1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: Hello, Hello, Hello, Hollywoodland listeners, Welcome to another archival installment 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: of our Hollywood and True Crime podcast. 3 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 2: This week, we are bringing you a story about one 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 2: of the movie industry's biggest stars, Dwayne the Rock Johnson, 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 2: and it's come up in Waikiki as a jewel thief. 6 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 2: Most people don't know about The Rock's lengthy arrest record 7 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 2: in his pre Hollywood days. 8 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: No worries, we get you covered here. 9 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 2: And also everything worked out fine for mister Johnson, son 10 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 2: of one of my favorite WWF wrestlers as a kid, 11 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 2: by the way, but that's another story anyway. 12 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 1: Happy you're here with. 13 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 2: Us once again, and hope you dig this story about 14 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 2: the Rock as much as we enjoyed putting it together 15 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: for you. Hollywood Land is a production of Double Elvis. 16 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: John Endler's old chapin the The Main Ain't nothing for 17 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: the Main. 18 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 2: Before out of that. 19 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: Gang, I would whip the Hamo in Maine Wood, I 20 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: whip the Harmo. 21 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: Ma. The stories about Dwayne Johnson are insane. As a teenager, 22 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: he ran a jewelry theffering in a pause shopping district 23 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 2: in Waikiki. His crew of juvenile thieves snatched and grabbed 24 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 2: whatever they could get their hands on, and then pawn 25 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 2: their haul for cold heart cash. As a result, he 26 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 2: was arrested nearly ten times before returned seventeen. He made 27 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 2: the improbable transition from stealing expensive rocks on rings to 28 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 2: becoming the Rock, the people's champion in the wrestling ring, 29 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: and then he took that winning charm directly to the 30 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 2: silver screen, where he made great films. Unlike that clip 31 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: I played for you at the top of the show, 32 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 2: that wasn't a clip from a great film. That was 33 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 2: a fair youse sample from the Library of Congress of 34 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: Arthur Bell performing John Henry from nineteen thirty nine. I 35 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 2: played you that clip because I can't afford the rights 36 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 2: to Joe Pitka's Space Jam. And why would I play 37 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: you that specific slice of tune squad Cheese? Could I 38 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: afford it? Because that was the number one movie on 39 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 2: November seventeenth, nineteen ninety six, And that was the day 40 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: that Dwayne the Rock Johnson made his televised debut in 41 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 2: a pay per view wrestling match, A monumental moment for 42 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,119 Speaker 2: a man who was once a street criminal, a man 43 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 2: who had soon raised the people's eyebrow drop the people's 44 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 2: elbow and lay the smack down on the candy ass 45 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: world of Hollywood. If you smell what I'm cooking on 46 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 2: this episode, Jewelry, theft rings, snatch and grab jobs, the 47 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: people's eyebrow, and the man they. 48 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: Call the Rock Dwayne Johnson. 49 00:02:51,040 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 2: I'm Jake Brennan, and this is Hollywood Land. There's always 50 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 2: that one kid who can't wait to tell the other 51 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,519 Speaker 2: little kids there's no Santa Claus. When that fucking kid 52 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 2: tells my eight year old, I'm gonna be pissed, but 53 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:34,119 Speaker 2: I digress. 54 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: Dwayne the Rock. 55 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 2: Johnson's friend Randy was that kid. In their fifth grade classroom, 56 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: the boys were talking about the wrestling match they watched 57 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: the night before. The World Wrestling Federation WWF had arisen 58 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 2: as the dominant promoter of pro wrestling in America, securing 59 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 2: huge television contracts, coaching all the top talent from other leagues, 60 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: and broadcasting professional matches into millions of American homes. In 61 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 2: the nineteen eighties, WWF wrestlers were huge celebrities. You could 62 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 2: see them in Hollywood movies. You could buy their action 63 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 2: figures at toys r US Wrestling was show business, but 64 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 2: it builled itself as a sport, not as entertainment. The 65 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 2: kids in Dwayne Johnson's class talked about it the way 66 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 2: their dads talked about the Patriots. 67 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: The morning after a game. 68 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 2: Dwayne's friend Randy though, that kid rolled his eyes. You 69 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 2: guys know it's fake, right, Little Dwayne Johnson seethed in 70 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: his family. They didn't use the F word, and they 71 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: certainly didn't cop to the scriptive nature of professional wrestling, 72 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 2: not to a mark. They kept the illusion that everything 73 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 2: about wrestling, the moves, the characters, the matches, was very 74 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 2: much real. Dwayne tried to keep his mouth shut, but 75 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 2: Randy was calling Dwayne's dad a liar, a fraud. I mean, 76 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 2: sure it was true, but that didn't make it okay. 77 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 2: And then Randy turned toward Dwayne, tell him, Dwayne, Randy said, 78 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:08,799 Speaker 2: it's all fake right. Dwayne Johnson had wrestling in his blood. 79 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 2: His father, Rocky Johnson, was the first black wrestler to 80 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: win the Georgia Heavyweight Championship. Now he was working some 81 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: West Coast gigs as the tag team partner of simone 82 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 2: wrestler Peter Myvia. Rocky Johnson had trained as a boxer, 83 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 2: sparring with guys like George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, but 84 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 2: he gained some popularity in wrestling working the regional circuits 85 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: in the late nineteen sixties. When Rocky got the town 86 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: jet lagged from the flight from Japan, Peter Mavilla invited 87 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 2: him to crash at his house and they were friendly, 88 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 2: but they weren't friends. Wrestling was a business you didn't 89 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 2: let things get personal. The illusion that it was all 90 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 2: real was part of it, and so was the way 91 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: a group of wrestlers would burn storm a region for 92 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 2: a few weeks before moving on. But wrestler couldn't be 93 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 2: seen at the diner with the guy who was going 94 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: to knock the shit out of that night. The good 95 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 2: guy aka the Face didn't palad around with the bad 96 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 2: guy aka the heel. For Peter my Villa, it was 97 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 2: more than that guys in the business had problems drinking, drugs, violence. 98 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 1: He was no saint himself. 99 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 2: Normal folks didn't get into wrestling, so there weren't many 100 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 2: wrestlers that were normal. Therefore, there weren't many wrestlers that 101 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 2: Peter my Villa wanted to hang around with, and there 102 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 2: certainly weren't many he wanted hanging around his daughter. So 103 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 2: when Rocky Johnson started flirting with Peter my VA's daughter, 104 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: Peter did his best to shut it down. Unfortunately, this 105 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 2: match was scripted. They fell in love and ran off 106 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: to get married without my VIA's blessing. Two years later, 107 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 2: in time to meet his grandson, Little Dwayne, Peter my 108 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 2: Villa admitted defeat. His daughter had married a wrestler. Rocky 109 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 2: Johnson took his family all over the country, barnstorming on 110 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: the various regional circuits. The kids switched schools often, which 111 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: was just as well. Dwayne had a habit of getting 112 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 2: into trouble quick. The new school in Connecticut marked a 113 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 2: period of stability and prosperity for the Johnsons. When Vince 114 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: McMahon consolidated the regional circuits into the WWF, Rocky Johnson, 115 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: little Dwayne's dad was one of the wrestlers he signed. 116 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: All the kids in Dwayne and Randy's class had seen 117 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 2: Dwayne's dad wrestling on television. If anyone could say whether 118 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: or not the sport was fake, it was Dwayne tell them, 119 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: Randy insisted. Dwayne looked round, the teacher was late, and 120 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: all eyes were on him. 121 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: It's easier to show you, he said. 122 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 2: Dwayne stood up emotioned for Randy to come closer. Randy hesitated, 123 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 2: but he couldn't chicken out now. He stepped to Dwayne, 124 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 2: who picked Randy up like nothing and flipped them and 125 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 2: the other kid's jaws dropped, held upside down. Randy laughed nervously. 126 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 2: It was fake, right, This is a pile driver, Dwayne said. 127 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 2: Even as a kid, he knew all the moves. Most importantly, 128 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 2: he knew the key part of the move was to 129 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 2: squeeze your opponent head between your legs, making sure no 130 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: part of their head extended past the bottom of your thighs. 131 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 2: That's how you kept the other guy safe. And when 132 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 2: he seemed to slam his head into the ground, you're 133 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: actually landing on your own ass. 134 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: But Dwayne had to make it look real. 135 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 2: He had to do his part to keep up the mystique, 136 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: so he let Randy's head extend a little too far. 137 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 2: Dwayne dropped, taking his inverted friend with him, and when 138 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 2: he came down, Randy's head smacked into the tile floor. 139 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 2: Randy lay there, stunned. He was selling it. Could almost 140 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 2: see the little chirping bird hee circling his skull, and 141 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 2: then he gripped his head and bald, and the other 142 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 2: kids glared at Dwayne. 143 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: What did he have to do that for? 144 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 2: When the teacher arrived, Randy played it down and the 145 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:47,959 Speaker 2: other kids were quick to rat Queen out. 146 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: He didn't argue when the. 147 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 2: Teacher sent him to the principal's office. He could have 148 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 2: seriously hurt his friend, and he didn't know why he 149 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 2: did it. 150 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: His dad wouldn't have done it that way. 151 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 2: He'd kept up the illusion that it was all real 152 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 2: and charmed them, pulled off a move that convinced the 153 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 2: whole class that wrestling was real without harming a hair 154 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 2: on anyone's head. Things got messy when he didn't stick 155 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 2: to the script. People got hurt when he let it 156 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,599 Speaker 2: get personal. By the time Dwayne, at his next in 157 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 2: school encountered with wrestling, the salad days of his family's 158 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 2: time in Connecticut were only a memory. Rocky was back 159 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: out on the road and they moved from Hawaii to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 160 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 2: but much to Dwayne's disappointment, they got there too late. 161 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 2: From try out for the football team, he decided football 162 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,719 Speaker 2: was where his athletic talents lay. In his sophomore year 163 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 2: of high school. He was dreaming of college scholarships and 164 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 2: a pro career, with football off the table. That year, though, 165 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 2: Dwayne was recruited by the school's wrestling coach, which was understandable. 166 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: Dwayne Johnson was jacked. He didn't know the first thing 167 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: about real wrestling. He stared at the headgear and pats. 168 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 2: He'd never seen anyone put on protective gear to wrestle. 169 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 2: Protection was the other guy, knowing what he was doing. 170 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 2: Work a show. It was all an illusion, and the 171 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 2: lack of headgear and patty made it look even more real. 172 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 2: Suited up, Dwayne walked into the gym and there was 173 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 2: no entrance music, and rather than erupt an applause, the 174 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 2: rest of the team went quiet. They'd seen the new 175 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 2: kid in the hallways and noticed he was tall, but 176 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 2: they figured his broad shoulders were patted out by his 177 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 2: fresh off the rack clothes. This was the nineties and 178 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 2: the style was bulk and in nothing but a unit 179 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 2: heard the sophomore nube was bigger than the team's heavyweight captain. 180 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 2: The coach paired Dwayne with the captain for his first 181 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 2: practice match, and the other wrestlers gravitated toward the pair. 182 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 2: As they started to grapple, Dwayne's mind rattled through a 183 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 2: hundred possible moves as dad had taught him, double leg kicks, 184 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,959 Speaker 2: sleeper holds, flying elbow drops. He toyed with his opponent 185 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 2: for a minute as the team cheered their captain on 186 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 2: against this new kid. That they're rooting against you, you 187 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 2: must be the heel. So Dwayne turned heel. He swept 188 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,679 Speaker 2: the captain into a belly to belly suplex and an 189 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: easy pin. 190 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: The crowd murmured and nobody clapped. 191 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: At dinner that night, his dad asked him about practice. 192 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 2: Dwayne said he didn't think wrestling was for him. Real wrestling, 193 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: it turned out, was boring. Kulakawa Boulevard and Waikiki is 194 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 2: where the beautiful people come to spend their time and 195 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 2: their money. It runs along Kuhio Beach, and if it 196 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 2: weren't for the gleaming four star hotels, you could see 197 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 2: why Heiki Bay. You can hear it though the waves 198 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 2: lapping the beach. If you aren't from around here, and 199 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 2: if you're shopping on kuli Kawa bullov already probably aren't 200 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 2: from around here, it can be overwhelming the sound of 201 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 2: the surf and the salt smell of the ocean. Sun 202 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 2: so bright, it's as if you're on another planet. From 203 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 2: behind every shop window, beautiful expensive things Beckett, Gucci, Chanel 204 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,959 Speaker 2: product Rolex Cardia, and they're too much money. But your 205 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 2: whole trip is an indulgence, a celebration that you made it. 206 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: You're the kind of. 207 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 2: Person who could afford those things. And what's a little 208 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 2: money And. 209 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: What better place to buy a beautiful thing than Paradise. 210 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 2: You wouldn't know it to look at him, but the 211 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 2: guy who's six' two two twenty, five he's just fourteen years. 212 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: Old when he started at his last, school the kids 213 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: thought he was. 214 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 2: A very obvious undercover. Cop he fits in, here good, 215 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 2: looking sharp. Dresser the clothes you bought on five finger 216 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 2: discount at the mall where security was. 217 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: Lax not like these. 218 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 2: Stores only an idiot would try to lift something from these. 219 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 2: Stores and he's not an. Idiot but once the merchandise 220 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 2: is on the, street it's easier to see you step 221 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 2: out of the. Store your wallet's. Lighter you have one 222 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 2: more beautiful thing to call your. Own you blink and 223 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 2: squint in The hawaiian, sun and maybe you contemplate a swim. 224 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: That, afternoon a cocktail at the. 225 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 2: Bar your real life feels very far. Away the boy 226 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 2: is walking towards, you but your head is somewhere. Else 227 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 2: he bumps into you with shoulders so broad it's tough. 228 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: To get out of his. 229 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 2: Way he, apologizes very, sweet very. Sincere you forget about, Him, 230 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 2: instantly dazzled by the beauty of the, island the sound 231 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 2: and smell of the, ocean you don't notice that your 232 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 2: bag feels. 233 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: Lighter half a block. 234 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 2: Down the boy hands a, beautiful expensive thing to another, 235 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 2: boy who passes it off to, another and they spend 236 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 2: their day this. Way watch The taurus bump and grab 237 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 2: pass pass. Again they're, careful but only by teenage boy. 238 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 2: Standards they think of themselves as, invincible and they're sure 239 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 2: they can't be. Caught when they decide they have, Enough 240 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 2: Dwayne johnson and his friends take all the things they've 241 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,599 Speaker 2: stolen in to another part Of. Honolulu i'll part the 242 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 2: beautiful tourists don't go. Too they visit the pawn, shops 243 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 2: selling off the items in small batches to give the 244 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:12,559 Speaker 2: pawn shop owner's plausible. Deniability it was my, mother's they, 245 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 2: say my AUNT'S i got it from my, girlfriend but 246 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 2: we broke. Up the pawnbrokers buy the expensive things for 247 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 2: a fraction of. Retail they say goodbye to the boys 248 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 2: like they won't see them the next day with another 249 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 2: hot item and another soft story about dead aunts are 250 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 2: cheating girlfriends in the cramped apartment, block their mothers and, 251 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 2: aunts the actual people who take care of, them sit 252 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 2: and wait and, worry as if they don't have enough 253 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 2: to worry about. Already there's the past due rent and 254 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 2: how much their husbands have been, drinking and now this 255 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 2: worrying that when the phone, rings it'll be the police 256 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 2: saying we've Got dwayne down at the station, again or 257 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 2: we Caught dwayne with his hand in some lady's purse 258 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 2: On Kolakowa. Boulevard the sad thing is the boys think 259 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 2: they're doing it for their. Moms they always slip a 260 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 2: couple of bills into their mom's wallets to help with the, 261 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 2: rent and they think they're sneaking and that their moms don't, 262 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 2: know but of course they. 263 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: Do moms. 264 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 2: Know they'd give all the money back in a heartbeat 265 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 2: if it meant not having to. Worry in the, end 266 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 2: the math didn't add up For Dwayne johnson and his. 267 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 2: Family dwayne was arrested nearly ten times by the age of. 268 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 2: Seventeen his father had left THE wwf and was back 269 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 2: on the region's, circuits back living hand in. Mouth and 270 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 2: the thing about working the circuits is you've got to 271 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 2: move along after a couple of, weeks keep it, fresh 272 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 2: don't let the audiences get bored with your. Gimmick they'd 273 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 2: stayed In hawaii too, long And Rocky johnson was getting, 274 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 2: buried and undercard matches meant less. Money less money meant 275 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 2: more problems like the padlock and the eviction noticed taped 276 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 2: to the. Door it was just as well fights dried. 277 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 2: Up dwayne was wont to rest away from the kind 278 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 2: of church as his mother couldn't talk the police out 279 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 2: Of so The JOHNSON sd it back to the mainland 280 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 2: And rocky headed back out on the. Circuits dwayne was 281 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 2: sent to live with a friend of his, dad's a 282 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 2: former wrestler Named Bruno lauer And, memphis and the idea 283 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 2: was to Give dwayne some, stability a chance to straighten. 284 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 2: Out but a former wrestler and a fifteen year old 285 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 2: kid who looked like a full grown man were quickly 286 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 2: out making the scene In memphis like out On Broad, 287 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 2: avenue a strip of honkey tonks and bars that had 288 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 2: seen better. DAYS a man came inside the beer, joint 289 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 2: all shakes and. 290 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 1: Jitters this was the late. Eighties crack was the cheap 291 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: fix of. 292 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 2: Choice the guy was, shouting anybody want to buy a? 293 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 2: CAR i got a seventy Seven Thunderbird i'm looking to. 294 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 2: SELL a smart man knows you don't buy a used 295 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 2: car from a. Crackhead But Dwayne johnson was just fifteen 296 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 2: and out. Drinking he wasn't interested in making smart, decisions 297 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 2: and his, Guardian bruno wasn't about the public breaks on this. 298 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 2: Idea dwayne asked a crackhead how much he wanted for 299 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 2: The thunderbird seventy. 300 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: Bucks dwayne said he had forty. 301 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 2: On, him and the crackhead had handed over the keys 302 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 2: in exchanged for two crumpled twenties and a promise to 303 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 2: get the. 304 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 1: Rest dwayne And bruno were amazed at their. 305 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 2: Luck the car was a, beater but he couldn't beat the, 306 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 2: price and they loaded, in cranked up the country station 307 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 2: started cruising down the. Street they didn't make it far 308 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:18,360 Speaker 2: before they heard a noise. 309 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: Coming from the. 310 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 2: Backseat dwayne craned his neck around and, there passed out 311 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 2: on the floor of The thunderbird was another. Crackhead dwayne 312 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 2: pulled over and left the guy stranded by the side 313 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 2: of the. Road as he eased it back out onto the, 314 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 2: highway the elion on the fuel gage blanked, on but 315 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 2: when they got to the gas, station they realized the 316 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 2: crackhead hadn't given them the key to the gas, cab 317 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 2: And dwayne And bruno ditched it in A Burger king parking, 318 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 2: lot and the police found it there a few days. 319 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: Later it had been reported. 320 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 2: Stolen dwayne figured forty bucks it was a small price 321 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 2: to pay to learn a lesson about buying cars off. 322 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 2: Crackheads next time he needed, wheels he'd go to a 323 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 2: used car lot like any other. 324 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: Mark we'll be right back after. This, We're, We're. 325 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 2: WE'RE a twelve foot box van rolled into the parking 326 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 2: lot of a used car dealership In, Memphis. 327 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: Tennessee it was mid. 328 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 2: Afternoon the driver and his passenger climbed, out and the 329 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 2: manager of the dealership strolled out of the little office 330 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 2: to meet. Them the salesman of the lot tried to 331 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 2: hide their. Annoyance the boss should know better than to 332 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 2: divert a willing mark's attention in the middle of a. 333 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 2: Pitch they were annoyed too about this latest promotional idea 334 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 2: and what it. 335 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 1: Costs he could. 336 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 2: Cover a lot of bonus commissions with that. Money salesmen sold, 337 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 2: cars not. Stunts the driver asked the manager where to 338 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 2: set up dead stock and late models had been crammed 339 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 2: together on the outer edges of the lot to clear 340 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 2: a big patch of. Blacktop shuffling the cars around to 341 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 2: create the space meant the salesman at to stay late 342 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 2: the night, before which didn't help their. Attitude the guys 343 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 2: off the truck nodded and went around the. Back at 344 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 2: least they weren't asking the salesmen to help that. Up 345 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 2: building a wrestling ring wasn't something they wanted the marks to. 346 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 2: See everything was calibrated to minimize the impact without looking 347 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 2: like anyone was landing, soft and when a body got, 348 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 2: dropped the crash resonated through the ring and the crowd 349 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 2: felt it in their. Teeth at the waffle house down the, 350 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,400 Speaker 2: Block Dwayne johnson finished his. Lunch he was a three 351 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 2: meal a day, regular. Here the food wasn't, good but 352 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 2: it was, edible and it was. Cheap he was in THE, 353 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 2: wwf but only in its minor. Leagues he made forty 354 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 2: dollars a, match more than he made playing, football but 355 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 2: not enough to live. Large he'd grown up like, this 356 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 2: on the road between, matches two bit hotels and envelopes 357 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: of cash that were never as thick as his stat. 358 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 2: Expected dwyane paid his lunch, bill said so long to 359 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 2: the waitresses and the, cook and they all knew his. 360 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 2: Name he invited them to the. Match it was, free 361 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 2: paid for by the car dealership to bring marks. In 362 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 2: dwyane shouldered his gear bag and walked over to the gig. 363 00:19:59,240 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 1: In the used car. 364 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 2: Lot dwayne offered to help the guys set up the. 365 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 2: Ring it wasn't expected of, him but it was the 366 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 2: decent thing to, do to, offer and the guy said 367 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 2: leave it to the. Professionals the words stuck In dwayne's. 368 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,919 Speaker 2: Head he was a, professional after, all but this was 369 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 2: his second professional. Career the word didn't carry the glamor 370 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 2: he'd imagine when he was a. 371 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 1: Kid today it was a used car. 372 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 2: Dealership tomorrow night they'd set up in a flea market 373 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 2: And saturday was the big gig at The State. Fair 374 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 2: named guys from THE wwf were coming in for, that 375 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 2: And dwayne would be expected to let them go. Over 376 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 2: he tried to remember if his dad had ever been this, 377 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 2: buried but his dad's time coming up was back Before 378 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 2: dwayne was even, born and the manager Told dwayne he 379 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 2: could suit up in the. Office dwayne sat down next 380 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 2: to one of the salesmen and laced up his boots 381 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,919 Speaker 2: as the guy sipped his coffee inside eyed, him and 382 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 2: they were both in the same, spot two guys working a. 383 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 2: Job but he couldn't say it like. That he couldn't 384 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,479 Speaker 2: let on that wrestling was a, job just like selling. 385 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 2: Cars putting on his boots and his, Hair dwayne was in, 386 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 2: Character ben in, character eating his, Lunch ben in character the. 387 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: Minute he stepped out of the two bit motel. 388 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 2: Room into the Muggy memphis, heat and maybe He ben 389 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 2: in character his whole. Life Dwayne johnson hit bottom a 390 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 2: year earlier when he was cut from The Calgary stampede 391 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 2: practice squad at the age of twenty. Three he flew 392 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 2: back To tampa and moved back in with his. Parents 393 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 2: he struggled with depression until, then he'd had a. Chance 394 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:30,919 Speaker 2: and there were guys who bootstrapped their way from the 395 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 2: practice squad to the starting, lineup and there were players 396 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 2: who made the lead from The Canadian Football league to THE. 397 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:39,199 Speaker 2: Nfl But dwayne had fallen out of the bottom of 398 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 2: professional football and. 399 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: There was no way back. 400 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 2: In he had to decide on something, else so he 401 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 2: decided on. Wrestling When dwayne told his father he wanted 402 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 2: to train to be a professional, Wrestler Rocky johnson said, 403 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 2: No he didn't want that life for his. Son he 404 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 2: still Believed dwayne would land a spot in THE. Nfl 405 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 2: it took some time For dwayne to get his father 406 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 2: to come, around and even more For rocky to agree 407 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 2: to train. Him it was, Natural rocky had been Teaching 408 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 2: dwayne wrestling move since before the kid could, walk but 409 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 2: they weren't playing around. Anymore rocky demanded total, commitment And dwayne. 410 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 2: Delivered for five, months he trained, constantly he bulked, up 411 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 2: and Then rocky put in a call To Pat, patterson 412 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 2: an agent with THE. Wwf pat Knew, rocky of, course 413 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 2: and he'd Wrestled dwayne's, Grandfather Peter mavia back in the. 414 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 2: Day pat was, skeptical but he agreed to come To 415 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 2: tampa to See dwayne work, out maybe give him some. 416 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 2: Advice dwayne's whole family was there for the big, day 417 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,160 Speaker 2: including his Girlfriend, danny who'd never seen him. Wrestle she'd 418 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 2: never even seen a pro wrestling match in, person only on. 419 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 2: Television then this was different than. Television rocky And dwyane 420 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 2: faced each. Other they'd sketched out a couple of, moves 421 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 2: But dwayne didn't have a gimmick and there was no, 422 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 2: characters show, off no. 423 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 1: Angle he was. 424 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 2: Getting by on his athleticism and his ability to, sell 425 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 2: which was. Considerable his dad slammed him into the mat 426 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 2: once and then. Again dwayne writhed on the ground like 427 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 2: a spine and snapped him selling but a little too. 428 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 2: Well danny jumped out of her. Seat that's, enough she, 429 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 2: Shouted dwayne's. Her dwayne popped up off the mat and 430 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 2: hopped out of the ring to Calm danny. Down his 431 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 2: dad And pat started in on. Him you don't stop a, 432 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: match you don't break the illusion just because your woman is. 433 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 2: Worried if that's who he, was he didn't have what 434 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 2: it took to make. It with the match, Pause Pat 435 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 2: patterson gave some. Advice dwayne was in great, shape but 436 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 2: he needed a gimmick to bring it all. Together can 437 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 2: you work, here he. Asked dwayne hadn't considered, working. Heal 438 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 2: he imagined himself a, charmer a natural. Babyface he wanted 439 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 2: audiences to love him the way the ladies loved. 440 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: Him in high school and in. 441 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,640 Speaker 2: College But dwayne loved talking smack as much as he loved, 442 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:01,160 Speaker 2: flirting and it came to him just as He when 443 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 2: the match were, Nude dwayne growled and. Snarled his punches were, 444 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 2: rougher his moves. Meaner rocky cracked a smile but stifled. 445 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 2: It he'd been a face when he was in the. 446 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:15,680 Speaker 2: Ring he'd come up against legendary, Heels andre The, giant 447 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 2: The Iron. 448 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: Chic he fed Into. 449 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 2: Dwayne's gimmick as long as he, could but the man 450 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 2: was in his, fifties and after a few more minutes 451 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,679 Speaker 2: he tapped, Out he's too old for the. Ship Rocky 452 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 2: johnson had, enough And Pat patterson had seen. Enough he 453 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 2: put in a call To vince, mcman the most powerful 454 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 2: man in professional, wrestling On dayne's, behalf and that call 455 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 2: Got dwayne a contract in a ticket to the. 456 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 1: Miners it was. 457 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 2: That call that landed him in a used car dealership's 458 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 2: parking lot on a weak night In. Memphis the, crowd 459 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,159 Speaker 2: if he could call, it that found spots in the. 460 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 2: Bleachers they drank tall boys out of paper, bags and 461 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 2: the salesman leaned on chevies and Smoked marlborough. Lights and 462 00:24:57,320 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 2: they'd be stuck cleaning up at the end of the. 463 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 2: Night and they were none too high about. It and 464 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 2: the announcer came over to. Dune got a, name, kid of, 465 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 2: Course Dwayne. Johnson the announcer shook his. Head can he 466 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 2: do any better than? That professional wrestling runs on bitter, 467 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 2: rivalries real and, imaginary and in the mid, nineties there 468 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 2: was no rivalry more bitter or more real than the 469 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 2: one Between vince McMahon's World Wrestling federation And Ted turner's 470 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 2: Upstart Wrestling. League World Championship. Wrestling THE wcw marketed itself 471 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:59,479 Speaker 2: as the edgier alternative TO wwf and nineties. Parlance it 472 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 2: was extreme. WRESTLING wcw storylines were soap, operas and the 473 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 2: fights were more. Violent like any, underdog they loved taunting 474 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 2: their more established competitor WWF's flagship show at the time 475 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 2: Was Monday Night, raw a collection of pre tape, bouts 476 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:22,359 Speaker 2: so THE wcw started Airing Monday nitro broadcast. Live at 477 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 2: the same, time THE wcw poached big NAME wwf stars 478 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 2: Like Paul cogan And Randy Machoman. Savage in nineteen ninety, 479 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 2: nine they pulled the ultimate insult in the first minutes 480 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:39,159 Speaker 2: of A Monday nitro, broadcast A wcw announcer spoiled the 481 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 2: outcome of THE Wwf Championship bouts set to. 482 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:43,359 Speaker 1: Air later that. 483 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:49,400 Speaker 2: Night wrestling produced, rivalries but not many. Friendships it's tough 484 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 2: to stay friends with the guy when you might have 485 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 2: to beat the shit out of him the next, night 486 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 2: and there were, alliances but mostly for show to set 487 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:01,400 Speaker 2: up the heel turned betrayals that powered. Storylines real friendships were, 488 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 2: rare which made The click such an unusual. Group The 489 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:10,160 Speaker 2: click was a backstage, alliance which meant other wrestlers knew about, 490 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 2: it but fans. DIDN'T a proto union made up Of Razor, 491 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 2: Ramone TRIPLE, H diesel At Sean, michaels and they were 492 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:21,160 Speaker 2: rivals in the. Ring TRIPLE h And diesel were, heels 493 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 2: While ramone And michael's were, faces but their friendship and 494 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 2: star status allowed them to consolidate. 495 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 1: Their booking power to push their own. 496 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 2: Profiles when one wrestler complained about having to Let diesel 497 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 2: go over on him in a match. 498 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,880 Speaker 1: He was scheduled to, win the click forced his name down. 499 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 2: The, car turning him into the guy who always took 500 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:43,399 Speaker 2: the fall aka the, jobber a wrestler who lost match 501 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:47,200 Speaker 2: after easy match until he quit the. Business vince McMahon 502 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 2: wasn't running THE wwf as a union, shop and he 503 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 2: didn't like anyone but himself holding. Power When, Razor ramone 504 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 2: And diesel's contracts, ended McMahon decided not to renew and 505 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,640 Speaker 2: they were quickly snatched up by THE. Wus their last 506 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 2: scheduled bouts were At Madison Square garden On may, nineteenth 507 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:09,119 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety. Six Sean michaels Defeated diesel in a cage. Match, 508 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 2: Afterwards Raiser ramone came into the ring and Hugged michaels. 509 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 2: Goodbye this was no big. Deal ramon And michaels were both, 510 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:20,199 Speaker 2: faces but Then triple h a, heel came in and 511 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 2: Hugged ramone And. Diesel all four members of the clique 512 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 2: shared a group hug and raised their arms in, solidarity 513 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 2: a veritable fuck you To vince McMahon in THE. Wwf 514 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 2: it was a huge break of the illusion of, wrestling 515 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 2: possibly the biggest IN wwf. History it never, aired but 516 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 2: there was fan footage in words. Spread vince McMahon was 517 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 2: livid he couldn't Punish diesel Or ramone since they were 518 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 2: leaving for THE, wcw but he buried triple h and 519 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 2: shitty losses for. Months Sean michaels was too popular to 520 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,080 Speaker 2: bury that, way but McMahon launched him on a path 521 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 2: to a heel turn that would cost him his top. 522 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 2: Ranking so McMahon needed a new mark he faced. Wrestler 523 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 2: he Picked Rocky my Via Dwayne. Johnson didn't like the, 524 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 2: name a combination of his dad's first name in his 525 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 2: grandfather's last. Name McMahon wanted to play Up dwayne's status 526 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 2: his third generation a legacy. Wrestler his nickname was The 527 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 2: Blue chipper and his costume was, well you know the 528 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 2: callers you put on a dog after it as surgery. 529 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 1: Or something like. 530 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 2: THAT i don't, know imagine one of those upside down 531 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 2: with blue streamers taped to. 532 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: It it was quite a. 533 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 2: Look rocky My via came out of, nowhere winning The Survivor. 534 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: Series In november nineteen ninety. 535 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 2: Six he was a, fresh clean cup babyface and the 536 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 2: fans hated. 537 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: Him from the. 538 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 2: Start he racked up win after win as crowd shouted, 539 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:47,959 Speaker 2: Die rocky, dye And rocky. 540 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: Sucks he was getting heel. 541 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 2: Reactions with a face, gimmick and there was only one 542 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 2: thing to. DO a year after his, Debut rocky turned. 543 00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:00,360 Speaker 2: Heel he arched his, eyebrow he insulted crowds ba with his. 544 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 2: Opponents he called himself The. Rock almost, overnight he became 545 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 2: the greatest villain THE wwf had ever. Seen now the 546 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 2: fans loved. Him in the, past this kind of behavior 547 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 2: might have gotten him. Booed competing with THE wcw to 548 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 2: see who was. Edgier, however THE wwf entered what fans 549 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 2: dubbed the attitude. Era even the good guys weren't that, 550 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 2: good and fans preferred to root for the bad. Guys 551 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 2: in a flurry of catchphrases and signature, moves The rock 552 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 2: rose through the ranks to win TEN Wwf world, championships 553 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:37,080 Speaker 2: his sites were already set on the world outside. Wrestling 554 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 2: after a cameo playing his own father on that seventies, 555 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 2: Show The rock made his film debut and The mummy 556 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 2: returns in two thousand and, one playing the bad. Guy film, 557 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 2: audiences like wrestling audiences couldn't get, enough and the villain 558 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 2: got a spin off the next. 559 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: Year somewhere in the media blitz. 560 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 2: For The, Scorpion, King johnson was a guest On Howard. 561 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 2: Stern stern asked him it might happen if he stopped 562 00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:04,280 Speaker 2: billing himself as The. Rock who's going to go to 563 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 2: A Dwayne johnson? Movie stern, Joked dwayne, smiled maybe he 564 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 2: already knew the outcome in. ADVANCE a rocket ride from 565 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:15,480 Speaker 2: jewel thief to wrestling icon to the highest paid star In. 566 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 2: Hollywood it's a story that ought to be in. Pictures 567 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 2: I'm Jake brennan and this is Hollywood. Land Hollywood land 568 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:43,520 Speaker 2: was created By Years truly and is produced in partnership 569 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 2: With Double. Elvis follow, like rate and review Hollywood land 570 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 2: wherever you get your, podcasts and get in touch with 571 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 2: us on social. 572 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 1: Media At Double. 573 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 2: Elvis if you like Hollywood, land check out my other, 574 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:56,800 Speaker 2: show the award Winning, disgraceland which looks at the world 575 00:31:56,840 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 2: of music through the lens of true. 576 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: Crime just search For. 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