WWE legend The Rock will be a part of WrestleMania 32 on Sunday in Dallas, and though it’s a mystery what The Rock will actually be doing during the show, he’s promised to electrify what is expected to be a crowd of more than 100,000.
The Rock is one of the most popular characters in the history of the wrestling business, but he wasn’t always a huge hit with the fans. In a lengthy post on Instagram post on Wednesday, The Rock recalled the time he bombed at WrestleMania 13.
Then wrestling as Rocky Maivia, he faced The Sultan (who would later become Rikishi) in an Intercontinental title match. Rocky rolled up The Sultan to retain his title but was assaulted after the match by his opponent and the Iron Sheik.
‘EVERY NIGHT HE DAMN NEAR KILLED HIMSELF’
Rocky Johnson (The Rock’s father) ran into the ring to save his son, but the crowd in Rosemont, Illinois, was unmoved, though you couldn’t exactly tell on the broadcast as the camera cut to a backstage segment immediately after the match.
1997, I was 25yrs old, the youngest Intercontinental Champion in WWE history and performing in #WrestleMania13. It would become one of the most defining moments of my life. Not because it was my first WrestleMania I had the privilege to be a part of, but because I was boo'd out of the building. Literally boo's from 20,000 people that screamed "Get the f*ck outta here". And when you're supposed to be a good guy or "babyface" in wrestling speak - getting boo'd is the worst thing that can ever happen. They boo'd me because I wasn't being real. I was told by the company how to act, how to respond to fans and the worst part of all.. I was told what to say and what not to say. Not long after this match, I lost the title and was eventually sent home for months to recuperate from an injury - it didn't really matter anyway because I wasn't drawing the company any money nor did the fans care I was gone. A week before I was scheduled to return to the WWE, I got a call from Vince who said "How do feel about turning heel?" (which means becoming a bad guy). I said "Great, but I have one request... give me 2 minutes on the microphone on live TV and let me be myself. Be real and authentic. I gotta be me". Vince said "You got it". The following week I cut a promo that was from the heart. Real and authentic. 6 months later I was the hottest heel in the company. Even though I hated being boo'd out of the building at WrestleMania13, I learned one of the greatest life lessons that still serves me today. Be real. Be authentic. Be me. Truly my honor to perform this Sunday at #WrestleMania32 for the WWE Universe.. as me. #TheRock #DwayneJohnson #BigBrownBaldTattooedPuppyLover #SlightlyElectrifyingAndOneHandsomeSumbitch
No comments:
Post a Comment