u%29%29/collection.aspx?collection=1413 |url-status=live }} and was No. 7 in People Magazine's 50 Favorite TV Stars.{{cite web |url=http://www.amiannoying.com/(S(o1bk3hmqc1llksq0zm0fzg0z))/collection.aspx?collection=1316 |title=AmIAnnoying.com – People Magazine's 50 Favorite TV Stars [2003] |website=Amiannoying.com |access-date=November 12, 2016}}

The Rock made a surprise appearance at the official Xbox unveiling during Bill Gates's keynote speech at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show in 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ces-2001-the-rock-crashes-bill-gates-ces-keynote-speech/1100-2671932/ |title=CES 2001: The Rock Crashes Bill Gates' CES Keynote Speech |work=GameSpot |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212345/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ces-2001-the-rock-crashes-bill-gates-ces-keynote-speech/1100-2671932/ |url-status=live }} Johnson's motion picture debut was as The Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns (2001).{{Cite news|date=November 12, 2020|title=Dwayne Johnson developing 'The Scorpion King' reboot|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/dwayne-johnson-developing-the-scorpion-king-reboot/article33082326.ece|access-date=March 26, 2021|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118175013/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/dwayne-johnson-developing-the-scorpion-king-reboot/article33082326.ece|url-status=live}} The movie broke a two-year record for the highest-grossing single day in film history by earning {{USD|28,594,667|long=no}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/wrestlingframe.html |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated |website=Pwi-online.com |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705145609/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/wrestlingframe.html |url-status=dead }} The movie's financial success led to Johnson's first leading role in the spin-off The Scorpion King (2002). He received {{USD|5.5 million|long=no}} for the role and Guinness World Records named him the record-holder for highest-paid actor in their first leading role.{{cite web |title=Dwayne Johnson Biography |website=Movies.com |url=http://www.fandango.com/dwaynejohnson/biographies/p476559 |access-date=November 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204124258/http://www.fandango.com/dwaynejohnson/biographies/p476559 |archive-date=February 4, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Top+25+Hollywood+moneymakers:+these+black+powerhouses+generate+the...-a0175876346 |title=Top 25 Hollywood moneymakers: these black powerhouses generate the most green in Tinseltown. |access-date=April 22, 2008 |publisher=The Free Library |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430052308/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Top+25+Hollywood+moneymakers:+these+black+powerhouses+generate+the...-a0175876346 |url-status=live }}

The Rock has appeared on the covers of many magazines, including Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and TV Guide.{{cite web |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/11/30/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-ew-cover/ |title=Dwayne Johnson sleighs the holidays on EW's new cover |publisher=EW |first=Devan |last=Coggan |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926103652/https://ew.com/movies/2017/11/30/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-ew-cover/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2000/01-27-2000 |title=WWE announces collector TV Guide editions |publisher=WWE |date=January 27, 2000 |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416032405/https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2000/01-27-2000 |url-status=live }} He has also appeared in, and been the cover athlete for, several video games.{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Dave |url=https://www.vg247.com/2013/06/25/wwe-2k14-cover-revealed-features-the-rock-talking-smack/ |title=WWE 2K14 cover revealed, features The Rock talking smack |date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=June 23, 2018 |work=VG247 |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623225155/https://www.vg247.com/2013/06/25/wwe-2k14-cover-revealed-features-the-rock-talking-smack/ |url-status=live }} {{As of|2024|10}}, his Instagram account is the sixth most-followed in the world, with over 395 million followers.{{cite web|url=https://www.trackalytics.com/the-most-followed-instagram-profiles/page/1/|title=The Most Followed Instagram Profiles|website=Trackalytics.com|access-date=September 11, 2019|archive-date=February 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201130332/https://www.trackalytics.com/the-most-followed-instagram-profiles/page/1/|url-status=dead}}

The Rock has been listed as one of the all-time greatest professional wrestlers, as well as one of the top draws in wrestling history. Many have placed the Rock on their "Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling", including Hulk Hogan,{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2013/0405/561776/hulk-hogan-interview/ |title=Hulk Hogan on Which Four Wrestlers Should Be on Wrestling's Mt. Rushmore, Tonight's Q&A, More |website=WrestlingInc.com|access-date=November 12, 2016|date=April 5, 2013 }} Ric Flair,{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2016/0402/609289/ric-flair-on-who-should-be-on-wrestling-mt-rushmore/|title=Ric Flair on Who Should Be on Wrestling's Mt. Rushmore, Hulk Hogan's Lawsuit, Origins Of 'Woooo'|website=WrestlingInc.com|access-date=November 12, 2016|date=April 2, 2016|archive-date=December 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228184933/http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2016/0402/609289/ric-flair-on-who-should-be-on-wrestling-mt-rushmore/|url-status=live}} and John Cena.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZCfrztVeYE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/XZCfrztVeYE| archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=SI Now: John Cena's wrestling Mt. Rushmore |last=Sports Illustrated |date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=November 12, 2016 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} In Cable Visions: Television Beyond Broadcasting, the Rock was described as "for a long time, the WWE's biggest star and probably held the greatest international appeal".{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cCwUCgAAQBAJ&q=the%20rock&pg=PA348 |title=Cable Visions: Television Beyond Broadcasting |last1=Banet-Weiser |first1=Sarah |last2=Chris |first2=Cynthia |last3=Freitas |first3=Anthony |date=2007 |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=9780814799499|author-link=Sarah Banet-Weiser}} R. D. Reynolds stated in his book The WrestleCrap Book of Lists that the Rock was "the biggest star for WWE from 1999 until 2004".{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFBTUhnc9DwC&q=the%20rock%20biggest%20star%20wwe&pg=PA282 |title=The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists! |first=R. D. |last=Reynolds |date=November 16, 2010 |publisher=ECW Press |access-date=November 12, 2016 |via=Google Books|isbn=9781554902873 }} The Rock's "I quit" match with Mankind at the 1999 Royal Rumble event is infamous for its brutality and one of the most popular "I quit" match of all times.Reilly, Dan (August 25, 2016). [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-sports/mick-foley-family-man-hardcore-legend-and-reality-show-star-251997/ "Mick Foley: Family Man, Hardcore Legend and Reality Show Star."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722093121/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-sports/mick-foley-family-man-hardcore-legend-and-reality-show-star-251997/ |date=July 22, 2023 }} Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 23, 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2011-05-wwe_over_the_limit_thoughts-story.html | title=WWE over the Limit thoughts | date=May 23, 2011 | access-date=July 22, 2023 | archive-date=July 22, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722093121/https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2011-05-wwe_over_the_limit_thoughts-story.html | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=https://tjrwrestling.net/review/wwe-royal-rumble-1999-review/ | title=WWE Royal Rumble 1999 Review – TJR Wrestling | date=January 7, 2022 | access-date=July 22, 2023 | archive-date=July 22, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722093121/https://tjrwrestling.net/review/wwe-royal-rumble-1999-review/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-rock-mankind-royal-rumble-1999/ | title=411Mania }}

The Rock main-evented the most bought pay-per-view worldwide in WWE history (WrestleMania XXVIII),{{cite web |url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2012/04/16/wrestlemania-28-the-rock-john-cena-ppv-buyrate-records/ |title=WrestleMania 28 Breaks PPV Records With 1.3 Million Buys |first=Russ |last=Weakland |date=April 16, 2012 |work=Hollywood Life |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212345/http://hollywoodlife.com/2012/04/16/wrestlemania-28-the-rock-john-cena-ppv-buyrate-records/ |url-status=dead }} the most bought pay-per-view domestically in WWE history (WrestleMania X-Seven), the highest rated Raw in history,{{cite web |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1265718-wwe-monday-night-raw-looking-back-at-the-highest-rated-episode-ever |title=WWE |first=Ryan |last=Dilbert |work=Bleacher Report |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=September 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901222754/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1265718-wwe-monday-night-raw-looking-back-at-the-highest-rated-episode-ever |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=shows&show=19436 |title=Wrestlingdata.com – The World's Largest Wrestling Database |first=Axel |last=Saalbach |website=Wrestlingdata.com |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212345/http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=shows&show=19436 |url-status=live }} the highest rated SmackDown in history,{{cite web |url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=shows&show=19303 |title=Wrestlingdata.com – The World's Largest Wrestling Database |work=wrestlingdata.com |access-date=April 29, 2019 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309012339/https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=shows&show=19303 |url-status=live }} and was part of the highest rated cable segment in WWE history with Mankind entitled "This is Your Life", in which Mankind would honor the Rock with various gifts and reunions.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/videos/playlists/rock-this-is-your-life-playlist |title=The Rock: This is Your Life! |work=WWE |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906141500/http://www.wwe.com/videos/playlists/rock-this-is-your-life-playlist |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url = https://bleacherreport.com/articles/57902-bill-banks-talks-about-the-highest-rated-wrestling-segment|title = Bill Banks Talks About the Highest Rated Wrestling Segment|website = Bleacher Report|access-date = December 3, 2021|archive-date = November 26, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211126163759/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/57902-bill-banks-talks-about-the-highest-rated-wrestling-segment|url-status = live}} His return in 2001 had a 7.1 rating, the highest-rated segment of the year. The Rock was also part of the highest-rated match of the 21st century when his WWF Championship defense against Shane McMahon, on May 1, 2000, got an 8.3 rating, making it the highest-rated segment of all time, behind "This Is Your Life". In 2011, the Rock's return to an episode of Raw generated an average of 4.7 million viewers in the United States, with 7.4 million tuning in during his promo.{{cite web |url=http://wrestlechat.net/detailed-raw-ratings-breakdown-on-the-rocks-promo-huge-number/ |title=Detailed RAW Ratings Breakdown on The Rock's Promo (HUGE Number!) |work=WrestleChat...It's Where it's At! |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212345/http://wrestlechat.net/detailed-raw-ratings-breakdown-on-the-rocks-promo-huge-number/ |url-status=dead }} Raw 1000 was the highest rated Raw episode of 2012 and his segment with CM Punk and Daniel Bryan was the highest rated segment of the show.{{cite web |url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/complete-quarter-hour-breakdown-from-mondays-raw-1000/ |website=411Mania |title=Complete Quarter Hour Breakdown From Monday's Raw 1,000 |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212345/http://411mania.com/wrestling/complete-quarter-hour-breakdown-from-mondays-raw-1000/ |url-status=live }} In 2013, the night after the Rock won the WWE Championship for the first time in over a decade, at Royal Rumble, Raw got its highest rating of that year.{{cite web |url=http://www.gerweck.net/tv-ratings/2013-ratings/ |title=2013 Ratings – Gerweck.net |date=December 28, 2012 |website=Gerweck.net |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323144437/https://www.gerweck.net/tv-ratings/2013-ratings/ |url-status=live }}

Derived from one of his catchphrases "lay the smackdown", WWE introduced in 1999 its second flagship program, WWE SmackDown, which became television's second longest-running weekly episodic program in history.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/07/usa-network-wwe-smackdown|title='WWE SmackDown' moves to USA Network|first=Ariana|last=Bacle|date=April 7, 2015|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=August 28, 2015|archive-date=April 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409030726/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/07/usa-network-wwe-smackdown|url-status=dead}} The term "smackdown" was included in Merriam-Webster dictionaries in 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.today.com/id/19698856 |date=July 10, 2007 |website=Today.com |title=It was a ginormous year for new words |access-date=July 23, 2007 |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022004020/http://www.today.com/id/19698856 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/smackdown |title=m-w.com/dictionary/smackdown |access-date=July 23, 2007 |archive-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509200202/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smackdown |url-status=live }} He is also known for popularizing the term "jabroni", derived from "jobber", although it was originally introduced by The Iron Sheik.{{cite web | website = ESPN | last = Willis | first = Jeremy | title = 'Jabroni,' the word made famous by The Rock and The Iron Sheik, gets official dictionary status | url = https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/29787483/jabroni-word-made-famous-rock-iron-sheik-gets-official-dictionary-status | date = September 1, 2020 | access-date = February 14, 2023}}{{cite web | website = SB Nation | last = Dator | first = James | date = September 2, 2020 | title = 'Jabroni' is now in the dictionary, and it's all thanks to The Rock | access-date = February 14, 2023 | url = https://www.sbnation.com/wrestling/21418388/jabroni-dictionary-word-the-rock-dwayne-johnson | archive-date = February 14, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230214212609/https://www.sbnation.com/wrestling/21418388/jabroni-dictionary-word-the-rock-dwayne-johnson | url-status = live }} The Rock holds the record for most Raw shows main-evented in one year (38 in 2000),{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=spezbil&bilanz=1&stat=2&reihenfolge=4&jahr=2000 |title=Wrestlingdata.com – The World's Largest Wrestling Database |first=Axel |last=Saalbach |website=Wrestlingdata.com |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212345/http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=spezbil&bilanz=1&stat=2&reihenfolge=4&jahr=2000 |url-status=live }} most SmackDown shows main-evented in one year (36 in 2000),{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=spezbil&bilanz=2&stat=2&reihenfolge=4&jahr=2000 |title=Wrestlingdata.com – The World's Largest Wrestling Database |first=Axel|last=Saalbach |website=Wrestlingdata.com |access-date=August 28, 2015}} and is tied with Stone Cold Steve Austin (in 2001) for most PPV shows main evented in one year (12 in 2000).{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=spezbil&bilanz=4&stat=2&reihenfolge=4&ordnung=1&jahr=2001 |title=Wrestlingdata.com|first=Axel|last=Saalbach |access-date=August 28, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=spezbil&bilanz=4&stat=2&reihenfolge=4&ordnung=1&jahr=2000 |title=Wrestlingdata.com – The World's Largest Wrestling Database |first=Axel |last=Saalbach |website=Wrestlingdata.com |access-date=August 28, 2015 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212345/http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=spezbil&bilanz=4&stat=2&reihenfolge=4&ordnung=1&jahr=2000 |url-status=live }} The Rock is also one of two wrestlers (the other being The Undertaker) to main event WrestleMania in four different decades: 1990s: XV (1999); 2000s: WrestleMania 2000 (2000), X-Seven (2001); 2010s: XXVIII (2012), 29 (2013); 2020s: XL (2024).

At the 2021 Survivor Series, WWE held a 25-man Battle Royal to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Rock's WWE debut. The match was won by Omos.{{cite web |last1=Chiari |first1=Mike |title=Omos Wins Battle Royal to Celebrate The Rock at 2021 WWE Survivor Series |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10018708-omos-wins-battle-royal-to-celebrate-the-rock-at-2021-wwe-survivor-series |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=November 24, 2021 |archive-date=November 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124191516/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10018708-omos-wins-battle-royal-to-celebrate-the-rock-at-2021-wwe-survivor-series |url-status=live }}

File:Dwayne Johnson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.jpg

{{see also|Dwayne Johnson filmography}}

Johnson entered Hollywood and had early success due to his wrestling popularity and noted work ethic. Over his acting career, he became one of the highest-paid and most successful actors in Hollywood.{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-rock-career-2016-7|title=How The Rock went from failed football player to the highest-paid actor in Hollywood|work=Business Insider|access-date=June 27, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jul/13/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-worlds-highest-paid-actor-reasons-why|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is the world's highest paid actor, and rightly so|last=Morris|first=Sam|date=July 14, 2016|website=The Guardian|access-date=June 27, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-kevin-hart-jumanji|title=The Secret to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Success|last=Chi|first=Paul|work=HWD|access-date=June 27, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://fortune.com/2014/10/30/the-rocks-best-advice-for-success/|title=The Rock's best advice for success|work=Fortune|access-date=June 27, 2018}}

He began his acting career on television while wrestling. In his first television acting job, in 1999, he portrayed his father Rocky Johnson in an episode of That '70s Show called "That Wrestling Show". Nearly a year later, he appeared in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Tsunkatse" as an alien wrestler who fought against Seven of Nine. While Johnson was away from WWE, the company continued to sell "the Rock" merchandise, and he continued to be featured prominently in the opening montages of their television shows.

Johnson made his theatrical debut in The Mummy Returns (2001), playing the antagonist Mathayus "The Scorpion King". He reprised this role in the spin-off film The Scorpion King (2002), where he starred as the titular character. Johnson was paid {{USD|5.5 million|long=no}} for his leading role, putting him in the Guinness World Records for the highest salary for a first-time leading man.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/the-rock-cooks-up-124m-salary-highest-ever-for-any-actor/|title=The Rock cooks up a $124M salary, highest ever for any actor|website=CNET|accessdate=July 31, 2024}} The film was a commercial success and despite mixed reception, Johnson's acting was praised.[https://archive.today/20120805062744/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,231509~1~0~scorpionking,00.html Review by Owen Gleiberman], Entertainment Weekly Film critic Roger Ebert wrote, "I expect him to become a durable action star".{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=April 19, 2002 |title=The Scorpion King |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-scorpion-king-2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720182552/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-scorpion-king-2002 |archive-date=July 20, 2023 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |website=Chicago Sun-Times}} {{Rating|3|4}}

In the following years, he worked in action films The Rundown (2003), and Walking Tall (2004), but these films failed to gain success. He had a supporting role in the comedy Be Cool (2005) as a homosexual bodyguard hoping to become an actor,{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/be-cool-2005 |title=Warmed-over Chili not cool |date=March 3, 2005 |website=Rogerebert.com}} and was the primary antagonist in the horror film Doom (2005). He also worked in the sports drama Gridiron Gang (2006), comedy Reno 911!: Miami (2007), and thriller Southland Tales (2006). He had further success by playing an arrogant famous American football player in the sports family comedy The Game Plan (2007), Agent 23 in spy action comedy Get Smart (2008), a cab driver in the science fiction film Race to Witch Mountain (2009), the title character in the fantasy comedy Tooth Fairy (2010) and a police officer in buddy cop comedy The Other Guys (2010). Johnson returned to action genre in the unsuccessful Faster (2010).

Johnson made his voice acting debut in the 2006 video game Spyhunter: Nowhere to Run, originally intended as a tie-in for an unproduced film.{{Cite web |title=Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/spy-hunter-nowhere-to-run/1900-6157769/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}} He also voiced NASA astronaut Chuck in the 2009 animated sci-fi comedy Planet 51.{{Cite web |author1=Robert Z. Pearlman |date=2009-11-20 |title=NASA Recruits 'Planet 51' Actor Dwayne Johnson to Spread Message |url=https://www.space.com/7573-nasa-recruits-planet-51-actor-dwayne-johnson-spread-message.html |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Space.com |language=en}} He presented the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 80th Academy Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalhit.com/academy/80/winners.shtml |title=80th Annual Academy Awards Results & Commentary |date=April 22, 2008 |website=DigitalHit.com |quote=Dwayne Johnson a.k.a. The Rock, presents Visual Effects}}

Johnson's first big box-office success came in 2011, portraying Luke Hobbs in Fast Five (2011); the film became the seventh highest-grossing film of 2011. Following this, all of Johnson's projects in the 2010s decade achieved major success and established him as a bankable actor.{{Cite web |last=updated |first=Jerrica Tisdale last |date=2019-12-08 |title=10 Highest-Grossing Dwayne Johnson Movies |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2485887/10-highest-grossing-dwayne-johnson-movies |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=CINEMABLEND |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Colbert |first=Stephen M. |date=2023-05-19 |title=The Rise And Fall Of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Box Office Viagra |url=https://screenrant.com/dwayne-rock-johnson-box-office-hits-flops-reality/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} He next starred in the box office hit Journey 2: The Mysterious Island in 2012. He became known for reinvigorating film franchises after portraying Marvin F. Hinton / Roadblock in G.I. Joe: Retaliation and reprising his role as Luke Hobbs in Fast & Furious 6 (2013),{{cite web |url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/why-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-is-%E2%80%98franchise-viagra%E2%80%99-102100359.html |title=Why Dwayne The Rock Johnson is 'franchise viagra' |website=Yahoo.com |date=November 12, 2016}}{{cite tweet|user=TheRock|first=Dwayne|last=Johnson|number=235929285557358592|date=August 16, 2012|title=3:35am. London. AM cardio starts now.. then breakfast, then hit the weights, then on to set of FAST 6. Let's roll.. #OwnIt}} while also starring in true-story films Pain & Gain (2013) and Empire State (2013). That same year, he hosted and produced the TNT reality competition series The Hero,{{Cite web | last = Gilman | first = Greg | title = How the Rock Went From Action Hero to TNT Reality 'Hero' | url = https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/how-rock-went-action-hero-tnt-reality-hero-95941/ | work = The Wrap | date = June 6, 2013 | access-date = April 16, 2020 | archive-date = August 20, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180820113024/https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/how-rock-went-action-hero-tnt-reality-hero-95941/ | url-status = dead }}{{cite web |title=The Hero – official page |url=http://www.tntdrama.com/title/display/?oid=399948 |publisher=TNT |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118054654/http://www.tntdrama.com/title/display/?oid=399948 |archive-date=January 18, 2013 }} and won the Favorite Male Buttkicker Award at the 2013 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2013/03/23/kids-choice-awards-winners-2013-list-nickelodeon/|title=Kids' Choice Awards Winners 2013: Kristen Stewart & More — Full List|first=Andy|last=Swift|date=March 24, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2019|archive-date=March 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301075604/https://hollywoodlife.com/2013/03/23/kids-choice-awards-winners-2013-list-nickelodeon/|url-status=dead}} In May 2013, it was announced that he would executive produce and star in Ballers,{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/john-david-washington-to-co-star-in-hbos-ballers-robert-hoffman-in-es-songbyrd-616892/|title=John David Washington To Co-Star In HBO's 'Ballers', Robert Hoffman In E!'s 'Songbyrd'|first1=Nellie|last1=Andreeva|date=October 21, 2013}} an HBO comedy-drama series about NFL players living in Miami.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/05/dwayne-johnson-to-star-produce-hbo-pilot-about-athletes-from-steve-levinson-mark-wahlberg-peter-berg-to-direct-488467/|title=Dwayne Johnson To Star In & Produce HBO Pilot About Athletes From Steve Levinson & Mark Wahlberg, Peter Berg To Direct|first1=Nellie|last1=Andreeva|date=May 2, 2013}} By December of that year, Forbes named him the top-grossing actor of 2013, with his films bringing in {{USD|1.3 billion|long=no}} worldwide for the year. Forbes credited the success of Fast & Furious 6, which grossed {{USD|789 million|long=no}} globally, and his frequent acting work as primary reasons for topping the list.{{cite news |last=Pomerantz |first=Dorothy |title=Dwayne Johnson Is The Top-Grossing Actor Of 2013 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/12/16/dwayne-johnson-is-the-top-grossing-actor-of-2013/ |work=Forbes | date = December 16, 2013}}

Johnson starred as the title character in Hercules in 2014{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=98951 |title=Hercules, Starring Dwayne Johnson, to Arrive August 8, 2014 |publisher=Coming Soon |date=January 17, 2013 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=October 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027183149/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=98951 |url-status=dead }} and hosted another reality series for TNT that same year, entitled Wake Up Call, which saw him "lending a helping hand to everyday people who were facing enormous challenges in their lives" alongside guest experts such as Rocco DiSpirito, Jillian Michaels, and Josh Shipp.{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/tnt-orders-reality-series-wake-up-call-from-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-1200758762/ |title=TNT Orders Reality Series 'Wake Up Call' from Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson |work=Variety}} In 2015, Johnson reprised his role as Luke Hobbs in Furious 7{{cite tweet|user=TheRock|first=Dwayne|last=Johnson|number=365921807393505280|date=August 9, 2013|title=She rocks my Championship belt better than me! My fam @UFC Champ @RondaRousey joins me in FAST & FURIOUS 7! #BringIt}} and starred in the disaster film San Andreas. In 2016, he co-starred with Kevin Hart in the action-comedy Central Intelligence and had a lead voice role in the Disney animated film Moana, in which he voiced Maui. He reprised his role as Luke Hobbs in The Fate of the Furious, which was released in 2017. Johnson starred in two other blockbuster movies that year, Baywatch and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle as Mitchell "Mitch" Buchannon and Dr. Smolder Bravestone, respectively.{{cite news |last1=Siegel |first1=Tatiana |last2=Kit |first2=Borys |title=Dwayne Johnson to Star in Film Adaptation of 'Rampage' Video Game |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/dwayne-johnson-star-film-adaptation-804458/ |access-date=January 31, 2022 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 23, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Evry |first1=Max |title=Dwayne Johnson Officially Boards Jumanji Remake |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/679261-dwayne-johnson-officially-boards-jumanji-remake |access-date=August 27, 2016 |website=ComingSoon.net |date=April 22, 2016}} In 2018, he starred in two solo box office hits Rampage and Skyscraper.

File:Dwayne Johnson star (Hollywood Walk of Fame stars).jpg in July 2022]]

Johnson's role within the Fast & Furious franchise continued with Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, starring alongside co-star Jason Statham. David Leitch directed the project from a script co-written by franchise-writer Chris Morgan and Drew Pearce. The film began principal photography in September 2018, and was released on July 26, 2019. Johnson reprised his role as Bravestone, in Jumanji: The Next Level. With the critical and financial success of Welcome to the Jungle, production of the movie began in early 2019, and it was released on December 13, 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/sony-jumanji-sequel-release-date-december-2019-1202375219/|title=Sony Dates 'Jumanji' Sequel For December 2019 – CinemaCon|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=April 24, 2018|work=Deadline|access-date=June 24, 2018}}

Johnson's films grossed $10.6 billion in the 2010s, making him the decade's sixth-highest-grossing actor and the highest-grossing actor outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Stephen |date=2020-12-27 |title=The 10 Highest Grossing Actors Of The 2010s, Ranked According To Box Office Mojo |url=https://screenrant.com/highest-grossing-actors-2010s-box-office-mojo/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}

In 2021, after a year long hiatus, Johnson co-starred with Emily Blunt in Disney's Jungle Cruise as Frank Wolff. The film is based on the theme-park ride of the same name.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/dwayne-johnson-jungle-cruise-movie-disney-1201501768/|title=Dwayne Johnson Guiding 'Jungle Cruise' Pic For Disney|first=Erik |last=Pedersen|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 19, 2015}} Jaume Collet-Serra directed, with a script by Michael Green from a previous one by J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/dwayne-johnson-jungle-cruise-jaume-collet-serra-director-disney-suicide-squad-2-1202139090/|title=Jaume Collet-Serra To Direct Dwayne Johnson In 'Jungle Cruise': No 'Suicide Squad 2'|last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr.|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 31, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/emily-blunt-disney-jungle-cruise-dwayne-johnson/|title=Emily Blunt Boards Disney's 'Jungle Cruise' with Dwayne Johnson|website=Collider.com|last=Keene|first=Allison|date=January 30, 2018|access-date=January 30, 2018}} In addition to his work on the film, Johnson assisted with re-designing the titular ride for all Disney theme parks.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1653200/the-rocks-jungle-cruise-involvement-will-go-beyond-the-movie|title=The Rock's Jungle Cruise Involvement Will Go Beyond The Movie|date=April 30, 2017|website=Cinemablend.com|access-date=June 27, 2018}} Jungle Cruise was released on July 30, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/dwayne-johnson-jungle-cruise-disney-july-2020-release-date-change-1202486056/|title=Dwayne Johnson's 'Jungle Cruise' Moves To Summer 2020|first1=Anthony|last1=D'Alessandro|date=October 19, 2018|access-date=September 2, 2019|archive-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407150952/https://deadline.com/2018/10/dwayne-johnson-jungle-cruise-disney-july-2020-release-date-change-1202486056/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.inquisitr.com/4896929/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-kicks-off-hardcore-eight-month-workout-program/|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Kicks Off 'Hardcore' Eight-Month Workout Program|work=The Inquisitr |date=May 11, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/black-widow-moves-to-november-as-other-mcu-films-shift-back-to-2021-2022/|title='Black Widow' Moves to November as Other MCU Films Shift Back to 2021, 2022|website=The Wrap|first=Brian|last=Welk|date=April 3, 2020|access-date=April 3, 2020}} On March 16, 2021, he appeared for the first time as the video game character, The Foundation, in Fortnite Battle Royale. Johnson was initially uncredited in his role, yet hinted at his involvement through a series of Instagram posts. His involvement was finally confirmed during the Chapter 2 End Event on December 4, 2021, with The Foundation removing his helmet to reveal that he shared Johnson's voice and likeness.{{cite web | last=Medina | first=Bryan | title=Fortnite reveals Dwayne Johnson as "The Foundation" while Spider-Man joins Chapter 3 | website=MARCA | date=December 5, 2021 | url=https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/movies/2021/12/05/61ac0b2122601d6b328b4572.html | access-date=December 8, 2021}} Also in 2021, Johnson starred in Netflix's film Red Notice, written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. It is the third time that the two collaborated, after Central Intelligence and Skyscraper.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/dwayne-johnson-gal-gadot-ryan-reynolds-red-notice-netflix-rawson-marshall-thurber-1202643002/|title=Netflix Takes 'Red Notice'; Ryan Reynolds Joins Dwayne Johnson & Gal Gadot In Rawson Marshall Thurber-Directed Global Heist Film|first1=Mike Jr. |last1=Fleming|date=July 8, 2019}}{{cite web|url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-much-does-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-make-for-one-movie-1520591400|title= How Much Does Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Make for One Movie?|first=Ben|last=Fritz|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=March 9, 2018}} It co-stars Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/dwayne-johnsons-red-notice-pushed-back-5-months-fall-2020/|title=Dwayne Johnson's 'Red Notice' Pushed Back 5 Months to Fall 2020|date=November 8, 2018}} It is the most watched film on Netflix of all time.{{Cite web |title=Top 10 Most Popular Movies on Netflix of All Time - Netflix Tudum |url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/top10/most-popular |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250211211441/https://www.netflix.com/tudum/top10/most-popular |archive-date=2025-02-11 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Netflix Tudum |language=en}}

Johnson voiced Krypto the Superdog in the animated feature DC League of Super Pets (2022), which was released theatrically in July and emerged as a success.{{Cite web |title=DC League of Super Pets (2022) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/DC-League-of-Super-Pets-(2022)#tab=summary |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=The Numbers}} On November 14, 2019, he had announced a late 2021 release date for the superhero Black Adam film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/14/entertainment/black-adam-movie-the-rock-trnd/index.html|title=Dwayne Johnson announces release date for 'Black Adam' superhero film|first=Sandra|last=Gonzalez|website=CNN|date=November 14, 2019|access-date=December 19, 2019}} Production on Black Adam began filming in April 2021 and was released on October 21, 2022.{{Cite web|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|date=February 8, 2019|title=Seven Bucks Productions' Hiram Garcia on 'Fighting With My Family' and Dwayne Johnson's Work Ethic|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/seven-bucks-productions-hiram-garcia-dwayne-johnson-fighting-with-my-family-1203131584/}}{{Cite web|last=Joe Anderton|date=April 10, 2021|title=Dwayne Johnson announces DC's Black Adam has started filming|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a36083670/dwayne-johnson-dc-black-adam-filming-update/|access-date=April 10, 2021|website=Digital Spy}} He earned {{USD|22.5 million|long=no}} to star in the film and received millions more for producing and promoting it on social media.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/features/movie-star-salaries-joaquin-phoenix-joker-2-tom-cruise-1235320046/|title=Inside Movie Stars' Salaries: Joaquin Phoenix Nabs $20M for Joker 2, Tom Cruise Heads to Over $100M and More|date=July 20, 2022|first=Brent|last=Lang|website=Variety|access-date=July 21, 2022}} However, the anticipated film received mixed to negative reviews and turned out to be a box office disappointment. Following the failure of Black Adam, Johnson's star power came under scrutiny, and his involvement in creative decisions faced criticism.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Jodee |date=2023-03-21 |title=Black Adam's Failure Was Fueled by Dwayne Johnson's Ego, Claims Hollywood Exec |url=https://www.cbr.com/black-adam-failure-dwayne-johnson-ego/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=CBR |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Eammon Jacobs, Tufayel |title=Dwayne Johnson's superhero movie 'Black Adam' flopped. Now, he's looking for redemption in WWE. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-wwe-a24-fast-furious-black-adam-2024-1#:~:text=Johnson's%20turn%20as%20antihero%20Black,million%20to%20turn%20a%20profit.&text=Johnson%20spent%20plenty%20of%20time,hierarchy%20in%20the%20DC%20Universe |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

In 2023, Johnson voiced his Moana character Maui in Disney crossover short film Once Upon a Studio.{{Cite web |last=Debruge |first=Peter |date=2023-10-16 |title=Disney Assembles 543 Familiar Cartoon Characters for the First Time in 'Once Upon a Studio' Short |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/features/walt-disney-animation-studios-once-upon-a-studio-short-1235756734/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} In May 2023, Johnson reprised his role as Luke Hobbs in a cameo appearance during the mid-credits scene of Fast X. By the early 2020s, Johnson faced increasing criticism for consistently portraying similar characters, often described as charismatic, larger-than-life figures who are both physically imposing and possess a dry wit. These roles frequently involve action or adventure elements, and the characters tend to be heroic, if sometimes reluctant, protagonists.{{Cite web |last=Karp |first=Rebekah |date=2022-12-05 |title=Dwayne Johnson Movies Where He Plays the Same Character |url=https://movieweb.com/dwayne-johnson-movies-same-character/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Proctor |first=Emily |date=2022-06-12 |title=13 Actors Who Play The Same Character In Every Film, According to Reddit |url=https://screenrant.com/reddit-actors-typecast-play-same-character-every-film/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}

Johnson has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Actor's Branch since 2017.{{cite news |last1=Stedman |first1=Alex |title=Academy Invites Record 774 New Members |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/academy-new-members-class-of-2017-1202481404/ |access-date=October 7, 2020 |work=Variety |date=June 28, 2017}} In 2024, he presented an award alongside Bad Bunny.{{Cite web |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Wishes Happy 30th Birthday to 'Brother' Bad Bunny While Presenting at 2024 Oscars |url=https://people.com/oscars-2024-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-wishes-bad-bunny-happy-30th-birthday-8607084 |access-date=March 16, 2024 |website=Peoplemag}} In November 2024, Johnson reunited with director Jake Kasdan to star alongside Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and J. K. Simmons, in the Christmas themed action comedy Red One,{{Cite web |last=Malhotra |first=Rahul |title=With 'Moana 2' and 'Red One', Dwayne Johnson Has Accomplished a Rare Box Office Feat |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/with-moana-2-and-red-one-dwayne-johnson-has-accomplished-a-rare-box-office-feat/ar-AA1v18dP |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.msn.com}} which didn't fare well both critically and financially.{{Cite web |last=Gearan |first=Hannah |date=2025-01-09 |title=Dwayne Johnson's 2024 Box Office Flop Gets New Life On Streaming Charts |url=https://screenrant.com/red-one-movie-prime-video-streaming-charts/#:~:text=The%20Movie%20Flopped%20In%20Theaters&text=Red%20One%20is%20now%20doing,Culpa%20Tuya,%20and%20The%20Beekeeper. |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} However, it became one of the top streamed movies of 2024 after its release on Amazon Prime.{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=2025-01-27 |title=The Year of 'Bluey': Kids' Favorite Dominates 2024 Year-End Streaming Chart |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/bluey-bridgerton-2024-year-end-streaming-charts-1236119192/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} In the same month, he reprised his voice role of Maui from Moana (2016), in its sequel Moana 2. Despite receiving mixed reception, the film opened strongly and set several box office records.{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2024-12-02 |title='Moana 2' Achieves Demigod Status: All the Box Office Records Broken |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/moana-2-box-office-records-broken-1236074175/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} It eventually emerged as the third highest-grossing film of 2024.{{Cite web |title=2024 Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2024/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=Box Office Mojo}}

He will next be seen portraying former MMA fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's biographical sports drama The Smashing Machine (2025).{{Cite web |date=2024-05-21 |title=Dwayne Johnson is completely unrecognizable in new movie role leaving fans shocked |url=https://www.unilad.com/film-and-tv/news/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-the-smashing-machine-unrecognizable-085355-20240521 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=UNILAD |language=en}} Full facial prosthetics and a wig were used to transform Johnson's appearance to resemble Kerr.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Mary Pat |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson transforms into Mark Kerr in 'The Smashing Machine' trailer |url=https://abcnews.go.com/culture/story/dwayne-rock-johnson-transforms-mark-kerr-smashing-machine/?id=121281560 |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=ABC News |language=en}} Subsequently, he will portray Maui again in the live action adaptation Moana (2026).{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=2024-04-05 |title=Disney Sets 'Toy Story 5,' 'Mandalorian & Grogu' for 2026, Delays Live-Action 'Moana' by a Year |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/disney-sets-toy-story-5-mandalorian-and-grogu-1235867413/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} In February 2025, Johnson was cast in a crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt.{{Cite web |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr. |last2=Kroll |first2=Justin |date=20 February 2025 |title=Town Says Aloha To A Hawaii-Set 'Goodfellas' Meets 'The Departed': Scorsese, DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson & Emily Blunt Top Crime Drama Package |url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/scorsese-dicaprio-crime-movie-dwayne-johnson-emily-blunt-1236295098/ |access-date=22 February 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} The film will depict the mafia's influence in Hawaii, with Johnson portraying an aspiring mob boss's rise within the criminal underworld.{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Fay |date=14 March 2025 |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson breaks his silence on being cast in Martin Scorsese's new movie, calling it the "most creatively inspiring time" of his career |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/crime-movies/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-breaks-his-silence-on-being-cast-in-martin-scorseses-new-movie-calling-it-the-most-creatively-inspiring-time-of-his-career/ |access-date=15 March 2025 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}

In 2012, Johnson founded his production company Seven Bucks Productions. Though originally attached as producer and star, Johnson will now serve solely as the former on a film adaptation of The Janson Directive. John Cena will fill the leading role, with Akiva Goldsman attached as screenwriter.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/john-cena-janson-directive-dwayne-johnson-1202791588/|title=John Cena to Star in 'Janson Directive' for Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=April 30, 2018|work=Variety|access-date=June 27, 2018}} Additionally, he will produce and star in a Netflix exclusive film titled John Henry & The Statesmen, as the titular folklore hero. The film will be directed by Jake Kasdan, from a script by Kasdan and Tom Wheeler. With the first official teaser trailer released in October 2018, the project marks Kasdan's and Johnson's third collaboration, after Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level.{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/dwayne-johnson-john-henry-trailer-netflix/|title=Dwayne Johnson Is "The Man" in Teaser for Netflix's 'John Henry & The Statesmen'|first=Vinnie|last=Mancuso|website=Collider|date=October 9, 2018}}

In 2019, Johnson produced and appeared as himself in Fighting with My Family, a comedy drama about Saraya Bevis and her family, who are also professional wrestlers.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/vince-vaughn-dwayne-johnsons-fighting-with-my-family-1201988165/ |title=Vince Vaughn Joins Dwayne Johnson's 'Fighting With My Family' |first=Justin |last=Kroll |date=February 14, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/fighting-with-my-family-trailer/|title='Fighting with My Family' Trailer Has The Rock Helping Wrestling Wannabes|last=Goldberg|first=Matt|date=November 14, 2018|website=Collider|access-date=December 12, 2018}} Johnson will co-produce and star in The King, a film about king Kamehameha Kūnuiākea, founder and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. The project will be directed by Robert Zemeckis from a script by Randall Wallace. The movie will be comparable to Braveheart in tone, given Wallace's work on both films, and will depict the king's role in resolving the wars among the islands of Hawaiʻi. The King was scheduled to begin production in 2020, but was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/dwayne-johnson-king-kamehameha-movie-robert-zemeckis-randall-wallace-1202453017/|title=Dwayne Johnson To Play Kamehameha In 'The King;' Robert Zemeckis Directs Script By 'Braveheart's Randall Wallace For Warner Bros & New Line|first1=Anita|last1=Busch|last2=Fleming| first2=Mike Jr. |date=August 29, 2018}} Johnson is also attached to produce/star in a sequel to Big Trouble in Little China,{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/big-trouble-in-little-china-sequel/|title=Dwayne Johnson's 'Big Trouble in Little China' Won't Be a Remake, But a Continuation|date=August 27, 2018|website=/Film}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dwayne-johnson-says-big-trouble-in-little-china-153445647.html|title=Dwayne Johnson Says 'Big Trouble in Little China' Remake Definitely Happening|access-date=June 20, 2018}} as well as project under development with Shane Black focusing on a new interpretation of Doc Savage.{{Cite news|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/doc-savage-movie/|title=Dwayne Johnson Provides an Update on Shane Black's 'Doc Savage'|date=April 12, 2018|website=Slashfilm.com|access-date=June 23, 2018}}

In 2021, his biographical comedy-drama series Young Rock began airing on NBC.{{cite web |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/10/dwayne-johnson-nbc-young-rock-cast-reveal|publisher=Hype Beast |title=Dwayne Johnson Announces Cast of 'Young Rock' |date=October 4, 2020 |first=Jeff|last=Yeung}} A film centered around Teth-Adam/Black Adam, a part of the DC Extended Universe, was announced to be in development in January 2017. Originally cast in the role as early as September 2014 as the antagonist, in a film centered around the superhero Billy Batson/Shazam,{{cite tweet|user=TheRock|first=Dwayne|last=Johnson|number=507189313579122689|date=September 3, 2014|title="Kneel at his feet or get crushed by his boot." My honor to become.. #BlackAdam #TheAntiHero #DCComics}}{{cite web|date=September 3, 2014|title=Dwayne Johnson to Play Black Adam in New Line's 'Shazam,' Darren Lemke to Script|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/dwayne-johnson-to-play-black-adam-in-shazam-darren-lemke-to-script-exclusive-1201294338|access-date=September 4, 2014|work=Variety}} his villainous role for Shazam! was reworked into two separate films.{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=January 19, 2017|title=Shazam! To Split Into Two Films: Dwayne Johnson To Star As 'Black Adam'|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/shazan-dwayne-johnson-black-adam-1201889902/}} Johnson did not appear in Shazam!, but he served as a producer and his likeness was used through special effects in flashback scenes.{{Cite web|title=Dwayne Johnson Won't Appear in 'Shazam!,' DC's Geoff Johns Says|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dwayne-johnson-wont-appear-shazam-dcs-geoff-johns-says-1023348|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 21, 2017}}{{cite web|date=May 26, 2015|title=Dwayne Johnson Hints 'Shazam' Might Release Sooner than Announced|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/608405-dwayne-johnson-hints-shazam-might-release-sooner-announced#!|access-date=November 12, 2016|website=ComingSoon.net}}

In March 2020, Johnson launched Teremana Tequila, which sold 600,000 nine-litre cases in its first year{{Cite news |last=de Semlyen |first=Phil |date=January 6, 2022 |title=Dwayne Johnson is breaking all records with his new booze brand |work=Time Out |url=https://www.timeout.com/news/dwayne-johnson-is-breaking-all-records-with-his-new-booze-brand-010622 |access-date=November 27, 2022}} and is valued at approximately {{USD|3.5 billion|long=no}}.{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2024 |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Is Expected To Become A Billionaire From His Tequila Brand Valued At Around $3.5 Billion |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dwayne-rock-johnson-expected-become-185923185.html |access-date=March 29, 2024 |website=Yahoo Finance}}

File:230513-A-WN705-091 (53006531296) (1).jpg trophy]]

In August 2020, Johnson along with several partners and investors—including RedBird Capital Partners—purchased the XFL for {{USD|15 million|long=no}}. Within months, Johnson announced plans for the relaunch of the league in spring 2022. While the launch was delayed a year, the first games of 2023 kicked off on time.{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2023 |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Is Reviving The XFL With $15 million Bet On The Future Of Football |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dwayne-rock-johnson-reviving-xfl-224720501.html |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=Yahoo Finance}} After a successful 2023 season, the XFL and United States Football League announced their intent to merge into a single league. On December 31, 2023, it was announced that the new merged league would be called the United Football League (UFL).{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Ed |date=January 2, 2024 |title=XFL and USFL merge to form new UFL spring football league |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/xfl-usfl-merger-ufl-united-football-league-teams-2024-season/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=SportsPro}} The league would feature 8 teams and start on March 30, 2024. Johnson, along with Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners own 50% of the UFL together under XFL Properties LLC.{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=December 31, 2023 |title=Combined XFL and USFL to be Called UFL, Will Air Games on Fox and ESPN Platforms Starting in 2024 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/new-football-league-ufl-created-xfl-usfl-merger-2024-launch-1235777227/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

On January 23, 2024, Johnson joined the TKO Group Holdings board of directors. In the process, he obtained full ownership over his trademarked name "The Rock", which was owned by WWE.{{cite web | last=Raimondi | first=Marc | title='The Rock' joins UFC, WWE's TKO Group board | website=ESPN | date=January 23, 2024 | url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/39368338/the-rock-appointed-ufc-wwe-tko-group-board-directors | access-date=January 23, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://investor.tkogrp.com/news/news-details/2024/TKO-Appoints-Dwayne-Johnson-to-Board-of-Directors/default.aspx|title=TKO Appoints Dwayne Johnson to Board of Directors|publisher=TKO|date=January 23, 2024|accessdate=January 23, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-joins-tko-board-ownership-trademarked-name-1235801443/|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Joins Board Of TKO, Secures Full Ownership Of Trademarked Name|first=Jill|last=Goldsmith|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 23, 2024|access-date=January 23, 2024}} As part of the settlement, Johnson signed a new services and merchandising agreement with WWE.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-board-member-wwe-tko-group-1235882746/|title=Dwayne Johnson Named Board Member of WWE Parent TKO Group, Granted Full Ownership of 'The Rock' Trademark|first=Joe|last=Otterson|publisher=Variety|date=January 23, 2024|accessdate=January 23, 2024}}

In 2000, Johnson published his autobiography, The Rock Says..., co-written with Joe Layden. It debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list and remained on the list for several weeks. In 2013, Johnson hosted and produced the TNT reality competition series The Hero. In 2014, he hosted another TNT reality series, Wake Up Call. In 2019, Johnson started hosting the NBC competition series The Titan Games.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbc.com/the-titan-games |title=The Titan Games|website=Nbc.com}}

In March 2016, Johnson partnered with American fitness apparel manufacturer Under Armour to release "Project Rock".{{cite news |url=http://www.mensfitness.com/life/gearandtech/dwayne-rock-johnson-launches-project-rock-his-new-signature-line-under-armour-gear |title=Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Launches "Project Rock," His New Signature Line of Under Armour Gear |website=Mensfitness.com |date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=November 12, 2016}} The first item in his partnership with Under Armour, a gym bag, sold out in a couple of days.{{cite web |url=http://magazine.promomarketing.com/article/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-teams-up-with-under-armour/ |title=Under Armour, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Sell Out of Gym Merch – Promo Marketing |first=Brendan |last=Menapace |website=Promomarketing.com |date=March 22, 2016 |access-date=November 12, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gq.com/story/the-rock-gym-bag-under-armour-workout-gear |title=The Rock Designed a Gym Bag to Help Guys Everywhere Get Swole |first=Megan |last=Gustashaw |date=March 4, 2016 |website=Gq.com |access-date=November 12, 2016}} His second item, a black T-shirt sporting his signature "Brahma bull", sold out after being worn at WrestleMania 32.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestreet.com/story/13521340/1/the-rock-proves-again-he-can-sell-tons-af-under-armour-swag.html |title='The Rock' proves again he can sell tons of Under Armour swag. |first=Brian |last=Sozzi |date=April 8, 2016 |website=Thestreet.com |access-date=November 12, 2016}} Johnson also released an alarm clock app as part of "Project Rock" that received more than one million downloads in its first week of release.{{cite web |url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/wwe-news-the-rocks-alarm-clock-app-breaks-1-million-downloads-owen-harts-birthday-today/ |title=WWE News: The Rock's Alarm Clock App Breaks 1 Million Downloads, Owen Hart's Birthday Today |website=411mania.com |date=May 7, 2016 |access-date=November 12, 2016}} Since then, they have released sneakers, headphones, and other apparel.{{cite web |url=https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/project-rock/g/32k2 |title=Project Rock T-Shirts & Gear |website=Under Armour® |access-date=April 19, 2019}}

In 2016, Johnson started his YouTube channel. His first video, The YouTube Factory, featured online personality Lilly Singh and several other internet stars.{{Cite news |last=Dry |first=Jude |date=July 18, 2016 |title=The Rock Just Launched a YouTube Channel, And He's Asking Social Media Stars To Help Him Find His Edge |work=IndieWire |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/07/the-rock-new-youtube-channel-lilly-singh-social-media-1201707104/ |access-date=March 26, 2023}} In 2019, Johnson announced he would launch a competitive bodybuilding show, "Athleticon", with his business partner and ex-wife, Dany Garcia. It is set to rival other long-standing bodybuilding shows such as The Arnold Classic and Joe Weider's Mr. Olympia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/athleticon-is-coming-to-shake-up-the-bodybuilding-and-fitness-world.html|title=Athleticon Is Coming to Shake Up the Bodybuilding and Fitness World|last=shoshannac|date=September 17, 2019|website=Bodybuilding.com|access-date=October 21, 2019}} The show was set to debut in October 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia, but plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A fan of the rapper Tech N9ne,{{cite web |title=Watch: "The Rock's Ultimate Workout" Features Music From Tech N9ne |url=https://www.strangemusicinc.com/2017/03/tech-n9ne/rocks-ultimate-tech-n9ne/ |website=StrangeMusicInc.com|date=March 8, 2017 }} Johnson is featured on the song "Face Off" from the rapper's 2021 album Asin9ne.{{cite magazine |title=Dwayne Johnson makes his rap debut with 'Face Off' — even if fans don't believe it's his first |url=https://ew.com/music/dwayne-johnson-rap-song-face-off-tech-n9ne-video/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}

As part of WWE's non-partisan "Smackdown Your Vote" campaign aiming to encourage young people to vote,{{cite web |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-campaigns-elections/6040691-1.html |title=Smackdown Your Vote! Announces New Members, WWF Superstar Kurt Angle Named Honorary Chairman. |access-date=May 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511213126/http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-campaigns-elections/6040691-1.html |archive-date=May 11, 2011}}. Johnson had a speaking role at the 2000 Republican National Convention{{cite magazine |last=Nwanevu |first=Osita |date=July 19, 2016 |title=Watch the Rock's Very Odd Speech at the 2000 Republican Convention |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/07/19/the_rock_at_the_2000_republican_national_convention.html |access-date=September 11, 2016 |magazine=The Slate |location=New York City}} and attended the 2000 Democratic National Convention less than two weeks later.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rock-in-the-hardest-place-637073.html |title=Rock in the Hardest Place |access-date=May 27, 2009 |work=The Independent |location=London |first=Alan |last=Hubbard |date=October 15, 2000}}

Johnson voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/dwayne-johnson-the-pain-and-the-passion-that-fuel-the-rock-630076/ |title=Dwayne Johnson: The Pain and the Passion That Fuel the Rock |first=Josh |last=Eells |date=April 4, 2018 |magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=March 17, 2021}} but did not vote in 2016,{{cite web |url=https://www.mediaite.com/entertainment/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-admits-he-didnt-vote-for-trump-or-hillary-in-2016-i-wanted-someone-else/ |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Admits He Didn't Vote for Trump or Hillary in 2016: I Wanted 'Someone Else' |website=Mediaite|date=April 5, 2018 |access-date=April 27, 2019}} and was an independent voter {{as of|2017|lc=y}}.{{Cite news |url=https://www.gq.com/story/dwayne-johnson-for-president-cover |title=Dwayne Johnson for President! |first1=Peggy|last1=Sirota |first2=Caity|last2=Weaver|date=May 10, 2017 |work=GQ|access-date=May 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611153935/https://www.gq.com/story/dwayne-johnson-for-president-cover |archive-date=June 11, 2019 |url-status=dead }} He endorsed Joe Biden in 2020,{{Cite web|title=Dwayne Johnson Endorses Presidential Candidate for First Time, Supports Joe Biden and Kamala Harris|url=https://people.com/politics/dwayne-johnson-endorses-joe-biden-kamala-harris/|access-date=September 27, 2020|work=People|first=Karen|last=Mizoguchi|date=September 27, 2020}} but told Fox News in an April 2024 interview that he regretted the decision due to it causing "division" and refused to endorse anyone in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=April 5, 2024 |title=Dwayne Johnson Says Endorsing Biden for President in 2020 Caused Division That 'Tears Me Up in My Guts' and Today's 'Woke Culture' Really 'Bugs Me' |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-biden-no-endorsement-2024-election-1235961800/ |access-date=April 5, 2024 |website=Variety}}

Johnson has expressed interest in running for president, telling USA Today in February 2021 that he would "consider a presidential run in the future if that's what the people wanted".{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Ryan|date=October 25, 2021|url=https://www.newsweek.com/dwayne-johnson-rock-running-president-republicans-democrats-election-poll-1642097|title=Dwayne Johnson Shares 'Honest Feelings' on Running for President|work=Newsweek|access-date=February 4, 2024}} Following an online poll which found that 46% of Americans would consider voting for Johnson in an election, he told Today in April 2021, "I do have that goal to unite our country and I also feel that if this is what the people want, then I will do that".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/12/the-rock-dwayne-johnson-white-house-president|title=The Rock for president? I'll run if the people want it, says Dwayne Johnson|newspaper=The Guardian|date=April 12, 2021|access-date=February 4, 2024}}

Johnson has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation on a number of occasions.{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/09/16/dwayne-rock-johnson-disney-jungle-cruise-make-a-wish-kids/ |title=Dwayne Johnson Inspired by Make-A-Wish Kids on Disney's 'Jungle Cruise' Set |website=Movies |date=September 15, 2018 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}

In 2006, Johnson founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, a charity working with at-risk and terminally ill children.{{cite web |publisher=DJ Rock Foundation.org |url=http://www.djrockfoundation.org/mission.php |title=DJ Rock Foundation: Mission Statement |access-date=June 4, 2007 |year=2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305152513/http://www.djrockfoundation.org/mission.php |archive-date=March 5, 2008 |url-status=dead}} In 2007, he and his then-wife, Dany Garcia, donated {{USD|1 million|long=no}} to the University of Miami to support the renovation of its football facilities; the university renamed the Miami Hurricanes' locker room in his honor.{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Schwartz |title=Miami unveils football locker room dedicated to The Rock |agency=For The Win |access-date=September 11, 2014 |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/08/miami-dedicates-football-locker-room-to-the-rock}}

In 2015, actress Michelle Trachtenberg tagged Johnson in a tweet about an abandoned dog that her local shelter had rescued and named after him, prompting him to donate {{USD|1,500|long=no}} to the GoFundMe for the dog's lifesaving surgery.{{cite web |url=https://www.today.com/news/dwayne-rock-johnson-donates-1-500-save-abandoned-puppys-life-t59286 |title=He's a Pawller! Dwayne Johnson drops $1,500 to save orphaned puppy's life |website=TODAY.com |date=December 2, 2015 |access-date=April 19, 2019}} In 2017, he donated {{USD|25,000|long=no}} to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.{{cite web |url=https://abc7.com/2354563/ |title=Dwayne Johnson donates thousands to aid Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts |date=August 29, 2017 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |access-date=April 19, 2019}} In 2018, he donated a gym to a military base in Oahu, Hawaii.{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi-NSa4l5NS/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/therock/1782920942907265874 |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |url-access=subscription|title=@therock on Instagram: "Cool update on Armed Forces Day. I was able to donate an entire gym to a military base that's very close to my heart." |website=Instagram |access-date=April 19, 2019}}{{cbignore}} After the 2018 Hawaii floods, he worked with the nonprofit organization Malama Kauai to help repair flood damage.{{cite web |url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/38196642/stay-strong-kauai-the-rock-asks-for-donations-for-flood-ravaged-kauai |title='Stay strong, Kauai': 'The Rock' asks for donations for flood-ravaged Kauai |website=hawaiinewsnow.com |date=May 16, 2018 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}

Johnson made a seven-figure donation to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which foundation president Courtney B. Vance cited as the largest single donation that the foundation had ever received from one individual at one time.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/dwayne-johnson-donation-sag-aftra-foundation-strike-relief-fund-1235678671/ |title=Dwayne Johnson Contributes 'Historic' Donation to SAG-AFTRA Foundation Relief Fund, Says President Courtney B. Vance: 'It's a Call to Arms for All of Us' (Exclusive) |last=Jackson |first=Angelique |website=variety.com |date=July 24, 2023 |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=July 25, 2023}} The following month, Johnson and Oprah Winfrey announced the creation of the People's Fund of Maui in response to the 2023 Hawaii wildfires and asked people to donate.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/10/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-maui-fund-apology |title="I get it": The Rock Understands Why You're Mad That He Asked For Maui Donations |magazine=Vanity Fair |last=Batey |first=Eve |date=October 8, 2023 |access-date=November 3, 2024}} They also donated {{USD|5 million|long=no}} each to it. The announcement received backlash from fans, who criticized Johnson and Oprah for requesting donations while having net worths of {{USD|800 million|long=no}} and {{USD|2.5 billion|long=no}} respectively; Johnson apologized in October.

In 2009, Johnson obtained Canadian citizenship through his father's birth and citizenship there.{{Cite news |url=https://604now.com/canadian-roots-the-rock-dual-citizenship/ |title=Proud of Canadian roots: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson holds dual-citizenship |last=Gill |first=Meagan |date=June 13, 2017 |work=604 now|access-date=July 12, 2019}} In 2017, he had the small "Brahma bull" tattoo on his right arm covered with a larger half-sleeve tattoo of a bull's skull.{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb_dn43lA7E/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/therock/1657173472366038724 |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |url-access=subscription|title=@therock on Instagram: "After approximately 30 hours of tattooing (4 sessions) with my good bud and iconic artist @nikkohurtado, the story of my skull is complete.…" |website=Instagram|access-date=June 20, 2018}}{{cbignore}}

Johnson is a supporter of the Samoa national rugby league team, and publicly pledged his support to the team during the 2021 Rugby League World Cup when the team made the finals for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Proszenko |first=Adrian |date=November 18, 2022 |title='Make history': The Rock urges Samoa to take World Cup fight to Kangaroos |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/make-history-the-rock-urges-samoa-to-take-world-cup-fight-to-kangaroos-20221118-p5bzeg.html |access-date=November 5, 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite web |date=November 19, 2022 |title='This is a big deal': The Rock, NFL star QB deliver epic speeches to Samoa ahead of World Cup final |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/this-is-a-big-deal-the-rock-delivers-epic-speech-to-samoa-ahead-of-world-cup-final/news-story/5e251863b8f57e8df327dd91141f9a2e |access-date=November 5, 2023 |website=Fox Sports}}

Johnson has experienced multiple episodes of depression, beginning in his college years. He has spoken publicly about the importance of seeking help and being open about mental health struggles, advocating for increased awareness and support.{{cite news | last=Valdez | first=Jonah | title=Dwayne Johnson opens up about his experience with depression | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-05-15/dwayne-johnson-depression-mental-health | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=May 15, 2023 | access-date=May 22, 2024 }}

Johnson first met Dany Garcia when they were both University of Miami students in the early 1990s. They married on May 3, 1997. She is a businesswoman, International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation professional bodybuilder, and producer. They have one child, Simone, a daughter, who was born August 14, 2001, in Davie, Florida.{{Cite web|url=https://goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/dwayne-johnsons-heartfelt-post-daughter-18th-birthday-make-64965303|title=Dwayne Johnson's heartfelt post to his daughter on her 18th birthday will make you want to call your dad|last=FitzPatrick|first=Hayley|website=ABC News|date=August 14, 2019|access-date=February 12, 2020}}

In 2003, Johnson got a partial Samoan Peʻa tattoo on his left side.{{cite web |url=http://www.tahititatou.com/therock-engl_2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010163000/http://www.tahititatou.com/therock-engl_2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2004 |title=Tahiti Tatou |access-date=December 7, 2007 }} In August 2004, in recognition of his service to the Samoan people, and because he is a descendant of Samoan chiefs, Johnson was given the noble title Seiuli, meaning the son of Malietoa [Alo o Malietoa], by Malietoa Tanumafili II during his visit there.{{cite web |title=The Rock's Royal Homecoming |url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/2004/10/01/the-rocks-royal-homecoming |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927175415/http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/2004/10/01/the-rocks-royal-homecoming|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=May 13, 2008 |work=Pacific Magazine}}

On June 1, 2007, Johnson and Garcia announced they were separating amicably.{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/celebrity/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-wife-split-up/ |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson & Wife Split Up |first=Julie |last=Jordan |magazine=People | access-date = June 4, 2007 |date=June 1, 2007}} The divorce was finalized in May 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1494/the-rock-s-divorce-solidifies|title=The Rock's Divorce Solidifies|date=May 30, 2008|first=Natalie|last=Finn|access-date=September 23, 2020}}

In 2007, Johnson began dating Lauren Hashian, the daughter of Sib Hashian, the drummer for the band Boston.{{Cite news |last=Hurtado |first=Alexandra |title=Meet the Woman Who Got a Rock from Dwayne Johnson, Lauren Hashian |url=https://parade.com/1196322/alexandra-hurtado/dwayne-johnson-wife-lauren-hashian/ |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays |date=April 19, 2021}} They met in 2006 while Johnson was filming The Game Plan.{{cite web |url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/09/17/lauren-hashian-5-things-to-know-about-the-rock-girlfriend-dwayne-johnson/ |title=Lauren Hashian: 5 Things To Know About The Rock's Pregnant Girlfriend |first=Jason |last=Brow |work=Hollywood Life| access-date = October 13, 2015 |date=September 17, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151012010502/http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/09/17/lauren-hashian-5-things-to-know-about-the-rock-girlfriend-dwayne-johnson/ | archive-date = October 12, 2015 | url-status=live}} On August 18, 2019, Johnson and Hashian married in Hawaii.:{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B1V5m7WFfUy/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/therock/2113848963832870194_2113848961492434793 |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |url-access=subscription|title=@therock on Instagram: "We do. August 18th, 2019. Hawaii. Pōmaikaʻi (blessed) @laurenhashianofficial @hhgarcia41"|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Rich |title=Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announces marriage to Lauren Hashian |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/wrestling/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-announces-18962271 |work=Mirror |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Dwayne The Rock Johnson Marries Longtime Partner Laura Hashian in Secret Hawaiian Wedding, See Pics |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-marries-longtime-partner-laura-hashian-in-secret-hawaiian-wedding-see-pics-2275743.html |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019 |work=News18}} They have two daughters, Jasmine and Tiana,{{Citation | year=2023 | title=Dwayne Johnson's 3 Kids: All About Simone, Jasmine and Tiana | url=https://people.com/parents/all-about-dwayne-johnson-children/ | access-date=December 26, 2023}}{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/parents/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-daughter-jasmine-3rd-birthday-wishes/ |title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Daughter Jasmine Turns 3 — See Her Parents' Birthday Tributes |first=Emily |last=Zauzmer |magazine=People |date=December 17, 2018 | access-date = August 19, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/dwayne-johnson-lauren-hashian-daughter-tiana-turns-2/|title=Dwayne Johnson's Daughter Tiana Turns 2! 'Sweetest Baby Girl in the Whole World,' Lauren Hashian Says|website=People}} and live in Los Angeles. They also maintain a farm in Virginia{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/02/07/one-good-thing-virginia-has-going-it-this-week-rock/ |title=One good thing Virginia has going for it this week? The Rock. |date=February 7, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 1, 2019}} and a home in Southwest Ranches, Florida.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportsretriever.com/stories/look-inside-the-rocks-amazing-mansion/ |title=Taking a look inside The Rock's luxurious $5 million mansion |last=Wolton |first=Rebbekka |date=October 10, 2018 |website=Sports Retriever|access-date=April 25, 2019}}{{Cite news |url=https://miami.curbed.com/2014/10/1/10040852/the-rock-moves-into-55m-southwest-ranches-house-immediately-orders-1 |title=The Rock Moves into Southwest Ranches, Orders Big Addition |work=Curbed Miami|access-date=June 23, 2018}} Jasmine and Tiana provided voices for Johnson's 2024 film Moana 2.{{cite news|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/575706|title=Dwayne Johnson's reaction over his daughters' work in 'Moana 2' comes to light|date=November 22, 2024|accessdate=November 22, 2024|publisher=Geo News}}

In February 2020, WWE announced that Johnson's daughter Simone had started training at the WWE Performance Center,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/simone-johnson-wwe-performance-center|title=Simone Johnson begins training at WWE Performance Center|website=WWE|access-date=February 12, 2020}} making her the first fourth-generation WWE wrestler.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-51471305|title=WWE: The Rock's daughter steps into the ring|date=February 12, 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=February 12, 2020}} On May 16, Johnson announced she had signed a contract with WWE,{{Cite news|url=https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/watch-the-rock-on-his-daughter-simone-johnson-joining-wwe/|title=WATCH: The Rock on his daughter, Simone Johnson, joining WWE|date=May 16, 2020|newspaper=Wrestling News | Wwe and Aew Results, Spoilers, Rumors & Scoops}} and announced in May 2022 that her ring name would be Ava Raine. She has since been appearing on the NXT brand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/sports/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-daughter-simone-responds-backlash-over-her-wwe-name|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Daughter Simone Responds to Backlash Over Her WWE Name|first1=Brad|last1=Callas|date=May 30, 2022|website=Complex}}

File:WWE Champion The Rock 2013.jpg during his eighth and to date last WWE Championship reign, February 2013]]

File:Intercontinental Champion THE ROCK b.jpg, England, during one of his two Intercontinental Championship reigns, April 1998]]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
• Match of the Year (1999) {{small|vs. Mankind in an "I Quit" match at Royal Rumble}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html |title=PWI Awards |work=Pro Wrestling Illustrated |publisher=Kappa Publishing Group |access-date=December 4, 2016 |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121172943/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimoty.htm |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners – Match of the Year |access-date=May 12, 2008 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415152012/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimoty.htm |archive-date=April 15, 2008}}
• Match of the Year (2002) {{small|vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8}}
• Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1999, 2000)
• Wrestler of the Year (2000)
• Ranked No. 2 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000{{cite web |url=http://profightdb.com/pwi-500/2000.html |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2000 |publisher=Internet Wrestling Database |access-date=December 4, 2016}}
• Sports Illustrated
• Ranked No. 3 of the 20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of All Time {{cite magazine |last1=Pullar III |first1=Sid |title=20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of All Time |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/features/10-greatest-wwe-wrestlers-of-all-time |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 30, 2024 |access-date=November 26, 2024}}
• United States Wrestling Association
• USWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Bart Sawyer{{cite web |url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttuswa.html |title=USWA World Tag Team Title History |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=Solie's Title Histories}}
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
• Best Box Office Draw (2000, 2011, 2012){{cite journal |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=January 26, 2011 |title=Biggest issue of the year: The 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Issue |periodical=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|location=Campbell, CA |pages=1–40 |issn=1083-9593}}{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=January 30, 2012 |title=Jan 30 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Gigantic year-end awards issue, best and worst in all categories plus UFC on FX 1, death of Savannah Jack, ratings, tons and tons of news |magazine=Wrestling Observer Newsletter |location=Campbell, CA |issn=1083-9593}}{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=January 23, 2013 |title=The 2012 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Annual Awards Issue |magazine=Wrestling Observer Newsletter |location=Campbell, California |issn=1083-9593 |url=http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/110-wrestling-observer-newsletter/29425-the-2012-wrestling-observer-newsletter-annual-awards-issue |access-date=January 24, 2013 |archive-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425050241/https://www.f4wonline.com/ |url-status=dead }}
• Best Gimmick (1999)
• Best on Interviews (1999, 2000)
• Most Charismatic (1999–2002, 2011, 2012, 2024){{cite web |last1=Meltzer |first1=Dave |title=February 17, 2025 Observer Newsletter: The 2024 Awards issue |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/february-17-2025-observer-newsletter-the-2024-awards-issue/ |work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter |date=February 14, 2025 |access-date=February 14, 2025}}
• Most Improved (1998)
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2007){{cite magazine |url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html |title=Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame |access-date=February 2, 2010 |magazine=Pro Wrestling Illustrated |archive-date=November 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112104543/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html |url-status=dead }}
• WWE/World Wrestling Entertainment/Federation
• WWE Championship{{efn|The title was named the WWF Championship during The Rock's first six reigns. It was known as the WWF Undisputed Championship during his seventh reign and as the WWE Championship during his eighth.}} (8 times){{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wwechampionship/ |title=History of WWE World Heavyweight Championship |date=November 15, 1998 |work=WWE}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wwechampionship/20130127-the-rock |title=Rock's eight WWE Championship Reign |access-date=January 27, 2013 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131095302/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wwechampionship/20130127-the-rock |archive-date=January 31, 2013}}
• WCW Championship{{efn|The title was renamed the World Championship during his second reign.}} (2 times){{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/304454110223 |title=Rock's first WCW Championship Reign |access-date=August 19, 2001 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324112235/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/304454110223 |archive-date=March 24, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/30445411028 |title=Rock's second WCW Championship Reign |access-date=November 5, 2001 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324112301/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/30445411028 |archive-date=March 24, 2012}}
• WWF Intercontinental Championship (2 times){{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/ |title=WWE Intercontinental Championship official title history |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE}}
• WWF Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Mankind (3), The Undertaker (1), and Chris Jericho (1){{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/ |title=World Tag Team Championship official title history |access-date=March 21, 2008 |publisher=WWE}}
• Royal Rumble (2000)
• Sixth Triple Crown Champion{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/wwe-triple-crown#fid-26046467|title=WWE's Triple Crown Champions|publisher=WWE|access-date=May 8, 2019}}
• Deadly Games WWF Championship Tournament (1998){{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/titletny.html#world98|title=WWF Deadly Game Tournament Brackets|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 20, 2007}}
• Slammy Award (10 times)
• Best Actor (2014){{cite web |last=Laboon |first=Jeff |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2014-12-08/2014-slammy-award-winners |title=2014 Slammy Award winners |date=December 8, 2014 |access-date=June 23, 2018 |publisher=WWE}}
• Game Changer of the Year (2011) – with John Cena{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2011-12-12/2011-slammy-award-winners |title=2011 Slammy Award Winners |access-date=June 23, 2018 |publisher=WWE}}
• Guess Who's Back or: Return of the Year (2011){{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2011-12-12/exclusive-slammy-awards-2011 |title=WWE.com Exclusive Slammy Awards 2011 |access-date=June 23, 2018 |publisher=WWE}}
• LOL! Moment of the Year (2012, 2013) – {{small|insulting John Cena using the history of Boston, Massachusetts}}, {{small|Rock Concert on the 20th anniversary episode of Raw}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2012-12-17/slammy-award-winners |title=2012 WWE Slammy Awards and WWE.com Slammy Awards winners |access-date=June 23, 2018 |publisher=WWE}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2013-12-09/full-slammy-award-winners-2013 |title=2013 Slammy Award winners |access-date=June 23, 2018 |publisher=WWE}}
• Match of the Year (2013) – {{small|vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29}}
• New Sensation (1997){{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/andthewinneris |title=And the winner is... |access-date=June 23, 2018 |publisher=WWE}}
• "Tell Me You Didn't Just Say That" Insult of the Year (2014) – {{small|insulting Rusev and Lana}}
• "This is Awesome" Moment of the Year (2015) – with Ronda Rousey{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2015-12-21/2015-slammy-award-winners |title=2015 Slammy Award winners |date=December 16, 2015 |access-date=June 23, 2018 |publisher=WWE}}
• Trash Talker of the Year (2024)

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{notelist-ua}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/wwe/story/_/id/17167315/wwe-profile-page-rock |title=WWE profile - The Rock |website=ESPN.co.uk |access-date=February 26, 2024 |date=August 11, 2016 }}

}}

{{Sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Dwayne Johnson |b=no |n=no |q=Dwayne Johnson |s=no |v=no |species=no |display=Dwayne Johnson}}

• {{IMDb name|425005|Dwayne Johnson}}
• {{WWE superstar|therock|The Rock}}
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• [https://miamihurricanes.com/sports/football/roster/season/1991-92/player/dwayne-johnson/ Dwayne Johnson profile] at Miami Hurricanes football

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