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 an American actor and professional wrestler, considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. He rose to fame during the WWF's Attitude Era before transitioning to a highly successful acting career. His films have grossed billions worldwide, establishing him as one of the highest-grossing and highest-paid actors. Beyond entertainment, Johnson is a co-owner of the United Football League, a board member of TKO Group Holdings (UFC/WWE parent company), and co-founder of Seven Bucks Productions.
1991: Miami Hurricanes National Championship
In 1991, Dwayne Johnson was a backup player on the University of Miami football team, which won the national championship that year.
1995: Undrafted by NFL and signing with Calgary Stampeders
In 1995, Dwayne Johnson went undrafted in the NFL draft and briefly signed with the Calgary Stampeders, but was cut in his first season.
1995: Signing with Calgary Stampeders
In 1995, after graduating, Dwayne Johnson was signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League as a linebacker.
November 4, 1996: WWF Debut as Rocky Maivia
On November 4, 1996, Dwayne Johnson made his WWF debut as Rocky Maivia on Monday Night Raw, joining Marc Mero's entourage.
1996: Start of Professional Wrestling Career
In 1996, Dwayne Johnson began his professional wrestling career. Veteran wrestler Pat Patterson secured several tryout matches for Johnson with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)
1996: WWF Contract Secured
In 1996, Dwayne Johnson's father helped him secure a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
February 13, 1997: Intercontinental Championship Win
On February 13, 1997, Rocky Maivia won the Intercontinental Championship from Hunter Hearst Helmsley on a Thursday edition of Monday Night Raw.
1997: Feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Ken Shamrock
Throughout the end of 1997, The Rock feuded with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Ken Shamrock.
January 19, 1998: Intercontinental Championship Retained Against Ken Shamrock
On January 19, 1998, at the Royal Rumble, The Rock defeated Ken Shamrock by disqualification to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
1998: Heel turn and joining Nation of Domination
In 1998, Rocky Maivia turned heel, lashing out at fans and joining Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, and Kama in the stable called the Nation of Domination.
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 defeating Triple H in the quarter-final of the King of the Ring tournament.
1998: Youngest WWE Champion
In 1998, The Rock set the record for the youngest WWE Champion.
1998: Increase in Fan Support and Persona Consolidation
In the latter half of 1998, The Rock saw a big uptick in fan support and started consolidating his famous persona.
January 4, 1999: Mankind Defeats The Rock for the Championship
On January 4, 1999, Mankind defeated The Rock for the championship after interference from Stone Cold Steve Austin during an episode of Raw Is War.
April 29, 1999: SmackDown! Pilot Episode Airs
On April 29, 1999, WWF aired the pilot episode of SmackDown!, a term derived from The Rock's catchphrase. In the episode, The Rock continued his feud with The Corporate Ministry.
1999: Heel Turn
In 1999 The Rock turned Heel due to audience popularity, despite being a heel
1999: That '70s Show Appearance
In 1999, Johnson appeared on That '70s Show as his father Rocky Johnson.
January 23, 2000: Royal Rumble Controversy
On January 23, 2000, at the Royal Rumble, The Rock appeared to win after last eliminating Big Show. However, his feet accidentally hit the floor during the reversal, an event missed by television viewers. This led to a storyline where Big Show claimed the victory.
October 22, 2000: Loss of WWF Championship
On October 22, 2000, The Rock lost the WWF Championship to Kurt Angle at No Mercy.
2000: Publication of The Rock Says...
In 2000, Dwayne Johnson published his autobiography, "The Rock Says...", co-written with Joe Layden, which became a New York Times Best Seller.
2000: Royal Rumble Winner
In 2000, Dwayne Johnson won the Royal Rumble, adding another achievement to his wrestling career.
2000: Musical Collaboration and SNL Hosting
In 2000, The Rock appeared on Wyclef Jean's single "It Doesn't Matter" and hosted Saturday Night Live (SNL) for the first time.
2000: Increase in Fan Support and Persona Consolidation
The Rock consolidated his famous persona until 2000.
February 25, 2001: The Rock Wins WWF Championship
On February 25, 2001, at No Way Out, The Rock pinned Kurt Angle to win the WWF Championship for the sixth time.
November 1, 2001: Loss of the WWF Tag Team Titles
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 "The Mummy Returns"
In 2001, Dwayne Johnson had his first film role in "The Mummy Returns", marking his entry into the acting industry.
2001: Xbox Unveiling and The Mummy Returns Debut
In 2001, The Rock appeared at the official Xbox unveiling and debuted in The Mummy Returns as The Scorpion King.
January 20, 2002: Unsuccessful WWF Championship Challenge
On January 20, 2002, at the 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: Leading Role in The Scorpion King
In 2002, The Rock played his first leading role in The Scorpion King, earning $5.5 million.
January 30, 2003: Return to SmackDown! and Heel Turn
On January 30, 2003, The Rock returned to SmackDown! and turned heel, adopting the "Hollywood Rock" persona.
March 14, 2004: Final Match Until 2011
On March 14, 2004, at WrestleMania XX, The Rock teamed with Mick Foley as the Rock 'n' Sock Connection, losing to Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista, marking Johnson's final wrestling match until November 2011.
2004: Leaving WWE
Dwayne Johnson left the WWE in 2004 to pursue other opportunities.
2006: Foundation of the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation
In 2006, Dwayne Johnson founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, a charity working with at-risk and terminally ill children.
March 12, 2007: Pre-Taped Promo on Raw
On March 12, 2007, The Rock appeared on a WWE show after nearly three years via a pre-taped promo shown during Raw, predicting Bobby Lashley would defeat Umaga at WrestleMania 23.
2007: Donation to the University of Miami
In 2007, Dwayne Johnson and his then-wife, Dany Garcia, donated $1 million to the University of Miami to support the renovation of its football facilities, which led to the Miami Hurricanes' locker room being renamed in his honor.
2007: "The Game Plan" Release
In 2007, Dwayne Johnson starred in the family film "The Game Plan", showcasing his versatility as an actor.
2008: "Get Smart" Release
In 2008, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action comedy film "Get Smart", showcasing his comedic skills.
September 30, 2009: WXW Show Appearance
On September 30, 2009, The Rock appeared at a World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) show to support the professional wrestling debut of Sarona Snuka.
October 2, 2009: Decade of SmackDown Appearance
On October 2, 2009, Johnson made an appearance through 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", further establishing his presence in family-friendly films.
2010: "Tooth Fairy" Release
In 2010, Dwayne Johnson starred in the family film "Tooth Fairy", continuing to expand his acting roles.
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.
April 3, 2011: WrestleMania XXVII Hosting
On April 3, 2011, The Rock hosted WrestleMania XXVII, appearing live and feuding with John Cena.
November 2011: Hiatus Completion
In November 2011, The Rock ended his hiatus from wrestling.
2011: Joining the Fast & Furious Franchise with "Fast Five"
In 2011, Dwayne Johnson joined the Fast & Furious franchise with "Fast Five", contributing to the franchise's success and becoming a significant part of it.
2011: Return to WWE
In 2011, Dwayne Johnson returned to WWE as a part-time performer.
March 12, 2012: Rock Concert on Raw SuperShow
On March 12, 2012, The Rock hosted his first "Rock Concert" segment since 2004 on Raw SuperShow, mocking John Cena in his songs.
2012: "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" Release
In 2012, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action film "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", marking another role in the adventure genre.
January 7, 2013: The Rock confronts CM Punk
On January 7, 2013, The Rock returned to Raw to confront his Royal Rumble opponent, CM Punk.
2013: Part-time Performer
Dwayne Johnson was a part-time performer until 2013
2013: Hosting The Hero
In 2013, Dwayne Johnson hosted and produced the TNT reality competition series "The Hero".
2013: "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" Release
In 2013, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action film "G.I. Joe: Retaliation", adding to his portfolio of action roles.
2013: Hulk Hogan Interview
In 2013, Hulk Hogan revealed in an interview that he and The Rock changed the style of their Wrestlemania X8 match based on the crowd's reaction.
April 2014: WrestleMania XXX Appearance
In April 2014, the Rock appeared in the opening segment of WrestleMania XXX alongside Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan.
September 2014: Dwayne Johnson Cast as Black Adam
In September 2014, Dwayne Johnson was originally cast as the antagonist Black Adam in a film centered around the superhero Billy Batson/Shazam. The role was later reworked into two separate films.
2014: Hosting Wake Up Call
In 2014, Dwayne Johnson hosted another TNT reality series, "Wake Up Call".
2014: "Hercules" Release
In 2014, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action film "Hercules", portraying the legendary hero.
January 25, 2015: Royal Rumble 2015 Appearance
On January 25, 2015, The Rock appeared at the Royal Rumble event, assisting Roman Reigns in fending off Big Show and Kane, after which Reigns won the match.
March 29, 2015: WrestleMania 31 Appearance with Ronda Rousey
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, ultimately prevailing.
2015: "San Andreas" Release
In 2015, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action film "San Andreas", portraying a rescue helicopter pilot during a major earthquake.
2015: Donation for abandoned dog
In 2015, after actress Michelle Trachtenberg tagged Dwayne Johnson in a tweet about an abandoned dog rescued by her local shelter, Johnson donated $1,500 to the GoFundMe for the dog's lifesaving surgery.
January 25, 2016: Raw Appearance with The Usos
On January 25, 2016, The Rock appeared on Raw, engaging in a segment with various WWE personalities before having an altercation with The New Day alongside his relatives, The Usos.
March 2016: Partnership with Under Armour
In March 2016, Dwayne Johnson partnered with Under Armour to release "Project Rock". The first item, a gym bag, sold out quickly, followed by a black T-shirt featuring his signature "Brahma bull" at WrestleMania 32, also selling out. An alarm clock app was also released, receiving over one million downloads in its first week.
April 3, 2016: WrestleMania 32 Appearance and Match
On April 3, 2016, The Rock appeared at WrestleMania 32, announcing a record attendance before defeating Erick Rowan in an impromptu match in six seconds, and was later aided by John Cena against The Wyatt Family.
2016: "Central Intelligence" and "Moana" Release
In 2016, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action comedy film "Central Intelligence" and voiced Maui in the Disney animated film "Moana", highlighting his range as an actor.
2016: Starting his YouTube channel
In 2016, Dwayne Johnson started his YouTube channel, with his first video being "The YouTube Factory", featuring Lilly Singh and other internet stars.
January 2017: Development of Black Adam film announced
In January 2017, a film centered around Teth-Adam/Black Adam, a part of the DC Extended Universe, was announced to be in development with Dwayne Johnson starring.
February 20, 2017: Untelevised Raw Appearance
On February 20, 2017, The Rock made an untelevised appearance on Raw to promote his upcoming film, Fighting with My Family.
2017: Donation to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts
In 2017, Dwayne Johnson donated $25,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
2017: "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "Baywatch" Release
In 2017, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "Baywatch", showcasing his versatility in both action and comedy genres.
2018: Donation of gym to military base
In 2018, Dwayne Johnson donated a gym to a military base in Oahu, Hawaii.
2018: "Skyscraper" and "Rampage" Release
In 2018, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action films "Skyscraper" and "Rampage", continuing his success in the action genre.
2018: Sean Coyle Retrospective Review
In 2018, Sean Coyle wrote a retrospective review for ESPN.com noting that The Rock experienced a decline in fan support after his victory over Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8 and a further plunge by the time of his SummerSlam match with Brock Lesnar due to his impending departure for an acting career.
August 3, 2019: Retirement from Professional Wrestling
On August 3, 2019, the Rock officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling.
September 30, 2019: SmackDown Appearance Announcement
On September 30, 2019, after weeks of speculation, The Rock announced he would appear on SmackDown's 20th Anniversary.
October 4, 2019: SmackDown 20th Anniversary Appearance
On October 4, 2019, The Rock appeared on SmackDown's 20th Anniversary, cutting a promo with Becky Lynch and attacking King Corbin.
2019: Announcement of Athleticon bodybuilding show
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson announced the launch of a competitive bodybuilding show, "Athleticon", with Dany Garcia, intended to rival The Arnold Classic and Joe Weider's Mr. Olympia.
2019: Hosting The Titan Games
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson began hosting the NBC competition series "The Titan Games".
2019: Ballers Ended
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson ended his role in the HBO comedy-drama series "Ballers".
2019: Production and Appearance in Fighting with My Family
In 2019, Dwayne 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.
2019: Retirement from WWE
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson retired from WWE, marking the end of a significant chapter in his wrestling career.
2019: "Jumanji: The Next Level" Release
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Jumanji: The Next Level", continuing his role in the Jumanji franchise.
February 2020: Daughter Simone starts training at WWE Performance Center
In February 2020, WWE announced that Dwayne Johnson's daughter Simone had started training at the WWE Performance Center, making her the first fourth-generation WWE wrestler.
March 2020: Launch of Teremana Tequila
In March 2020, Dwayne Johnson launched Teremana Tequila, which sold 600,000 nine-litre cases in its first year and is valued at approximately $3.5 billion.
August 2020: Purchase of XFL
In August 2020, Dwayne Johnson, along with partners and investors, purchased the XFL for $15 million.
October 2020: Disruption of Athleticon's debut
In October 2020, plans to debut "Athleticon" in Atlanta, Georgia, were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Halt of The King production
In 2020, the production of "The King", a film starring and co-produced by Johnson about King Kamehameha, was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: "Jungle Cruise" and "Red Notice" Release
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Jungle Cruise" and "Red Notice", adding to his filmography in adventure and action comedy genres.
2021: Starring in Young Rock
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson starred in the autobiographical sitcom "Young Rock".
2021: Featured on Tech N9ne's "Face Off"
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson was featured on the song "Face Off" from the rapper Tech N9ne's album Asin9ne.
2021: Young Rock series airing
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson's biographical comedy-drama series "Young Rock" began airing on NBC.
May 2022: Simone Johnson ring name Ava Raine
In May 2022, Dwayne Johnson announced his daughter Simone had signed a contract with WWE, and announced that her ring name would be Ava Raine. She has since been appearing on the NXT brand.
2022: Joining the DC Extended Universe as Black Adam
In 2022, Dwayne Johnson joined the DC Extended Universe by playing the title role in "Black Adam", expanding his presence in superhero films.
September 15, 2023: Return to SmackDown
On September 15, 2023, the Rock made a surprise return to SmackDown, in a segment with Pat McAfee and Austin Theory.
2023: Young Rock Ended
In 2023, Dwayne Johnson ended his role in the autobiographical sitcom "Young Rock".
2023: SAG-AFTRA Foundation donation and launch of People's Fund of Maui
In 2023, Dwayne Johnson made a seven-figure donation to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation during the SAG-AFTRA strike. He also announced the creation of the People's Fund of Maui with Oprah Winfrey in response to the Hawaii wildfires, donating $5 million each. He apologized in October for backlash received.
2023: Return on a part-time basis
In 2023, Dwayne Johnson returned once again on a part-time basis
December 31, 2023: Announcement of United Football League (UFL)
On December 31, 2023, it was announced that the merged XFL and United States Football League would be called the United Football League (UFL).
January 1, 2024: Raw Day 1 Appearance
On January 1, 2024, The Rock appeared on the Day 1 edition of Raw, interrupting Jinder Mahal and referencing Roman Reigns.
January 23, 2024: Joins TKO Group Holdings board of directors
On January 23, 2024, Dwayne Johnson joined the TKO Group Holdings board of directors and obtained full ownership of his trademarked name "The Rock", which was owned by WWE. He also signed a services and merchandising agreement with WWE.
March 30, 2024: Start date of United Football League (UFL)
On March 30, 2024, the United Football League (UFL) with 8 teams is set to begin.
2024: Moana 2
Dwayne Johnson's daughters Jasmine and Tiana provided voices for his 2024 film Moana 2.
2024: Upcoming Release of Moana 2
In 2024, Dwayne Johnson is set to reprise his role as the voice of Maui in the upcoming sequel, "Moana 2".
2024: Joining The Bloodline
In 2024, The Rock joined Reigns' faction The Bloodline; he also debuted a new persona that incorporated facets of his arrogant "Hollywood Rock" incarnation from 2003.
January 6, 2025: Raw premiere on Netflix
On January 6, 2025, The Rock returned on the Raw premiere on Netflix, thanking Cody Rhodes and embracing Roman Reigns.
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