Lasting Legacy of Dwayne Johnson: A Look at the Influence on History
A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Dwayne Johnson across different fields.
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.
1982: Grandmother Takes Over Promotion
In 1982, Johnson's maternal grandmother Lia took over Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling after her husband's death.
1983: Father's Tag Team Championship
In 1983, Dwayne Johnson's father and Tony Atlas became the first black tag team champions in WWE history.
1988: Grandmother Manages Promotion Until This Year
Dwayne Johnson's maternal grandmother Lia managed Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling until 1988.
1999: The Rock is listed No. 1 on Entertainment Weekly's Top 12 Entertainers of the Year
In 1999, The Rock was listed No. 1 on Entertainment Weekly's Top 12 Entertainers of the Year, highlighting his rising stardom.
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.
2000: The Rock ranked No. 1 by Access Hollywood and listed in Forbes and People Magazine
In 2000, Access Hollywood ranked The Rock No. 1 in their Top 10 Celebrities list, and he was also featured in the Forbes Celebrity 100 and People Magazine's 25 Most Intriguing People, signifying his mainstream popularity.
2001: The Rock listed on Entertainment Weekly's 101 Most Influential People and E!'s 20 Top Entertainers
In 2001, The Rock was listed on Entertainment Weekly's 101 Most Influential People and E!'s 20 Top Entertainers, affirming his significant impact on entertainment.
2002: The Rock listed on E!'s 25 Toughest Stars
In 2002, The Rock was listed on E!'s 25 Toughest Stars, recognizing his tough persona and enduring appeal.
2003: The Rock listed in VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons and People Magazine's 50 Favorite TV Stars
In 2003, The Rock was listed in VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons and ranked No. 7 in People Magazine's 50 Favorite TV Stars, solidifying his status as a pop culture icon.
2007: "Smackdown" Added to Dictionaries
In 2007, the term "smackdown", popularized by The Rock, was included in Merriam-Webster dictionaries.
March 29, 2008: WWE Hall of Fame Induction
On March 29, 2008, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson inducted his father Rocky Johnson and grandfather Peter Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame.
2008: WWE Hall of Fame Induction
In 2008, Dwayne Johnson inducted his father and grandfather into the WWE Hall of Fame.
2016: Time's Most Influential People List
In 2016, Time named Dwayne Johnson as one of the world's most influential people.
2019: Time's Most Influential People List
In 2019, Time named Dwayne Johnson as one of the world's most influential people.
October 2024: The Rock has the sixth most-followed Instagram account
As of October 2024, The Rock's Instagram account is the sixth most-followed in the world, with over 395 million followers, reflecting his global popularity and influence on social media.
