Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Dwayne Johnson
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Dwayne Johnson made an impact.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a multifaceted American figure recognized as a highly successful actor and professional wrestler. Rising to prominence during the WWF's Attitude Era, he transitioned to acting, achieving immense financial success with his films grossing billions globally, making him one of the highest-paid actors. Beyond entertainment, Johnson is a co-owner of the United Football League, a board member of TKO Group Holdings, which owns UFC and WWE and co-founded Seven Bucks Productions, demonstrating his diverse entrepreneurial ventures.
1995: NFL Draft and CFL Signing
In 1995, Dwayne Johnson went undrafted in the NFL draft and briefly signed with the Calgary Stampeders before being cut in his first season.
1995: Signed with Calgary Stampeders
In 1995, after graduating, Dwayne Johnson signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League but was cut two months into the season.
November 4, 1996: WWF Debut
On November 4, 1996, Dwayne Johnson made his WWF debut as Rocky Maivia on Monday Night Raw, joining Marc Mero's entourage.
1996: WWF Contract Secured
In 1996, Dwayne Johnson's father helped him secure a contract with the WWF (now WWE), marking the beginning of his professional wrestling career.
1996: Professional Wrestling Career Begins
In 1996, after being cut by Calgary, Dwayne Johnson began his professional wrestling career after securing tryout matches with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He wrestled under his real name, and then wrestled as Flex Kavana.
February 13, 1997: Intercontinental Championship Win
On February 13, 1997, Rocky Maivia won the Intercontinental Championship from Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
1997: Feud with Austin and Shamrock
In 1997, The Rock feuded with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Ken Shamrock through the end of the year.
January 19, 1998: Intercontinental Championship Retained
On January 19, 1998, at the Royal Rumble, The Rock defeated Ken Shamrock by disqualification to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
1998: Heel Turn and Joins Nation of Domination
In 1998, Rocky Maivia turned heel, lashing out at fans and joining the Nation of Domination, refusing to acknowledge the Rocky Maivia name and instead referring to himself as The Rock.
1998: Feud with Triple H and D-Generation X
In 1998, The Rock and the Nation feuded with Triple H and D-Generation X (DX), with The Rock eventually losing the Intercontinental Championship to Triple H at SummerSlam.
1998: Increase in Fan Support
In 1998, The Rock experienced a significant increase in fan support and started solidifying his famous persona.
1998: Youngest WWE Champion Record
In 1998, The Rock set the record for the youngest WWE Champion.
January 4, 1999: Loses WWF Championship
On January 4, 1999, Mankind defeated The Rock for the WWF Championship on Raw Is War after interference from Stone Cold Steve Austin.
April 29, 1999: SmackDown! Pilot Episode
On April 29, 1999, WWF aired the pilot episode of SmackDown!, which was derived from The Rock's catchphrase. In the episode, The Rock continued his feud with The Corporate Ministry.
1999: The Rock appears on That '70s Show
In 1999, The Rock appeared on That '70s Show as his father Rocky Johnson.
1999: First Television Acting Role
In 1999, The Rock began his acting career by portraying his father Rocky Johnson in an episode of That '70s Show called "That Wrestling Show".
1999: WWE SmackDown Introduction
In 1999, WWE introduced WWE SmackDown, derived from The Rock's catchphrase "lay the smackdown", which became television's second longest-running weekly episodic program in history.
1999: The Rock's "I Quit" match with Mankind
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.
January 23, 2000: Royal Rumble Controversy
On January 23, 2000, at the Royal Rumble, The Rock won the Royal Rumble match, but his feet accidentally hit the floor during a reversal attempt against Big Show. This led to Big Show claiming to be the rightful winner, sparking a storyline.
May 1, 2000: WWF Championship Defense
On May 1, 2000, The Rock's WWF Championship defense against Shane McMahon earned an 8.3 rating, making it the highest-rated segment since "This Is Your Life".
October 22, 2000: Loss of WWF Championship
On October 22, 2000, at No Mercy, The Rock lost the WWF Championship to Kurt Angle.
2000: Consolidation of Persona
By 2000, The Rock had consolidated his famous persona, which began in the latter half of 1998, solidifying his status.
2000: "The Rock Says" Bestseller
In 2000, Dwayne Johnson's autobiography, "The Rock Says," was released and became a New York Times bestseller.
2000: Record Main Event Appearances
In 2000, The Rock holds the record for most Raw shows main-evented in one year with 38, most SmackDown shows main-evented in one year with 36, and is tied with Stone Cold Steve Austin for most PPV shows main-evented in one year with 12.
2000: The Rock hosts Saturday Night Live for the first time
In 2000, The Rock hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, with fellow wrestlers making appearances. This success led to Hollywood opportunities.
February 25, 2001: WWF Championship Win
On February 25, 2001, at No Way Out, The Rock pinned Kurt Angle to win the WWF Championship for a sixth time.
November 1, 2001: Tag Team Title Loss
On November 1, 2001, The Rock and Chris Jericho lost the WWF Tag Team Championship to Booker T and Test on SmackDown!.
2001: First Film Role
In 2001, Dwayne Johnson had his first film role in "The Mummy Returns."
2001: The Mummy Returns Debut
In 2001, Johnson made his theatrical debut in The Mummy Returns, playing Mathayus "The Scorpion King".
2001: The Rock appears at Xbox unveiling and debuts in The Mummy Returns
In 2001, The Rock made a surprise appearance at the official Xbox unveiling and debuted in "The Mummy Returns", which broke box office records.
2001: Main Event Record Tied with Stone Cold Steve Austin
In 2001, The Rock tied with Stone Cold Steve Austin for most PPV shows main evented in one year with 12.
January 20, 2002: Undisputed WWF Championship Challenge
On January 20, 2002, at Royal Rumble, The Rock unsuccessfully challenged Chris Jericho for the Undisputed WWF Championship.
March 25, 2002: Drafted to SmackDown!
On March 25, 2002, The Rock was the number one overall pick in the WWF draft lottery, going to the SmackDown! brand before taking a sabbatical from wrestling.
2002: The Scorpion King Release
In 2002, Johnson starred as the titular character in the spin-off film The Scorpion King, receiving $5.5 million for his leading role and setting a Guinness World Record.
2002: The Rock stars in The Scorpion King
In 2002, The Rock starred in "The Scorpion King", receiving $5.5 million, earning him a Guinness World Record for the highest-paid actor in their first leading role.
January 30, 2003: Heel Turn and New Persona
On January 30, 2003, The Rock returned to SmackDown! and turned heel for the first time since 1999, adopting the "Hollywood Rock" persona with a new look.
2003: The Rundown Release
In 2003, Johnson worked in the action film The Rundown.
March 14, 2004: WrestleMania XX Match
On March 14, 2004, at WrestleMania XX, The Rock and Mick Foley (Rock 'n' Sock Connection) lost to Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista in a handicap match.
2004: Leaves WWE
In 2004, Johnson left the WWE to pursue an acting career.
2004: Walking Tall Release
In 2004, Johnson worked in the action film Walking Tall.
2005: Supporting Roles in Be Cool and Doom
In 2005, Johnson played a supporting role in the comedy Be Cool and the primary antagonist in the horror film Doom.
2006: Roles in Gridiron Gang and Southland Tales
In 2006, Johnson worked in the sports drama Gridiron Gang and the thriller Southland Tales.
March 12, 2007: WWE Promo
On March 12, 2007, after nearly three years away, The Rock appeared on a WWE show, via a pre-taped promo shown during Raw.
2007: "The Game Plan" Release
In 2007, Dwayne Johnson starred in the family film "The Game Plan."
2007: Roles in Reno 911!: Miami and The Game Plan
In 2007, Johnson appeared in the comedy Reno 911!: Miami and had success with The Game Plan, playing an arrogant football player.
2008: "Get Smart" Release
In 2008, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Get Smart."
October 2, 2009: Decade of SmackDown Appearance
On October 2, 2009, The Rock appeared via a pre-taped promo during the Decade of SmackDown.
2009: "Race to Witch Mountain" Release
In 2009, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Race to Witch Mountain."
2010: "Tooth Fairy" Release
In 2010, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Tooth Fairy."
2010: Roles in Tooth Fairy and The Other Guys
In 2010, Johnson played the title character in the fantasy comedy Tooth Fairy and a police officer in the buddy cop comedy The Other Guys. He also returned to the action genre in Faster.
February 14, 2011: WrestleMania XXVII Host Announcement
On February 14, 2011, The Rock was announced as the host of WrestleMania XXVII and appeared live on Raw for the first time in almost seven years, starting a feud with John Cena.
April 3, 2011: Wrestlemania XXVII Hosting
On April 3, 2011, The Rock hosted Wrestlemania XXVII, appearing live and continuing his feud with John Cena.
2011: Joins Fast & Furious Franchise
In 2011, Dwayne Johnson joined the Fast & Furious franchise with "Fast Five", helping the franchise become one of the highest grossing in film.
2011: Returns to WWE
In 2011, Johnson returned to WWE as a part-time performer.
2011: Fast Five Release
In 2011, Johnson's first big box-office success came with his portrayal of Luke Hobbs in Fast Five.
March 12, 2012: "Rock Concert" Segment
On March 12, 2012, The Rock hosted his first "Rock Concert" segment since 2004, mocking John Cena in his songs.
2012: "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" Release
In 2012, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island."
2012: Seven Bucks Productions Founded
In 2012, Johnson founded his production company Seven Bucks Productions.
2012: Highest Rated Raw Episode of 2012
In 2012, Raw 1000 was the highest rated Raw episode, and The Rock's segment with CM Punk and Daniel Bryan was the highest rated segment of the show.
2012: WrestleMania XXVIII Main Event
In 2012, The Rock main evented WrestleMania XXVIII.
January 7, 2013: The Rock confronts CM Punk
On January 7, 2013, The Rock returned to Raw to confront CM Punk, who was his opponent at the Royal Rumble. This confrontation built anticipation for their upcoming match.
February 17, 2013: The Rock defeats CM Punk at Elimination Chamber
On February 17, 2013, at Elimination Chamber, The Rock defeated CM Punk to retain the WWE Championship, despite a stipulation that he would lose the title if disqualified or counted out. This victory solidified his reign as champion.
2013: "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" Release
In 2013, Dwayne Johnson starred in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation."
2013: Hulk Hogan Interview
In 2013, Hulk Hogan said that he and The Rock changed the style of their match on the fly during Wrestlemania X8 based on the crowd's response.
2013: Part-Time Performer
In 2013, Johnson continued as a part-time performer for WWE.
2013: WrestleMania 29 Main Event
In 2013, The Rock main evented WrestleMania 29.
2013: WWE Championship Win
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.
September 2014: Cast as Black Adam
In September 2014, Johnson was originally cast as Black Adam as the antagonist in a film centered around Shazam.
2014: Hercules Release and Wake Up Call Hosting
In 2014, Johnson starred as the title character in Hercules and hosted the reality series Wake Up Call.
January 25, 2015: The Rock helps Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble
On January 25, 2015, at the Royal Rumble, The Rock assisted his relative Roman Reigns by fending off Big Show and Kane, after Reigns eliminated them from the match. Reigns subsequently won the match, receiving an endorsement from The Rock.
March 29, 2015: The Rock and Ronda Rousey confront Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 31
On March 29, 2015, The Rock appeared at WrestleMania 31 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.
2015: "Ballers" Series Debut
In 2015, Dwayne Johnson produced and starred in the HBO comedy-drama series "Ballers".
2015: "San Andreas" Release
In 2015, Dwayne Johnson starred in "San Andreas."
2015: Furious 7 and San Andreas Release
In 2015, Johnson reprised his role as Luke Hobbs in Furious 7 and starred in the disaster film San Andreas.
April 3, 2016: The Rock sets WrestleMania record with fastest win
On April 3, 2016, The Rock appeared at WrestleMania 32 and announced a record-breaking attendance. He then defeated Erick Rowan in an impromptu match in just six seconds, setting a new record for the fastest win in WrestleMania history.
2016: "Central Intelligence" and "Moana" Releases
In 2016, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Central Intelligence" and voiced Maui in "Moana".
2016: Moana Release
In 2016, Johnson voiced Maui in the animated film Moana.
January 2017: Black Adam film in development
In January 2017, a film centered around Black Adam, a part of the DC Extended Universe, was announced to be in development with Johnson in the lead role.
February 20, 2017: The Rock films scene for "Fighting with My Family"
On February 20, 2017, after a Raw broadcast, The Rock made an untelevised appearance where he filmed a scene promoting his film, "Fighting with My Family".
2017: "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "Baywatch" Releases
In 2017, Dwayne Johnson starred in both "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "Baywatch."
2017: The Fate of the Furious, Baywatch, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Release
In 2017, Johnson reprised his role as Luke Hobbs in The Fate of the Furious and starred in Baywatch and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
September 2018: Hobbs & Shaw Principal Photography
In September 2018, principal photography began for Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, starring Johnson alongside Jason Statham.
October 2018: John Henry & The Statesmen Teaser Trailer Release
In October 2018, the first official teaser trailer was released for John Henry & The Statesmen, marking Kasdan's and Johnson's third collaboration.
2018: "Skyscraper" and "Rampage" Releases
In 2018, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Skyscraper" and "Rampage."
2018: Rampage and Skyscraper Release
In 2018, Johnson starred in the action films Rampage and Skyscraper.
2018: Decline in Fan Support
In 2018, Sean Coyle of ESPN.com noted that The Rock's fan support declined after his victory over Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8, as fans knew he was leaving WWE for acting.
July 26, 2019: Hobbs & Shaw Release
On July 26, 2019, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw was released, starring Johnson and Jason Statham.
August 3, 2019: The Rock announces his retirement from professional wrestling
On August 3, 2019, The Rock officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling, marking the end of his in-ring career.
September 30, 2019: The Rock announces his SmackDown 20th Anniversary appearance
On September 30, 2019, The Rock announced that he would appear on SmackDown's 20th Anniversary, after weeks of speculation.
October 4, 2019: The Rock appears on SmackDown's 20th Anniversary
On October 4, 2019, The Rock appeared on SmackDown's 20th Anniversary, marking his first appearance on SmackDown since October 2014. He cut a promo with Becky Lynch and attacked King Corbin.
November 14, 2019: Black Adam Release Date Announcement
On November 14, 2019, Johnson announced a late 2021 release date for the superhero Black Adam film.
December 13, 2019: Jumanji: The Next Level Release
On December 13, 2019, Jumanji: The Next Level was released, with Johnson reprising his role as Bravestone.
2019: "Jumanji: The Next Level" Release
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Jumanji: The Next Level."
2019: Fighting with My Family Release
In 2019, Johnson produced and appeared as himself in Fighting with My Family.
March 2020: Teremana Tequila Launch
In March 2020, Johnson launched Teremana Tequila, which sold 600,000 nine-litre cases in its first year.
2020: The King Production Halt
In 2020, production for The King was scheduled to begin but was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 16, 2021: Fortnite Appearance as The Foundation
On March 16, 2021, Johnson first appeared as the video game character, The Foundation, in Fortnite Battle Royale.
April 2021: Black Adam Filming Began
In April 2021, production on Black Adam began filming.
July 30, 2021: Jungle Cruise Release
On July 30, 2021, Johnson co-starred with Emily Blunt in Disney's Jungle Cruise.
December 4, 2021: The Foundation Reveal in Fortnite
On December 4, 2021, Johnson's involvement as The Foundation in Fortnite was confirmed during the Chapter 2 End Event.
2021: 25th Anniversary Battle Royal
At the 2021 Survivor Series, WWE held a 25-man Battle Royal to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Rock's WWE debut.
2021: "Young Rock" Series Debut
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson produced and starred in the autobiographical sitcom "Young Rock".
2021: "Jungle Cruise" and "Red Notice" Releases
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Jungle Cruise" and "Red Notice".
October 21, 2022: Black Adam Release
On October 21, 2022, Black Adam was released, receiving mixed reviews and becoming a box office disappointment.
2022: "Black Adam" Release
In 2022, Dwayne Johnson joined the DC Extended Universe by playing the title role in "Black Adam".
May 2023: Fast X Cameo Appearance
In May 2023, Johnson reprised his role as Luke Hobbs in a cameo appearance during the mid-credits scene of Fast X.
September 15, 2023: The Rock returns to SmackDown
On September 15, 2023, The Rock made a surprise return to SmackDown, in a segment with Pat McAfee and Austin Theory, marking his first televised WWE appearance since October 4, 2019.
2023: Returns to WWE (Part-Time)
In 2023, Johnson returned to WWE on a part-time basis.
2023: "Young Rock" Series Concludes
In 2023, the autobiographical sitcom "Young Rock", starring Dwayne Johnson, concluded.
January 1, 2024: The Rock appears on Raw Day 1 and confronts Jinder Mahal
On January 1, 2024, The Rock made his first live appearance on Raw since 2016, interrupting Jinder Mahal and referencing Roman Reigns with the question of sitting at "the head of the table."
November 2024: Red One and Moana 2
In November 2024, Johnson reunited with director Jake Kasdan to star in Red One, and reprised his voice role as Maui in Moana 2.
2024: "Moana 2" Release
In 2024, Dwayne Johnson is set to voice Maui again in "Moana 2".
2024: WrestleMania XL Main Event
In 2024, The Rock main evented WrestleMania XL, making him one of two wrestlers to main event WrestleMania in four different decades.
2024: The Rock joins The Bloodline and debuts "The Final Boss" persona
In 2024, The Rock officially joined Roman Reigns' faction, The Bloodline, debuting a new persona known as "The Final Boss" on the February 16 episode of SmackDown.
January 6, 2025: The Rock returns on Raw
On January 6, 2025, The Rock returned on the Raw premiere on Netflix, thanking Cody Rhodes for his work and embracing Roman Reigns after his victory.
February 2025: Cast in Martin Scorsese film
In February 2025, Johnson was cast in a crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt.
2026: Live Action Moana Role
In 2026, Johnson will portray Maui again in the live action adaptation of Moana.
