Rocky Johnson

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Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Bowles on August 24, 1944 in Amherst, Nova Scotia), is a former Canadian professional wrestler. While he was quite popular in his own right in the 1970s and 80s, he is currently best known for being the father of actor and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Career

During his career, he wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), and many smaller and overseas promotions. He reached the high point of his career in the WWF in 1983, becoming one half of the WWF Tag Team Champions with Tony Atlas. Johnson and Atlas were notable not only for their popularity, but for being the first Black WWF Tag Team Champions. Together, Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas were known as the "Soul Patrol".

During his career, Bowles wrestled as "Soulman" Rocky Johnson. He was a top contender in the NWA in the 1970s, receiving title matches against then-World Champions Terry Funk and Harley Race. He was well-suited to tag team wrestling, winning several regional tag team championships in the NWA. In 1983, he was recruited by the WWF and paired with Tony Atlas, another popular Black wrestler. They defeated the Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika Anoai) for the Tag Team Championship on November 15, 1983. Interestingly, Johnson had married into the prolific Samoan wrestling family, of with the Anoais were a part, by marrying "High Chief" Peter Maivia's daughter Ata. The two had a son, Dwayne, in 1972.

After retiring in 1991, Johnson trained his son Dwayne to wrestle in the mid-1990s with Pat Patterson. While he initially resisted his son's entry into the business because he knew it was extremely difficult, he agreed to train his son on the condition that he would not go easy on him. Johnson was instrumental in getting Dwayne (later dubbed "Rocky Maivia" after both Rocky Johnson's and Peter Maivia's ring names) signed to a WWF developmental deal.

Initially, Johnson had an on-camera presence at his son's matches, famously jumping into the ring on his son's behalf after he was attacked by several other wrestlers at WrestleMania 13. Johnson was not seen on-camera again after the Rocky Maivia character flopped, but this was actually a blessing, as his son achieved crossover popularity as cocky heel The Rock.

He was hired as a trainer for WWE developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling in early 2003, but was let go in May of that year. He lives in Davie, Florida with his wife, Ata.

Profile

Birthday: August 24, 1944
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Trainer: Peter Maivia, Rocky Bollie, Kurt Von Steiger
Other Gimmicks: Sweet Ebony Diamond, Rocky "Soulman" Johnson, Drew Glasteau

Championships/Accomplishments

World Wrestling Federation

1-Time WWF World Tag Team Champion (with Tony Atlas)

National Wrestling Alliance

1-Time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion (San Francisco version)
4-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (San Francisco version) (with Pat Patterson 3 times and Pepper Gomez once each)
1-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (Detroit version) (with Ben Justice)
1-Time NWA America's Heavyweight Champion
1-Time NWA America's Tag Team Champion (with Earl Maynard)
2-Time NWA Beat the Champ Television Champion
1-Time NWA Brass Knuckles Champion
1-Time NWA Canadian Tag Team Champion (with Don Leo Jonathan)
1-Time NWA Brass Knuckles Champion
2-Time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion
1-Time NWA Florida Television Champion
1-Time NWA Florida Tag Team Champion (with Pedro Morales)
1-Time NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion
1-Time NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (with Jerry Brisco)
1-Time NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion
2-Time NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Champion
1-Time NWA North American Heavyweight Champion
1-Time NWA Texas Tag Team Champion (with Jose Lothario)
2-Time NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion

Other Titles/Accomplishments

1-Time Pacific Tag Team Champion (with Ricky Johnson)
1-Time Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion
2-Time Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (with Brett Sawyer & Iceman Parsons)
1-Time Mid-Southern Heavyweight Champion

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 211 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

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