Former WWE star, Hall of Fame awardee, and father to Hollywood star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Rocky Johnson has died at the age of 75-years. His cause of death is currently unknown.
Johnson, born Wayde Douglas Bowles, began his career in the 1960s and after a stint in the World Wide Wrestling Federation became a top contender in the National Wrestling Alliance. He married into the famed Anoa’i family after he wed “High Chief” Peter Maivia’s daughter Ata Maivia.
He was the father of former multi-time WWE world champion and current Hollywood mega star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. There, he won numerous regional championships and tag-team championships.
According to statement on the WWE website read:
“WWE is saddened to learn that Rocky ‘Soul Man’ Johnson, a WWE Hall of Famer, former World Tag Team Champion, and father of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, has passed away at age 75.”
“In 2008, Johnson achieved the highest honor in sports-entertainment when he was inducted by The Rock into the WWE Hall of Fame where he will be forever enshrined as one of sports-entertainment’s most influential performers. WWE extends its condolences to Johnson’s family, friends and fans.”
After retiring in 1991, Johnson trained his son Dwayne to wrestle.