Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's new sitcom renewed for a second season. Fans love getting a glimpse into the life of the famous professional wrestler-turned-actor. And the show becomes sweeter when realizing that it is actually based on true stories from his life growing up.
The series has sparked even more interest in Johnson, especially given the way they are told, as if he's running for president in the future and recalling moments from his life and youth.
Among the many tidbits of information the sitcom reveals about Johnson's childhood (and things that aren't revealed) there's likely a lot about the famous man that even die-hard fans didn't know.
He Really Has Expressed Interest In Running For President
Some feel that the sitcom is a way to set up Johnson's actual presidential run, not only by humanizing him in the eyes of fans through stories of his middle-class upbringing and struggles, but also by introducing the idea of him running for president, which apparently many Americans are happy about.
Indeed, Johnson has actually said that he would be open to running for president one day. Might he be setting everyone up to get used to the idea for real? Time will tell.
His Father Only Recently ed Away
Johnson's real mother has appeared in a few episodes of the sitcom and he has alluded to the death of his father. Indeed, Rocky Johnson did away, but he lived a full life. He only just ed in January 2020.
So, while Rocky Johnson never got to see the portrayal of him on this series, he did live long enough to see his son become a huge superstar.
He Played For The CFL
Many know that Johnson was a professional football player prior to following in his father's footsteps and pursuing a career in the ring. But many did not realize that he actually got his big break with the Canadian Football League, not the NFL.
As depicted in an episode of Young Rock, Johnson watched the NFL drafts anxiously with his family while he was attending the University of Miami, only to realize he did not make the cut. But shortly after, he received a call to play for the Calgary Stampeders, and off he went to Canada.
He Is One Of The World's Highest-Paid Actors
While highest-paid actors in Hollywood, often even topping the list at number-one.
Not only that, but his movies are also among the highest-grossing films, earning more than $3.5 billion in North America and $10.5 billion worldwide.
He Is The Third Most Followed Person On Instagram
It's well-known that soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed person on Instagram with an impressive 270 million+ followers. Second to him is pop star Ariana Grande with 227+ million followers. The most followed Instagram is the company's official with 388+ million followers.
Johnson is the third most followed person on the social media site with 224+ million followers, putting him hot on Grande's heels. He has made more than 5,600 posts as of May 2021.
He Was The First Black WWE World Champion
Johnson began wrestling for the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), then known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), back in 1996. After just two years, he won his first championship, earning himself the distinction of being the first Black world champion. In total, he has 10 world champion titles.
Interestingly, he remains only one of four Black men to win the championship, with the others being Booker T, Mark Henry, and Kofi Kingston.
His Grandmother Was The First Female Pro Wrestling Promoter
As depicted on the series, Johnson's grandmother Lia Maivia was the first female pro wrestling promoter. She took over the business, Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling, following the death of her husband and Johnson's grandfather, Peter Maivia.
Peter Maivia was a pro wrestler himself and the adoptive father of Johnson's mother Ata Johnson. Lia ran the business from 1982 through to 1988.
He Was Arrested Multiple Times As A Youth
Johnson shows some of the darker periods of his youth on the show, including his history of theft while in high school. He would often steal expensive clothing and other items in order to look "cool" or wealthy to impress girls and schoolmates, embarrassed that his family was struggling financially.
Before he turned 17, he had already been arrested a few times for things like getting into fights, theft, and check fraud.
He Credits His SNL Hosting Gig For Helping His Acting Career
Johnson first hosted the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 2000 and he credits that successful appearance with helping get him gigs in Hollywood.
He says that it was after this appearance, which also included cameos from other wrestlers like Triple H, Big Show, and Mick Foley, that he started getting calls from Hollywood. He then booked movies like The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King, and The Rundown. Since then, he has returned to host SNL four times and his acting career has soared.
He Has Held Several Guinness World Records
Johnson currently holds a Guinness World Record for the highest-paid actor in their first leading role. He earned this for heading up the 2002 movie The Scorpion King, which was a follow-up to the 2001 movie The Mummy Returns, focused on his villainous character. He earned $5.5 million for the movie. The movie was considered a box office success, grossing more than $165 million on a budget of $60 million.
Interestingly, he also previously held a few other the movie San Andreas in 2015) and creating the world's largest seven-layer dip, which weighed a whopping 540 pounds.