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, professional wrestler, and businessman. He gained fame as a wrestler in the WWE during the Attitude Era and is considered one of the greatest of all time. Transitioning to acting, Johnson became one of the highest-grossing actors, with his films earning over $11.4 billion globally. Beyond entertainment, he is a co-owner of the United Football League, a board member of TKO Group Holdings (UFC and WWE parent company), and co-founder of Seven Bucks Productions, demonstrating his entrepreneurial ventures.
1991: Miami Hurricanes National Championship Team
In 1991, Dwayne Johnson was a member of the Miami Hurricanes team that won the national championship.
1991: National Championship Team Member
In 1991, Dwayne Johnson was a member of the University of Miami's national championship football team as a backup player.
1995: Undrafted and Signed with Calgary Stampeders
In 1995, Dwayne Johnson went undrafted in the NFL draft. He signed with the Calgary Stampeders but was cut during his first season.
1995: Signed by Calgary Stampeders
In 1995, after graduating, Dwayne Johnson was signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League as a linebacker but was cut two months into the season.
November 4, 1996: WWF Debut
On November 4, 1996, Dwayne Johnson made his WWF debut on Monday Night Raw as Rocky Maivia, a combination of his father and grandfather's ring names, joining Marc Mero's entourage.
1996: WWF Contract Secured
In 1996, Dwayne Johnson's father helped him secure a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
1996: Start of Professional Wrestling Career
In 1996, after being cut by Calgary, Dwayne Johnson began his professional wrestling career with tryout matches for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), wrestling under his real name. He then wrestled in the United States Wrestling Association as Flex Kavana, winning the USWA tag team championship twice. Later in 1996, he signed a WWF contract.
February 13, 1997: Intercontinental Championship Win
On February 13, 1997, Rocky Maivia won the Intercontinental Championship from Hunter Hearst Helmsley on Monday Night Raw.
1997: Feud with Steve Austin and Ken Shamrock
Through the end of 1997, The Rock feuded with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Ken Shamrock.
January 19, 1998: Retained Intercontinental Championship Against 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 the Nation of Domination
In August 1998, Rocky Maivia turned heel by lashing out at fans and joining Faarooq, D'Lo Brown, and Kama in the stable called the Nation of Domination. He then referred to himself as The Rock.
1998: Increased 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 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
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.
January 23, 2000: Royal Rumble Match Controversy
On January 23, 2000, at the Royal Rumble, The Rock seemingly won the Royal Rumble match. However, his feet accidentally hit the floor during a reversal attempt against Big Show, leading to a storyline where Big Show disputed the win. The Rock was one of the final two remaining wrestlers, along with Big Show.
October 22, 2000: Loses WWF Championship
On October 22, 2000, The Rock lost the WWF Championship to Kurt Angle at No Mercy.
2000: Publication of Autobiography The Rock Says...
In 2000, Dwayne Johnson published his autobiography, The Rock Says..., co-written with Joe Layden, which became a No. 1 New York Times Best Seller.
2000: The Rock Says Released
In 2000, Dwayne Johnson's autobiography, "The Rock Says", was released and became a New York Times bestseller.
2000: Speaking Role at Republican and Democratic National Conventions
In 2000, as part of WWE's "Smackdown Your Vote" campaign, Dwayne Johnson had a speaking role at the 2000 Republican National Convention and attended the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
2000: Consolidated Famous Persona
The Rock consolidated his famous persona until 2000.
February 25, 2001: Wins WWF Championship
On February 25, 2001, The Rock defeated Kurt Angle at No Way Out, pinning him to win the WWF Championship for the sixth time.
November 1, 2001: Loses WWF Tag Team Championship
On November 1, 2001, The Rock and Chris Jericho lost the tag titles to Booker T and Test on an episode of SmackDown!.
2001: First film role in "The Mummy Returns"
In 2001, Dwayne Johnson had his first film role in "The Mummy Returns".
January 20, 2002: Unsuccessful Challenge for Undisputed WWF Championship
On January 20, 2002, at the Royal Rumble, The Rock unsuccessfully challenged Chris Jericho for the now Undisputed WWF Championship.
March 25, 2002: Drafted to SmackDown!
On March 25, 2002, during the WWF's "draft lottery" episode of Raw after the introduction of the brand extension, The Rock was the number one overall pick and went to the SmackDown! brand before taking a sabbatical from wrestling.
January 30, 2003: Return on SmackDown!
On January 30, 2003, The Rock returned on an episode of SmackDown! to set up another match with Hulk Hogan. He also turned heel, adopting a new persona known as "Hollywood Rock", with a new look and a shaved head.
March 14, 2004: Final Wrestling Match
On March 14, 2004, at WrestleMania XX, The Rock and Mick Foley lost a handicap match against Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista, marking Johnson's final wrestling match until November 2011.
2004: Departure from WWE
In 2004, Dwayne Johnson left the WWE to pursue an acting career.
2006: Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation Founded
In 2006, Dwayne Johnson founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, a charity focused on assisting at-risk and terminally ill children.
March 12, 2007: WWE Show Appearance
On March 12, 2007, The Rock appeared on a WWE show after nearly three years via a pre-taped promo during Raw. He predicted Bobby Lashley would defeat Umaga at WrestleMania 23.
2007: Donation to 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. Consequently, the university renamed the Miami Hurricanes' locker room in his honor.
2007: Starred in "The Game Plan"
In 2007, Dwayne Johnson starred in the family film "The Game Plan".
2008: Starred in "Get Smart"
In 2008, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action comedy film "Get Smart".
October 2, 2009: Decade of SmackDown Appearance
On October 2, 2009, The Rock made a pre-taped promo appearance during the Decade of SmackDown.
2009: Starred in "Race to Witch Mountain"
In 2009, Dwayne Johnson starred in the film "Race to Witch Mountain".
2010: Starred in "Tooth Fairy"
In 2010, Dwayne Johnson starred in the family film "Tooth Fairy".
February 14, 2011: WrestleMania XXVII Host Announcement
On February 14, 2011, it was announced that The Rock would host WrestleMania XXVII, and he appeared live on Raw, starting a feud with John Cena.
April 3, 2011: WrestleMania XXVII Hosting
On April 3, 2011, The Rock hosted WrestleMania XXVII.
2011: Return to WWE as Part-Time Performer
In 2011, Dwayne Johnson returned to WWE as a part-time performer.
2011: Starred in "Fast Five"
In 2011, Dwayne Johnson's role as Luke Hobbs in "Fast Five" helped the "Fast & Furious" franchise become one of the highest-grossing in film.
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: Founding of Seven Bucks Productions
In 2012, Dwayne Johnson founded his production company, Seven Bucks Productions.
2012: Starred in "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island"
In 2012, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action film "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island".
2013: Part-Time WWE Performer
In 2013, Dwayne Johnson continued as a part-time WWE performer, after returning in 2011.
2013: Hosting and Producing The Hero
In 2013, Dwayne Johnson hosted and produced the TNT reality competition series The Hero.
2013: Starred in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation"
In 2013, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action film "G.I. Joe: Retaliation".
2013: Hogan Interview
In 2013, Hulk Hogan revealed in an interview that he and The Rock altered the style of their WrestleMania X8 match based on the crowd's reaction during the event.
September 2014: Johnson Cast as Black Adam
In September 2014, Dwayne Johnson was initially cast as the antagonist Black Adam in a film centered around the superhero Billy Batson/Shazam.
2014: Hosting Wake Up Call
In 2014, Dwayne Johnson hosted another TNT reality series, Wake Up Call.
2014: Starred in "Hercules"
In 2014, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action film "Hercules".
2015: Produced and Starred in "Ballers"
In 2015, Dwayne Johnson produced and starred in the HBO comedy-drama series "Ballers".
2015: Starred in "San Andreas"
In 2015, Dwayne Johnson starred in the action film "San Andreas".
2015: Donation to Dog's Surgery
In 2015, after actress Michelle Trachtenberg tagged Dwayne Johnson in a tweet about an abandoned dog named after him, Johnson donated $1,500 to the GoFundMe campaign for the dog's surgery.
March 2016: Partnership with Under Armour and Launch of 'Project Rock'
In March 2016, Dwayne Johnson partnered with Under Armour to release "Project Rock". The first item, a gym bag, sold out quickly. A black T-shirt sporting his "Brahma bull" also sold out after being worn at WrestleMania 32. He also released an alarm clock app that received over one million downloads in its first week.
2016: Starred in "Central Intelligence" and Voiced Maui in "Moana"
In 2016, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Central Intelligence" and voiced Maui in the Disney animated film "Moana".
2016: Starting a YouTube Channel
In 2016, Dwayne Johnson started his YouTube channel and released his first video, The YouTube Factory, featuring Lilly Singh and other internet stars.
January 2017: Development Announced for Black Adam Film
In January 2017, a film centered around Teth-Adam/Black Adam, part of the DC Extended Universe, was announced to be in development.
2017: Donation to Hurricane Harvey Relief
In 2017, Dwayne Johnson donated $25,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts to support those affected by the natural disaster.
2017: Starred in "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "Baywatch"
In 2017, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "Baywatch".
September 2018: Principal Photography Begins for Hobbs & Shaw
In September 2018, principal photography began for Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.
October 2018: Release of First Official Teaser Trailer for John Henry & The Statesmen
In October 2018, the first official teaser trailer was released for the Netflix exclusive film John Henry & The Statesmen, marking Jake Kasdan's and Dwayne Johnson's third collaboration after Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level.
2018: Gym Donation to Military Base
In 2018, Dwayne Johnson donated a gym to a military base located in Oahu, Hawaii, to support the fitness and well-being of the service members.
2018: Starred in "Skyscraper" and "Rampage"
In 2018, Dwayne Johnson starred in the films "Skyscraper" and "Rampage".
2018: Fan Support Dip
In 2018, Sean Coyle noted that 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.
July 26, 2019: Release of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
On July 26, 2019, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, was released. David Leitch directed the movie, which was written by Chris Morgan and Drew Pearce.
November 14, 2019: Announcement of Black Adam Release Date
On November 14, 2019, Dwayne Johnson announced a late 2021 release date for the superhero film Black Adam.
December 13, 2019: Release of Jumanji: The Next Level
On December 13, 2019, Dwayne Johnson reprised his role as Bravestone in Jumanji: The Next Level, which was released after the success of Welcome to the Jungle. Production began in early 2019.
2019: Announcement of Athleticon
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson announced he would launch a competitive bodybuilding show, "Athleticon", with Dany Garcia, to rival shows like The Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia.
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.
2019: WWE Retirement
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson retired from WWE, after sporadic appearances over the years.
2019: Starred in "Jumanji: The Next Level"
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Jumanji: The Next Level".
2019: Hosting The Titan Games
In 2019, Dwayne Johnson started hosting the NBC competition series The Titan Games.
February 2020: Daughter's WWE Training
In February 2020, WWE announced that Dwayne Johnson's daughter, Simone, began training at the WWE Performance Center, marking her as 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 the XFL
In August 2020, Dwayne Johnson, along with several partners and investors, purchased the XFL for $15 million.
October 2020: Postponement of Athleticon Due to COVID-19
In October 2020, plans for the debut of Dwayne Johnson's bodybuilding show, Athleticon, in Atlanta, Georgia, were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: The King Production Halted by COVID-19
In 2020, production for The King, a film starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by Robert Zemeckis, was scheduled to begin but was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2021: Production Begins on Black Adam
In April 2021, production began on the film Black Adam, starring Dwayne Johnson.
July 30, 2021: Release of Disney's Jungle Cruise
On July 30, 2021, Disney's Jungle Cruise, co-starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, was released. The movie is based on the Disney theme-park ride of the same name.
December 4, 2021: Confirmation as The Foundation in Fortnite
On December 4, 2021, Dwayne Johnson's involvement as The Foundation in Fortnite was confirmed during the Chapter 2 End Event, revealing that the character shared his voice and likeness.
2021: People's Choice Award Dedication
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson dedicated his People's Choice Award to an Armenian cancer survivor.
2021: Produced and Starred in "Young Rock"
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson produced and starred in the autobiographical sitcom "Young Rock".
2021: Starred in "Jungle Cruise" and "Red Notice"
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson starred in "Jungle Cruise" and "Red Notice".
2021: Featured on Tech N9ne's Song "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 Airs on NBC
In 2021, Dwayne Johnson's biographical comedy-drama series Young Rock began airing on NBC.
May 2022: Ring Name Announcement
In May 2022, Dwayne Johnson announced that his daughter Simone's ring name would be Ava Raine.
October 21, 2022: Release of Black Adam
On October 21, 2022, Black Adam was released, starring Dwayne Johnson, who also produced and promoted the film. The film received mixed reviews and was a box office disappointment.
2022: Starred in "Black Adam"
In 2022, Dwayne Johnson joined the DC Extended Universe by playing the title role in "Black Adam".
2022: Delay in XFL Relaunch
In 2022, while Johnson had announced plans for the relaunch of the league in Spring, the launch of the XFL was delayed by a year.
May 2023: Cameo Appearance in Fast X
In May 2023, Dwayne Johnson reprised his role as Luke Hobbs in a cameo appearance during the mid-credits scene of Fast X.
2023: Donations and Controversy
In 2023, Dwayne Johnson made a seven-figure donation to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation during the strike. Later, Johnson and Oprah Winfrey created the People's Fund of Maui after the Hawaii wildfires, each donating $5 million. This led to backlash due to their wealth, and Johnson apologized in October 2023.
2023: Return to WWE on a Part-Time Basis
In 2023, Dwayne Johnson returned to WWE once again on a part-time basis.
2023: Young Rock Ended
In 2023, the autobiographical sitcom "Young Rock" ended.
December 31, 2023: Announcement of the United Football League (UFL)
On December 31, 2023, the XFL and United States Football League announced their intent to merge into a single league, which would be called the United Football League (UFL).
January 23, 2024: Joining the TKO Group Holdings Board and Ownership of 'The Rock' Trademark
On January 23, 2024, Dwayne Johnson joined the TKO Group Holdings board of directors, obtaining full ownership over his trademarked name "The Rock" from WWE and signing a new services and merchandising agreement with WWE.
March 30, 2024: Start of United Football League
The United Football League launched on March 30, 2024 with 8 teams.
November 2024: Starring in Red One and Reprising Role in Moana 2
In November 2024, Dwayne Johnson reunited with Jake Kasdan to star in Red One, which became one of the top streamed movies of 2024 on Amazon Prime. In the same month, he reprised his voice role as Maui in Moana 2, which opened strongly and set several box office records, eventually becoming the third highest-grossing film of 2024.
2024: Voicing Maui in "Moana 2"
In 2024, Dwayne Johnson is set to voice Maui in the Disney animated film "Moana 2".
February 2025: Cast in Crime Drama Directed by Martin Scorsese
In February 2025, Dwayne Johnson was cast in a crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt.
May 2025: Starring in Breakthrough by Darren Aronofsky
In May 2025, it was announced that Dwayne Johnson would star in a new feature from Darren Aronofsky called Breakthrough.
September 1, 2025: Premiere of The Smashing Machine at Venice International Film Festival
On September 1, 2025, The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr, premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The film received a standing ovation and a Golden Lion award nomination.
October 3, 2025: Wide Release of The Smashing Machine
On October 3, 2025, The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson, had its wide release, but it was met with a poor theatrical response, becoming Johnson's lowest grossing opening ever.
December 2025: Starring in a film about movies being directed by J.J. Abrams
In December 2025, it was announced that Dwayne Johnson would star in a film about movies being directed by J.J. Abrams.
2025: Starred in "The Smashing Machine"
In 2025, Dwayne Johnson received critical praise for his dramatic turn as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the sports biopic "The Smashing Machine".
2026: Portrayal of Maui in Live-Action Moana
In 2026, Dwayne Johnson will portray Maui again in the live action adaptation of Moana.
2026: Reprising Role in Moana Live-Action Remake
In 2026, Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role as Maui in the live-action remake of "Moana".
2026: Reprising Role as The Foundation
In 2026, Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role as The Foundation in Fortnite.
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