The Unknown Things About Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Private Life

It's hard not to know who Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is. One of the biggest names to come out of WWE, he's also proved his worth in Hollywood by attracting tons of fame as an actor. However, just because most people know of him, that doesn't mean they're familiar with everything about him.

There are plenty of surprising facts about The Rock that even some of his biggest fans weren't necessarily aware of. From his troubled teenage years to his wrestling lineage to the massive role he almost landed, there is plenty to know about Dwayne Johnson.

Dwayne Johnson moved to different homes frequently during his younger years

There can be benefits to moving around a lot during your life. However, when you're a child, it can often cause a ton of instability, which may well affect your development. The Rock understands what that's like, having lived in many different places during his younger years. After being born in California, he moved to New Zealand.

He was there long enough to start attending elementary school. However, before Johnson was finished with this, his family packed up their lives and moved to Connecticut. In the following years, they apparently also lived in Hawaii, Nashville, and Pennsylvania, the latter being where Dwayne graduated from high school. Moving all the time must have been hectic for the wrestler.

The Rock used to struggle with his appearance, largely thanks to acne

Dwayne Johnson's appearance isn't something that we imagine he feels too self-conscious about nowadays. The man dedicates so much time to working out that his muscles have won him a ton of adoration. However, one of the surprising facts about The Rock is that he hasn't always been confident about the way that he looks.

It seems that when he was a teenager, Johnson struggled with acne like plenty of other people that age. He reportedly blames that on the doughnuts and cookies he ate after school every day. Combined with his "curly half-afro" and his penchant for apparently being a bit nerdy, he didn't have the confidence in himself that he does now.

He once saved his mother's life after she walked into oncoming traffic

Thanks to his hulking physique, The Rock is the kind of guy you can easily see being the hero in movies. However, it's not just on the big screen that the man is capable of this. Apparently, Johnson demonstrated real life heroics as a teenager after he saved his mother's life. She was very nearly run down by oncoming traffic.

Unfortunately, it was reportedly no accident that she found herself in such danger. The woman tried to take her life, and it was only because of her son that she didn't pass away. It seems she was struggling with her mental health after she lost her apartment. Thankfully, she's in a better place now and doesn't even remember this.

Johnson allegedly had the physique of an adult by the time he started high school

Although The Rock might not have had the most confidence in his appearance when he was younger, that doesn't mean his physique wasn't as impressive as it is today. It seems that his muscles aren't something that came with adulthood, as he was already rocking an impressive figure while in high school. It potentially made him quite daunting to others.

It probably didn't help that it wasn't just his muscles that seemed big for his age. Johnson also had the height of someone who'd already graduated from high school. He was apparently 6 foot 4 inches as a freshman, meaning he'd almost completely reached his full height by his early teenage years. You don't see that every day.

Dwayne's high school peers apparently thought he was an undercover cop

This accelerated physique in high school is what led to one of the most surprising facts about Dwayne Johnson. It seems that his classmates were suspicious that someone of his size and bulk was apparently the same age as the rest of them. So much so that they actually believed he was an undercover cop pretending to be a student.

It probably didn't help that moving around so often meant that none of his high school peers had grown up with him. Unfortunately, thanks to this suspicion, plenty of people kept their distance from the budding wrestler. Dwayne confirmed on his social media account that he had a hard time attracting female attention because of the assumptions about him.

Dwayne Johnson repeatedly got in trouble with the police during his teenage years

Most people have moments in life that they're not particularly proud of, and it seems that includes Dwayne Johnson. Another of The Rock's most surprising facts is that he was actually quite a troublesome teenager, repeatedly getting on the wrong side of the law. During his mid-teen years, he was apparently arrested several times for a number of reasons.

The actor told Muscle & Fitness that some of the bad things he did included fighting, fraud, and even being involved in a theft ring. For a moment, it looked as though The Rock was going to go down a path that would lead to a future in jail rather than the one he has now. Thankfully, Johnson sorted himself out.

His parents and football were influential in him giving up the bad behavior

There are apparently several reasons that Dwayne Johnson is now a successful actor and not a convict. One of them is his parents. When he was 15, The Rock apparently realized the stress and trouble that he was bringing to his parents' door. Not wishing to bring them more grief, he started to clean up his act.

Something else that reportedly proved useful was his interest in football. He was recruited by the coach at Freedom High School to play defensive tackle for the team. The more time Johnson spent on the field, the more his thought process apparently started to change. He began to think of goals for his future that would turn his life around.

The Rock was also involved in track and field and wrestling during his high school days

It seems that The Rock was very active on his high school's sports teams, which makes a lot of sense. You don't get a body like Dwayne Johnson's unless you're passionate about being physically active. Along with playing football, the man also reportedly competed in his school's track and field and wrestling teams during his teenage years.

In all of these sports, he apparently competed in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, which is one of the best in the nation. The wrestling program, in particular, has been highlighted as one of the best in the United States for decades. This meant that Johnson got to take on some incredibly accomplished high school wrestlers through this conference.

He was initially more passionate about football than wrestling

It might seem pretty easy to connect the dots between The Rock wrestling against some of the greatest high school stars and becoming a big name in the WWE. However, when he graduated, it wasn't wrestling that he was looking to build a career in. Instead, Johnson was more passionate about becoming a football player, which he sort of managed.

After just two years of playing at high school, he impressed recruits enough that he was considered one of the nation's best defensive tackles. This apparently earned him a full athletic scholarship with the University of Miami, whose football program is reportedly one of the greatest in the US. Four years later, Johnson was signed to the Calgary Stampeders.

Dwayne's teammates have a nickname for The Rock inspired by his mom

We know that Dwayne Johnson is accustomed to nicknames. After all, more people probably call him The Rock than his real name. While this might be his most famous nickname, it's not the only thing he's been called over the years. Apparently, his college football teammates have a name of their own for Johnson that they still call him today.

Their nickname for him is Dewey, and it's reportedly Dwayne's mom that's to blame for this. When the actor's parents visited him at college, she called him that in front of his teammates. She probably had no idea that in doing this, she'd just landed her son with a nickname for life. Oh well, it could have been worse.

At one point, The Rock was considering working for the FBI or CIA

There was potentially a time in Dwayne Johnson's life when he thought that getting a degree wasn't for him. However, after turning things around during his teenage years, he began applying himself and eventually finished college with an achievement to be proud of. He ultimately graduated with a degree in general studies and a dual major in criminology and physiology.

The criminology aspect might seem surprising, given Johnson's passion for sports. However, it appears that for a little while, he was interested in working for either the FBI or the CIA. His life would probably be pretty different now if he'd followed through with this. However, Johnson ultimately changed career paths when he realized he'd probably need a law degree.

Johnson was dropped from the Calgary Stampeders within months of being signed

After graduating from college, it seemed as though a career in football was what lay ahead of The Rock. So, how did he go from an aspiring football superstar to the WWE? Apparently, the man got cut from the Calgary Stampeders within a few months of being signed. Why did the team suddenly change their mind about him?

It's possible the issue lay with Johnson being moved to a different position when he joined the Stampeders. Despite being known as a defensive tackle, he was apparently made a linebacker on the team. It also might have been related to an injury he reportedly picked up in college. Regardless, his hopes of playing football promptly went out the window.

His mental health took a bad turn after being dropped, but he soon recovered

Being dropped like that hit The Rock hard. At the time, he apparently only had $7 in his wallet. Seeing no other option, he was forced to move to Florida and start living with his parents again. That's not what many 22-year-olds want when just months earlier, they had their whole career ahead of them.

Dwayne's mental health reportedly took a bad turn after this, with the actor spending weeks on the couch watching TV and feeling depressed. Fortunately, he was able to pull himself out of the rut soon enough. He realized it wasn't too late to follow a new dream, which was reportedly when Johnson began training to become a professional wrestler.

Dwayne had several wrestling names before settling on The Rock

A year after being dropped, Johnson began his wrestling career, and the rest is seemingly history. He gradually became one of the biggest names in the sport, something which helped him to find success in other ventures. Did you know, though, that he wasn't actually called The Rock when he started as a professional wrestler?

It seems that Johnson actually had a few names before he settled on The Rock, none of which stuck the way that this one did. When he performed in the United States Wrestling Alliance, he went by the moniker Flex Kavana. Later, Johnson had the title Rocky Maivia, which was a reference to his father and grandfather.

Fans initially didn't warm to Johnson as a professional wrestler

One of the most surprising facts about The Rock is that he didn't get off to the best start as a professional wrestler. While he might have had the physique for the job, the fans didn't warm to him the way they do now. It's possible that his attire might have been to blame, with fans reportedly finding it goofy.

People were apparently so unimpressed by The Rock that they booed him in the audience. Even though he was the babyface in the ring, the fans weren't on his side. That wasn't ideal, and there was a possibility that he'd soon have to find yet another career path to go down. Thankfully, he soon turned the tide.

The Rock started earning fans in wrestling once he became a heel

Some of the biggest names in professional wrestling are heels. However, being one of these can be pretty risky, as they're usually the ones that fans dislike. Evidently, though, being a babyface wasn't working out for The Rock, so where was the harm in changing sides? He had to do more than just say he was a heel, though.

So, he ditched his previous wrestling moniker and started calling himself The Rock, referring to the name in third person. He also ditched the outfit that hadn't won him any fans in the early days. As he started to showcase this new side to himself, more people began warming to him until Johnson was the one they were cheering on.

Dwayne Johnson released a book during his wrestling days that became a bestseller

Dwayne Johnson is a man of many skills. He can play football, wrestle, and act up a storm. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Another thing he has in his arsenal is putting a book together. Before The Rock made the jump from WWF to Hollywood, he released 'The Rock Says…,' giving fans an insight into his life.

Evidently, it was a book that many people wanted to read as it soon became a New York Times Best Seller. That alone gives you a pretty good idea of just how popular he was at the height of his wrestling career. It's no wonder that he had so much support when Johnson decided to turn his attention to acting.

The Rock achieved many incredible things during his time as a wrestler

The Rock has been acting for so long now that some people forget just how big he used to be in the world of professional wrestling. However, there's no taking away the many achievements that Dwayne Johnson accomplished before his big career change. It seems he broke quite a few records as part of the WWE.

This included becoming the first wrestler to ever earn seven WWE Championship victories. The great thing is that Johnson then went on to earn more championship victories, making his accomplishment even more remarkable. Johnson also became both the WCW World Champion and the WWE Intercontinental Champion twice, as well as winning the WWE Tag Team Championship an incredible five times.

One of Dwayne's first acting roles involved him portraying his father

It actually wasn't that long after becoming a professional wrestler that The Rock started to become interested in acting. His first few roles came at the very end of the 1990s, one of which was an appearance in an episode of the teen sitcom 'That '70s Show.' This was particularly notable because of who he was cast as.

Johnson had the honor of playing a younger version of his father in the show. It seems that the man was a professional wrestler himself, which may well have influenced Dwayne's interest in the sport to begin with. Given that the pair share DNA, no one else was better suited to portray Rocky Johnson on the show than his son.

The Rock's grandfather was also a notable wrestler who partly inspired Maui

It seems that wrestling is actually something that's been in The Rock's family for a long time now. Before Dwayne and his father were showcasing their skills, the actor's grandfather was proving himself as an efficient wrestler. That's why Johnson's wrestling nickname was initially a combination of his father's first name and his grandfather's surname.

Peter Maivia first made his wrestling debut in the early 1960s and eventually joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation in the late 1970s. At the time, he was one of the most prominent stars in the WWWF. According to The Rock, the man partly inspired the character of Maui - who Johnson voiced - in the animated Disney film ‘Moana.’

His grandmother was a wrestling promoter who didn't initially realize the sport was choreographed 

Dwayne Johnson's familial connections to wrestling don't end there. Another member of his family who's been linked to this sport is his grandmother. She was married to Peter Maivia, so she became familiar with this world through him. However, after he passed away, she reportedly took things up a notch and became a wrestling promoter.

She was one of the first-ever women to take on such a role and had some success with it in the mid-’80s. According to her grandson, she didn't actually realize that wrestling was choreographed and once stepped into the ring when her husband was being beaten by his opponent. She started hitting him back until Peter stopped her and explained.

Dwayne Johnson broke records with his first lead role in a movie

Come the turn of the century, The Rock seemed ready to expand his career into new territory. We know that he developed an interest in acting and turned that into a huge success. However, were you aware of just how quickly The Rock managed to gain momentum in his new venture? In fact, he started breaking records incredibly quickly.

His first leading role came with the 2002 action-adventure film 'The Scorpion King.' Although it received mixed reviews, Johnson benefited greatly from the movie, particularly in the finance department. He was apparently paid $5 million for the role, the most that any actor has reportedly been paid for their debut. Evidently, people had a lot of faith in him.

He once set the record for taking the most selfies in three minutes

One of the interesting facts about Dwayne Johnson is that the man just can't stop breaking records. Whether in wrestling, acting, or just in his everyday life, he seems to have no trouble achieving things that no one else has before. Another of the records that he's broken over the years involves his love of taking selfies.

In 2015, he entered the Guinness World Record books for taking the most selfies in three minutes. Johnson did this during the red carpet premiere of the disaster film 'San Andreas.' He apparently needed to beat 75 selfies to set the record, but he went way beyond that by managing 105. Johnson's apparently set several more records since then.

Johnson was supposed to play Johnny Bravo, but things never worked out

Over the last two decades, The Rock hasn't struggled to land roles that have kept his acting career alive and thriving. However, it seems that not every part he's been set to play has actually come to fruition. One role he was supposedly destined for but never actually played was the live-action version of the buff cartoon character Johnny Bravo.

Warner Bros. reportedly wanted Johnson to play the role following his success in 'The Scorpion King.' The Rock himself was also eager for the gig, apparently being a fan of the animated series. However, the project got delayed, and interest in the film soon fell to the wayside. What's more, Johnson quickly became a big star with a busy schedule.

Dwayne was apparently Tim Burton's second choice to play Willy Wonka

Johnny Bravo isn't the only character that Dwayne Johnson has missed out on playing over the years. One of the most surprising facts about The Rock is that he was nearly chosen to play Willy Wonka. He was apparently the second choice after Johnny Depp in Tim Burton's version of the fantasy family movie 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.'

Fortunately, missing out on the role didn't hurt The Rock's career, and Depp ended up giving a very compelling performance as the chocolatier. However, we can't help but wonder what the movie would have looked like if Dwayne had secured the role. Would he have been a better fit than Johnny, or did Burton make the right decision?

The Rock was the first athlete to ever be invited to host SNL twice

Getting to host an episode of the variety show 'Saturday Night Live' is a good indicator of whether or not someone has "made it." So, when The Rock was invited to do this gig in 2000, it was clear that things were going well for the man. In fact, some fans say that this appearance really kick-started his acting career.

It was actually just two years later that he was invited back to host 'SNL,' setting another record in the process. He became the first athlete to ever be welcomed back for a second time, something that's still incredibly rare to this day. Johnson has now hosted the show a whopping five times, which is more than most celebrities.

The Rock once had chest reduction surgery to land more acting work

Cosmetic surgery is something that plenty of celebrities get during their career. However, one person we never imagined getting any sort of procedure is The Rock. The man takes excellent care of himself and continues to look great all these years after starting his career. There was one surgery he apparently needed to help with his acting career, though.

It seems that he once reduced the size of his chest in order to land more roles. His work as a wrestler left him with some very impressive pecs. However, these were allegedly a bit too big once Johnson stepped in front of the camera. Luckily, since getting the surgery, he hasn't had trouble getting work, so it paid off.

Johnson's role in Fast Five was allegedly the work of a fan on social media

Thanks to his bulk, The Rock has scored plenty of work in action movies. One that really took his career to the next level was the action film 'Fast Five,' in which he played Hobbs. It's a role that he's continued in other additions to the 'Fast & Furious' franchise, but how did he score the part in the first place?

Apparently, it came about after a fan posted on one of Vin Diesel's social media accounts. They said that it would be great to see him and Dwayne Johnson in a movie together. The next thing you know, The Rock is cast in the next 'Fast & Furious' film, and the fan is getting their wish granted.

The Rock and Vin Diesel reportedly clashed and wouldn't film any scenes together

Unfortunately, it seems as though scoring that role in 'Fast Five' wasn't a complete blessing. While it definitely did wonders for The Rock's career, it also reportedly ignited a feud between him and one of his co-stars. It seems that the man allegedly responsible for scoring Johnson the gig in the first place struggled to get along with him.

Of course, the clash between the co-stars wasn't immediate. In fact, it apparently wasn't until a few years later that the conflict began. It was particularly notable during the filming of 'The Fate of the Furious,' in which the pair reportedly shared no scenes together. They allegedly couldn't stand to be on set together, so they refused to do so.

Switching agencies and publicists did a ton of good for his acting career

One look at The Rock's incredible physique and his wrestling history, and it's no surprise that he ends up in all of these action movies. However, there was seemingly a time when he was viewed less as an action star and more as a comedy relief character. He was developing a very family-friendly image that could have derailed his career.

This reportedly all changed after the fantasy comedy movie 'Tooth Fairy.' The Rock reportedly switched agencies from CAA to WME and picked up a new publicist as well. Shortly after, he scored roles like 'Fast Five' and took on more serious work while still showcasing his comedic side from time to time. It really did his career wonders.

Johnson was apparently intimidated by his role in Moana

Part of the reason that The Rock was seen as such a family-friendly actor was that he kept popping up in Disney Channel productions. He appeared in sitcoms like 'Hannah Montana' and 'Wizards of Waverly Place,' picking up a young fanbase in the process. He also starred in the remake of the sci-fi adventure thriller 'Race to Witch Mountain.'

Although he doesn't do so much stuff with Disney anymore, he has still worked with them from time to time, including voicing Maui in 'Moana.' This was a role that he apparently felt intimidated by because a lot of it was new to him. He hadn't done much voice acting or proper singing, so pulling this off was a feat.

A kid once saved his brother's life because of what he'd learned from The Rock

Plenty of people want to feel like they're doing something worthwhile with their careers. Thankfully, we can say that Dwayne Johnson is one man who's definitely done some good with his work. It seems that a ten-year-old boy from Michigan once saved his brother's life after learning CPR from watching The Rock in 'San Andreas.'

His two-year-old sibling reportedly fell into a pool when the boy jumped to the rescue. After getting him out of the water, he started performing chest compressions, which he only knew to do because of the film. When Johnson heard about what had happened, he rightfully called the child a hero and was glad his work had made a difference.

The Rock's stunt double is also a distant cousin

Dwayne Johnson is a strong man who can easily hold his own in a fight. However, even the strongest men are susceptible to injury. That's why it usually pays for actors to have a stunt double, which The Rock does indeed have. Fortunately, he apparently didn't have to look too far to find someone that could convincingly portray him.

It seems that he and his double - Tanoai Reed - are actually related, albeit somewhat distantly. They apparently share the same great-grandfather, so it makes sense that there's a resemblance between the two. Reed has apparently filled in for Johnson for over 15 years now and reportedly has nothing but nice things to say about the guy.

Dwayne Johnson was apparently the highest-grossing actor of 2013

By 2013, it was clear that Dwayne Johnson wasn't going to be leaving Hollywood anytime soon. He had some impressive roles under his belt and continued to be hugely in demand. That year, he had a handful of appearances on the big screen, including the immensely popular action movie 'Fast & Furious 6.' This brought in the big bucks.

In fact, when you put all of his movies from that year together, The Rock apparently ends up being the best-grossing actor of 2013. Other appearances that contributed to this included the military sci-fi action movie 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' and the action comedy film 'Pain & Gain.' While they weren't the best received, they helped keep the cash coming in.

The Rock reportedly went into acting with a 10 to 12-year plan for success

It's clear that not everything in The Rock's life has gone to plan. He's had to change his future goals every now and again to accommodate unexpected bumps in the road. However, that doesn't mean he hasn't embarked on each career venture with a plan in mind. For instance, when he started acting, he had a roadmap in place.

In a social media video several years ago, Johnson revealed that he apparently had a 10 to 12-year plan for making it big as an actor. He was eager to have a "long-lasting career that had weight," so he wanted to ensure he was prepared. That's also why Johnson reportedly worked with acting coaches and studied the craft in advance.

Dwayne reportedly went above and beyond with his preparation for starring as Hercules

Of all the surprising facts about Dwayne Johnson, one that doesn't shock us is that the man is dedicated to the roles he plays. Saying that, we didn't quite anticipate just what lengths he's willing to go to for his job. For instance, his preparation for the action-adventure fantasy film 'Hercules' really was above and beyond.

The man apparently went on a 22-week diet before filming the movie, as well as training six days a week for six months. He reportedly started each morning with 50 minutes of cardio before working on that day’s designated body part. Johnson would also start these workouts around four in the morning because sleep is clearly for the weak.

The Rock reportedly consumes a whopping 800 pounds of fish a year

Something that sets Dwayne Johnson apart from many other action movie stars is that his dedication to this training never really ends. Sure, he doesn't still put in the amount of work that he did for 'Hercules' because his other roles don't require it. However, he continues to religiously and thinks carefully about what he eats.

One thing that apparently features frequently in his diet is fish, which he uses as a much-needed source of protein. Evidently, the actor is a huge fan of eating this stuff, given that he allegedly consumes over 800 pounds of it a year. That averages out to over two pounds a day. We can't imagine many other people matching that.

When The Rock has cheat days, his meals are something else

Of course, as dedicated as The Rock may be to training and eating right, even he knows that there's value in having a cheat day every now and again. He doesn't hold back when letting himself enjoy something outside of his typical diet, either. Johnson revealed his cheat foods during a Reddit AMA, and they are something special.

According to Johnson, his favorite cheat meal involves pancacles, double-dough pizza, and peanut butter brownies. He also likes a diet coke on the side because why not? We're not sure that the average person could handle so much in one sitting. However, a man of The Rock's size needs a lot of food, even on a cheat day.

Johnson apparently wears a different cologne to embody each character he plays

One of the best ways to impress as an actor is to really embody whatever character you're playing. If you can get into their head and become an extension of them, people are more likely to believe what you're selling them. The Rock is one actor who apparently does this, and he goes to some interesting lengths to achieve it.

It seems that he has a habit of wearing a different scent every time he portrays someone new. Johnson told the New York Times that he thinks about what cologne his character would wear and dons this to get into the right headspace. For instance, he wore Kenzo for the buddy action comedy ‘Central Intelligence.’

The Rock is apparently a little bit obsessed with Elvis Presley

The Rock is a celebrity that plenty of people look up to, and it seems he knows what that feels like. After all, the man has some idols himself, including one who's unfortunately no longer with us. We're referring to Elvis Presley, who Johnson isn't afraid to say that he's a little bit obsessed with.

One of The Rock's most surprising facts is that all of the Elvis memorabilia in the sports family comedy film 'The Game Plan' belonged to him. The filmmakers didn't need to worry about sourcing them from anywhere because Johnson had more than enough to share. Dwayne also once performed 'Jailhouse Rock' as Elvis to a crowd of US servicemen.

Dwayne once received a guitar as a birthday gift from Willie Nelson

The Rock isn't necessarily someone that people tend to think of as musical, given he's more known for his physical prowess and acting skills. However, he has shown his musical side over the years and is actually quite proficient with a guitar. We're sure there are plenty of fans who wouldn't mind a guitar solo from Johnson.

It seems that the actor actually owns quite a famous guitar, as it was gifted to him by someone who definitely knows a thing or two about music. For a past birthday, Willie Nelson apparently gave Dwayne a guitar that he's since gotten plenty of use out of. We've no idea how he finds the time to play it, though.

He's apparently a big fan of country music

If you had to guess The Rock's favorite genre of music, what would you go for? Some might be surprised that country music potentially tops the list, but maybe it isn't that shocking. After all, if he's friends with Willie Nelson, then he likely has some affinity for it. Plus, Johnson did spend part of his childhood in Nashville.

It turns out it was actually the time he spent in Nashville that first brought this music into his life. He's loved it ever since and apparently considers singers like George Strait and Merle Haggard as some of his favorites. According to some of his college football teammates, Johnson also used to sing country songs on the bus to games. 

The Rock got ordained so he could surprise a fan with a wedding

It seems there's no end to The Rock's surprising lifestyle. Another one that definitely deserves a place on this list is the fact that he's apparently an ordained minister. He once performed a marriage for one of his fans - Nick Mundy, of the online movie magazine and YouTube channel Screen Junkies. The guy was completely oblivious.

What doesn't surprise us is that Dwayne Johnson would go to lengths like this to make people laugh and do something kind for someone else. He could have simply pretended to be ordained for the sake of the stunt. However, Johnson made it official to ensure that this moment was extra special for Mundy and his other half.

Dwayne Johnson now owns the rights to his nickname after many years

There aren't many celebrities who are probably known more by their nickname than their actual name. However, The Rock made such a huge impact as a professional wrestler that it's been hard to think of him as anything else. Plus, most filmmakers leaned into the name at the start of his acting career because it's what he was known for.

However, for the longest time, people were calling Dwayne Johnson by a name that didn't actually belong to him. Long after he made the move into acting, the WWE continued to own the rights to his nickname. It seems that things have finally changed in that regard, though, and the name now rightfully belongs to Johnson.

He was apparently responsible for adding the word "smackdown" to people's vocabulary

You have to be a pretty special person to influence the dictionary, but we'd say that's precisely what Dwayne Johnson is. There's no end to the man's greatness, with the actor allegedly coining a new term during his wrestling days. It seems that the word "smackdown" wasn't in the modern lexicon until Johnson came along and said it a bunch.

While he might not have necessarily been the first person to ever say it, he did popularize it. Eventually, it was used enough times that it was added to the dictionary by Merriam-Webster. It might seem strange now to think that "smackdown" wasn't really a thing anyone said until the '90s, but that's how it was.

Dwayne Johnson has proven himself to be an incredibly charitable person over the years

What's Dwayne Johnson's biggest muscle? That probably seems like a tough question, given his physique. However, we actually think the answer's pretty easy - his heart. While the man might be bulging in all sorts of places, all that physical strength is no match for the love and generosity that seems to be beating away inside his chest.

It's common to see celebrities being charitable, but few go to the same lengths as The Rock. He's had his own foundation since 2006, which seeks to help children who are at-risk or terminally ill. He's also previously donated money to all sorts of efforts, including helping to fund relief after natural disasters like floods and hurricanes.

He once helped pay for a dog's surgery to resolve its heart murmur

We love a celebrity who cares about animals, and we're glad to say that Dwayne Johnson enjoys the company of these creatures. He seems to have a particular affection for dogs, even once donating $1,500 to help a puppy who needed surgery to resolve issues with a heart murmur. The dog was named Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Apparently, the animal was given this name because they were going to need to be "a great fighter to win this battle" with their health. Dwayne - the real Dwayne - gave the biggest donation of anyone on GoFundMe, and it made a huge difference. The surgery apparently went well, and the dog is reportedly still alive seven years later.

Johnson saved a puppy's life by welcoming him into his family in 2022

As well as helping other people's dogs, The Rock seems to give plenty of love to his own pets too. In 2022, he welcomed a new animal into his family when he adopted a puppy named Turbo from Wagmor Pets Dog Rescue. His kids apparently met the dog while at an arts and crafts festival when they wandered off.

The next thing Dwayne knew, he was getting a call from his daughter asking if they could keep him. He didn't say yes immediately, but after meeting with Turbo a few hours later, he agreed that the dog could stay. Apparently, the pup was going to be put down, so Johnson really saved his life by agreeing to the request.

He sadly lost one of his dogs after they ate a poisonous mushroom

It's not a surprise that The Rock was willing to add Turbo to their family, given he'd previously lost one of his pets quite tragically. The actor used to own a French bulldog named Brutus, but the animal passed away suddenly after ingesting a toxic mushroom. Johnson had to make the tough decision to take the dog off life support.

What made the loss of Brutus even more traumatic was that Dwayne had only saved his life mere days earlier. The dog apparently fell into the family's swimming pool and sank head-first to the bottom. The Rock dived in straight after him, fully clothed, and stopped the poor pup from drowning. Hopefully, nothing so tragic happens with his new pet.

Dwayne also raises a lot of fish on his farm in Virginia

It's pretty clear that when it comes to pets, The Rock is all about dogs. However, these aren't the only animals that he keeps. It seems that the man is also a big fan of fish, and not just when they're on his plate. He's apparently been raising all sorts of fish on his Virginia farm for years.

He reportedly keeps the likes of trout, carp, sunfish, and bass, some of which have grown to quite a significant size. He once wrote on social media that looking after fish and "creating a healthy ecosystem for them" is something that he finds joyful. Johnson also loves being at his farm in general, as it's “good for the soul.”

One of his tattoos apparently required three 20-hour sessions to complete

It's not rare to see The Rock without his shirt on, so you've probably noticed that he has a fair few tattoos. There's one that stands out a lot more than the others, though. This is the one that decorates part of his back, chest, and left arm. He's apparently had it since 2003, and it required days to complete.

It reportedly took 60 hours to finish the entire thing, which was allegedly divided up into three 20-hour sessions. That means there were three days when The Rock did nothing but sit there as someone drew this intricate artwork on his body. It was worth it, though, because the design represents “all the things that are important to [him].”

The Rock has reportedly gifted his dad two cars in recent years

Part of what The Rock's massive tattoo represents is his family, which is something that he treasures greatly. No matter how successful he's become, he's never forgotten where he came from or everything that his parents did to help him reach this point. He's even made sure to give back to his loved ones at every opportunity.

That reportedly included gifting his father several cars, neither of which likely came cheap. The first car Rocky Johnson received was apparently a Ford Explorer as a Christmas gift. The next one was a Cadillac Escalade, which Dwayne supposedly gave him after a hip replacement. His dad needed a bigger car, so his son went out and got him one.

Dwayne Johnson is now a Canadian citizen thanks to his father

We'd say that The Rock probably has a lot to be thankful to his dad for. Given that the man was a professional wrestler himself, we imagine he must have had quite the influence on his son's career. He also provided for the boy throughout his childhood, as any good father would. That's not all, though.

It seems that Dwayne also has his dad to thank for becoming a Canadian citizen. Yes, one of the most surprising facts about The Rock is that he's technically part-Canadian. His father was born in Nova Scotia, and the laws there apparently mean that his son was entitled to become a Canadian citizen himself. Johnson did this in 2009.

He's received many awards over the years, including the Congressional Horizon Award

The Rock's many successes over the years have led to quite a few awards and nominations. This includes several People's, Teen, and Kids Choice Awards for his various roles on the big screen. He was also named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2019 and was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.

One of the most notable awards that he's received over the years is the Congressional Horizon Award, which he was given in 2008. This is apparently awarded to those who "have contributed to expanding opportunities for all Americans." It's also for those that "have set exceptional examples for young people." We'd say that's certainly something to be proud of.

Dwayne Johnson might run for president sometime in the future

In this day and age, the notion of a celebrity running for presidency probably doesn't seem that outrageous. We've seen several stars throw their hat into the ring, with The Rock allegedly willing to put his name forward sometime in the future. In 2017, he once said that he would go for it if it was what the people wanted.

A year earlier, he'd told GQ that the idea of becoming president was "alluring" and not just for the glory. He saw it as an "opportunity to make a real impact on people's lives." So, we shouldn't be surprised if he does end up in the running eventually. However, there might be other things Johnson wants to do first.

The Rock purchased the XFL in 2020 as a competitor to the NFL

Who knows what The Rock's life would have become if he'd never been dropped during his first season of professional football? Might he have ended up in the NFL? Would he still have become an actor, or would things have completely fallen apart? We'll never know for sure. What we do know, though, is that Johnson still loves the sport.

He's never completely forgotten his original dreams of being a professional footballer, which is seemingly why he now owns the re-founded XFL. He purchased it in 2020, two years after WWE executive Vince McMahon rebooted it as a competitor to the NFL. Unfortunately, various issues have meant that the league hasn't really operated since The Rock took over.

He owns several ventures with his ex-wife and the pair are on good terms

The XFL is reportedly set to make its big return in 2023 and will hopefully prove to be a wise investment for Johnson. Of course, he's not the only one that's put money into this venture. He purchased the XFL alongside Dany Garcia, who some will recognize as his ex-wife. It seems they do a lot of business together.

Although the pair divorced in 2008, the separation was evidently amicable. Several years after their split, the duo co-founded 7 Bucks Productions, which was named after the amount of money Dwayne had after being dropped by the Stampeders. What's more, Garcia's second husband, Dave Rienzi, apparently went on to become The Rock's strength and conditioning coach.

Johnson has gyms all over the place, with another now being constructed

We know that Dwayne Johnson likes to work out most days. However, thanks to his busy schedule, he isn't always at home to get some training in. That's why he has gyms all over the place. Along with the one in his house - which he calls the Iron paradise - he has one on his Virginia farm and a mobile one.

Apparently, there will soon be another gym joining that collection, with The Rock recently sharing the news on social media. He's reportedly told the "architectural masters and geniuses" precisely what his vision is for this new workout area. So, hopefully, they'll be able to build it to his liking. We wonder how much something like this must have cost him.

His fitness and entertainment expo Athleticon has been repeatedly postponed

We've established that one of the surprising facts about the Rock is that he and his ex-wife have a lot of ventures together. Usually, these seem to be successful, but one that's yet to prove itself either way is Athleticon. The pair launched this in 2019 as the biggest fitness and entertainment expo ever seen. However, it never actually happened.

It was scheduled to take place in October 2020 when the world was in the midst of a global health crisis. It was postponed to the following year but then had to be rescheduled again. The date was thus changed to 2022, yet there's been no sign of it at all. So, is Athleticon happening or not?

Dwayne's eldest daughter has followed him into the world of WWE

When the Rock began his professional wrestling career, promoters made a big deal about the fact that he was a 3rd generation wrestler. It's why he started out with the name that he did. You don't tend to see that many families produce so many wrestlers one after the other. There's just something special about Dwayne Johnson's bloodline, though.

One of his daughters is now old enough to follow in his footsteps, and that's precisely what she's doing. Simone began training at the WWE Performance Center in 2020 and is now a 4th generation wrestler, something the WWE has never seen before. She goes by the name Ava Raine, and we imagine her father is incredibly proud.