Before Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson became one of the biggest icons in professional wrestling and entertainment, he debuted in WWE as the babyface Rocky Maivia — a character that fans notoriously rejected. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, The Rock opened up about how being forced to portray a cheerful, overly grateful persona nearly derailed his early WWE career[6].
The Rocky Maivia Struggle: Forced to Smile Through the Boos
The Rock’s WWE journey began with high expectations: a third-generation wrestling star, combining the legacies of his father Rocky Johnson and grandfather Peter Maivia, meant the company viewed him as “the next big thing” from day one. His debut at Survivor Series 1996 sparked excitement, but it quickly became clear that the fans weren’t buying the clean-cut hero character built around his real name, Rocky Maivia[4].
In the Sports Illustrated interview, Johnson recounted how Vince McMahon instructed him to smile constantly — from his entrance music to his exit — to show fans that he was “grateful to be here” despite the intense hostility, including chants of “Rocky sucks” and even “die, Rocky, die.” According to The Rock, smiling through jeers felt completely inauthentic and unnatural, painting a disconnect between the character and his own personality.
“I was a rookie, and Vince McMahon told me very early, ‘You have to smile all the time. When you go out, your music plays, you got to smile. As you come back, you got to smile,’” The Rock recalled. “I remember telling him, man, that doesn’t feel real authentic. But he said, ‘I want to make sure people know that you’re grateful to be here.’ So what you’re seeing at WrestleMania 13 is the culmination of months of being inauthentic.”[6]
The Rock described how, after music hit and fans booed, he had to smile and wave as if nothing was wrong — a facade that left him feeling disconnected from his audience and stifled in his potential as a performer.
Rocky Maivia’s Downfall and the Turning Point at WrestleMania 13
Rocky Maivia’s forced positivity backfired spectacularly by early 1997. After winning the Intercontinental Championship from Hunter Hearst Helmsley in February, fan backlash intensified. Instead of cheering the rising star, crowds were chanting “Rocky sucks,” signaling a crucial rejection of his babyface gimmick[2][4].
His match at WrestleMania 13 in Chicago marked a low point — fans openly booed and verbally tore him down, turning the audience against Rocky Maivia publicly. Johnson later described this as the key turning point in his career, prompting him and WWE management to rethink the character entirely[2][6].
During the match against Mankind, The Rock also suffered a legitimate knee injury, which sidelined him for two months. This unexpected break became an opportunity for reinvention backstage[2].
Transformation to The Rock: Embracing Authenticity and Heel Heat
Upon returning to WWE television in August 1997, The Rock abandoned both the “Rocky Maivia” name and the forced smile. He joined the villainous faction, The Nation of Domination, transitioned into a heel (villain) character, and began simply calling himself “The Rock.” This persona was a far cry from the previous clean-cut image — now confident, aggressive, and dripping with charisma.
It was in this era that The Rock developed the sharp wit, iconic catchphrases, and electrifying mic skills that would define his legendary career. The eyebrow raise, the cocky swagger, and the snarky promos resonated instantly with fans, turning hostility into roaring cheers[2][4][5].
According to a WWE insider who requested anonymity, “The Rock’s reinvention was a game-changer backstage and on-screen. Everyone saw that once he was authentic to himself, the fans connected with him in a way Rocky Maivia never did. It was a fresh, exciting energy that elevated the entire product.”
Lessons From The Rock’s Early WWE Journey
The Rock’s early experience highlights a broader lesson in WWE and entertainment: authenticity is critical for a performer’s success. Forced personas or disconnects between the character and performer rarely resonate with fans and can jeopardize careers.
Despite initial resistance and boos, The Rock’s willingness to embrace his true personality and abandon the corporate “smile all the time” directive helped transform him into arguably the most popular and successful WWE superstar ever. His journey from Rocky Maivia to The Rock is considered one of wrestling’s greatest character evolutions.
The Rock Today: From WWE Legend to Global Icon
More than two decades after the reinvention, Dwayne Johnson remains a global superstar both inside and outside WWE. His blend of charisma, authenticity, and intense work ethic propelled his meteoric rise into Hollywood stardom — but the roots of his success trace back to those challenging days wrestling as Rocky Maivia[1].
The WWE Universe continues celebrating the anniversary of his debut and the enduring legacy of his transformation. As recently as 2023, The Rock made surprise appearances on WWE programming, reminding fans why he is “The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment”[1].
In sum, The Rock’s candid reflections show how nearly being “inauthentic” almost ruined his WWE journey. But overcoming that challenge by embracing genuine character work set the stage for an unforgettable wrestling career and beyond.
“If I hadn’t refused to keep smiling through the boos, the story of The Rock might’ve been very different,” he admitted in the interview, acknowledging the power of authenticity in winning over fans and crafting his legacy[6].