Did young Rock actually suck?

The Rock is a megastar and he’s one of the biggest mainstream talents since Hulk Hogan. Despite his stardom it wasn’t always an easy ride for The Rock. He debuted at Survivor Series 1997 and he quickly won the Intercontinental title. Despite his initial push fans didn’t embrace the character and chanted Rocky Sucks apparently. This eventually caused him to throw a tantrum and turn heel. I wanted to find out if he was actually rubbish and if the fans actually turned on him for todays exciting episode of Ring Of The Hawk!
Support The Hawk: www.patreon.com/user?u=27112575

[@am2382]

What saved Rock's career was joining the nation of domination.

[@tormmac]

no, what saved his career was vince russo giving up on tiger ali and giving all the material he was feeding to tiger to rock instead

[@jamalwalker]

​@@tormmac lol no the Rocks heel character had already been established for months before Sing re-debut the only similar thing was that sing said "it doesn't matter" before the Rock did one time

[@tormmac]

@@jamalwalker cope early rock interviews he himself gives russo a majority of the credit for his own character, and your boy the rock only got vusso writing for him personally by changing in pat pattersons dressing room (another thing rock admits on youtube)

[@OscarR2D2]

Nation of Constipation.

[@OscarR2D2]

@@tormmacRocky did suck after all 😉 💰

[@HBK_Mook]

‘97 to ‘98 was a MAJOR change because I swore The Rocky Character was like an EARLY 90’s Gimmick 😂😂😂

[@anonamatron]

Attitude Era happened pretty fast actually, and didn't really stick around very long either.

[@juanresto6756]

The Attitude Era legitimately lasted roughly three and a half years. The Ruthless Aggression Era toppled over AE at least five to six years.

[@HBK_Mook]

@@juanresto6756 that’s crazy 🤯

[@zackattack3867]

ROH: Sting in AEW, he only had 28 matches.

[@thedeadlynose5127]

Niiiice

[@SleepyGrapes]

Now this is a ring of the hawk that could actually challenge for the top spot of the season stings run in aew was so fun one of the best legend/retirement tour runs ever

[@user-nt5ls9vo4g]

He's undefeated in AEW right?

[@thedeadlynose5127]

@@user-nt5ls9vo4g yeah bro pretty sure

[@SleepyGrapes]

@@user-nt5ls9vo4g yeah he never lost a match lol all tag matches either with just Darby or big 6/8 man tag matches never over exposed him in happy he never did a singles

[@tafua_a]

Die Rocky Die wasn't a chant, but a sign someone brought to a show during the Rocky Maivia experiment. I would argue it's actually German for "The Rocky The".

[@B3Band]

Die is the feminine version of "The", so it's still an insult

[@stevengrvp]

Yeah you and sideshow Bob thinks that

[@tafua_a]

@@B3Band Maybe they saw Rocky's gynecomastia

[@kurtbrowning9765]

I enjoyed this reference

[@tafua_a]

@@kurtbrowning9765 I also stole it from Cultaholic, but given the time frame I'm sure the person who first wrote that sign also thought of that.

[@TheMC1102]

Imagine telling someone all those years ago that this weird young Samoan would become one of the company's stockholders and the world's most overexposed actor in the future. Also, a Ring of the Hawk video on The Rock 'n' Sock Connection would be pretty nice.

[@arostwocents]

Great suggestion

[@flyguy7825]

Him being Samoan or have Simone has absolutely nothing to do with it. It’s just him getting an opportunity and clearly he was gonna get opportunities because of how he looked, but the Duke could go in the ring he had ability.

[@jerelminter]

Actually the WWF was telling you that, you just didn't believe it until it happened. Jim Ross was on commentary saying : "That's gonna be the man right there" on DAY ONE at Survivor Series in 96.

[@JWS1985]

All rookies must be required to have a dropkick and a crossbody as part of their movesets.

[@petesmart1983]

Basic moves

[@kennyking9347]

Can we please get a Keith Lee main roster run video with the bearcat gimmick being a bonus run for ring of the hawk

[@jetman80pops]

Nah I'd rather forget that whole debacle even happened

[@40088922]

@@jetman80pops c'mon, Lee's run started off well, he beat Randy Orton in his debut and had some good matches, it was only after his heart infection and time of recovery that things took an 180. if anything, observing the run in a vacuum would be a case study on how fast someone can fall

[@Wisdomcucco]

I think the "Rocky sucks" is a bit overstated but I just want to make two points: 1) We're not seeing Rocky's crowd reactions at house shows, which were a massive part of WWF bussiness back then 2) It's very easy for the crowd noise to be manipulated/edited, RAW wasn't always live, about half the shows were prerecorded and WWF are known to have edited other things around that time. Even if it was live, they could have just pumped fake crows noise in. It's interesting that at WM 13 (which is live), you can hear the chants.

[@arostwocents]

So true

[@NJ973201]

While the second point is true, if the Thursday Raw match with HHH was where the chants started then there were only three episodes he was in that were taped (the matches with Vader, Bret & Savio) since there was a long stretch after Raw went to 2 hours that the shows were almost live every week which lasted until September (or August if we count Friday Night's Main Event) when it was moved to being taped every other week afterwards. As for the first point, I can definitely see that being where the "Die Rocky Die" chant came from since that one never happened on TV from the recorded tapes I used to have.

[@tObito687]

the way wwe talk about it, its like they would have you believe it was roman levels of heat. these chants are there but they're definitely not the whole audience. this character could've worked as a face if he had some mic time and was allowed to develop his promo skills. He was kinda sloppy when he first started, definitely not confident talker he would become. I think as a face he could've gotten over an an enzo amore type face (except rocky is a way better worker) where he uses his great trash talking ability to get the heels off their game. also his moveset here was suuuuper bland, minus the float over ddt, and generic for a face. arm drags and crossbodys are what comes on your default high flyer or technician moveset in 2k

[@Lightman0359]

After some digging, there apparently never was a "Die Rocky, Die" chant, but there were signs

[@Markyd123]

Th screaming kiddies drowned out the die rocky die chants 😂

[@billybadass3056]

so really that whole ppl hating the Rocky Maivia gimmick was just an exaggeration... BTW did Ahmed Johnson have the IC Belt??

[@jacopodondi2372]

Mmmmhhh, I've some old episodes of shotgun saturday(like the first 2?) where the hate is much more aparent

[@andrewyako4058]

Yes, Ahmed Johnson did hold the IC Belt

[@billybadass3056]

@jacopodondi2372 hmm okay

[@billybadass3056]

@andrewyako4058 okay I figured that I just needed to confirm

[@champiion]

Crazy how move sets change as characters evolve.

[@jamalwalker]

I've watched some old USWA footage back when he was still starting and Rock used to wrestle completely differently dude was hitting crossbodys, and splashes he even did a suicide dive between the ropes it was wild

[@flyguy7825]

Yes, to me that was really the lone weakness in the rocks game. His move set was as basic as they come

[@NexusFantismo]

​@@flyguy7825 what main eventer in the attitude era had a complex move set?

[@jerelminter]

It's often due to injuries, Stone Cold was forced to limit his bumps after he hurt his neck from the Owen Hart pile-driver in 97.

[@bepatientIhaveautism]

​@@jerelmintertrue, ecw/wcw era austin had a moderately diverse move set

[@AndreDonDodda-kr9lb]

The weird gut punch was a Haka dance that Polynesians do.

[@DeadKoby]

New guys getting a hard push can sometimes just not work well. He was still figuring out his character... and being in the NOD stable gave him an opportunity to use his trash talk skills.

[@fattiger6957]

A lot of guys start off a bland faces before going heel and getting a chance to show some personality. Jericho was just a bland, boring face when he first started in WCW. Then they turned him heel and he started to get recognition. IMO the best wrestlers gain their following as heels then become face when everyone can't help but cheer for them.

[@nicktaylor2657]

Was Flex Kavana in USWA before debuting in WWE Wrestled Jerry Lawler So fitting he faced him in his debut at Survivor Series

[@jerichobeach2967]

With his work as flex the wwf shoulda known from the start that he had talent as a heel

[@mjl11]

Maybe Roddy Piper in WCW in the late 90s would be interesting for ring of the hawk, he had around 25 matches

[@arostwocents]

There are clips of huge "D Rocky D" chants so im guessing they have all been edited out

[@EvilGeniusHD]

If you're watching these episodes on the WWE Network it's a very real possibility the die rocky die chants have been edited out, ALOT of things from that era have been diluted down to be more acceptable nowadays :)

[@arostwocents]

If you know Simpsons well it's shameful how many jokes have been edited out of Disney+ - half of the shows are missing multiple punchlines. At least once an episode something literally doesn't make sense due to the editing

[@NJ973201]

I used to own videotapes of Raw on USA & nightclub-era Shotgun on NY55 and it wasn't there. My guess is that it happened during certain house shows and looking at results, I see there were some in Philadelphia and in New York City.

[@Kacpi55]

Ring of the hawk always hits like a crack in the 80's... Good to have you marky

[@gregweisal5542]

Yes. Rock and sock connection was one of my favorites as a kid and if I remember right they were barely a team.

[@arostwocents]

It was my favourite Rock period. Foley was the MVP of WWF and should have had a better title reign

[@gregweisal5542]

@@arostwocents was that before hell in a cell or after. I think one reason foly didn't have a lengthy reign was his health but I could b wrong. I gotta find his book.

[@charlesiofaustria7361]

Rock from mid 97-99 was peak Rock IMO.

[@rashedaldahmani2354]

I think you should do the rock and sock connection, that would be fun

[@Geraldo-ro9rc]

no.

[@gameshock2916]

Will Ospreay in WCPW/Defiant Wrestling had 29 matches, and they are all on KZbin. Ricochet in WCPW/Defiant Wrestling is another good choice as he had 15 matches, and they are all on KZbin.

[@petesmart1983]

Wc wouldn't let him get the licence since he makes fun of then

[@hecksters423]

​@@petesmart1983TwatCulture*

[@freeparking301]

What did he call them again? Oh yeah “Twatculture!” Good times.

[@Pjer.]

100% I would love a video on the Rock n Sock Connection!

[@Jeppo1457]

Stan Hansen in wcw

[@ASwagPecan]

Does Big Show’s ECW run qualify?

[@ChristianAlbert]

I don’t remember actual Die Rocky Die chants…but I do remember at least one Die Rocky Die sign in the crowd.

[@Alleged_Mercenary]

He could have put Hoover out of business and yes they did chant Die Rocky Die, I was there.

[@user-mu2mp8ll6c]

Its the only time ive ever remember seeing the shoulder breaker as a finisher and ive been watching since the mid 80s

[@TheSupinesmokey]

Papa Shango used it as a finisher to but his looked different , it was better too

[@theelvis654]

I believe Scott Norton used it for a while

[@user-mu2mp8ll6c]

@@TheSupinesmokey I remember him doing a different variation of it. It was in the Sega game I used to play too! Lol

[@user-mu2mp8ll6c]

@@theelvis654 you know, now that you mention it, I think you are right

[@SirJoelsuf1]

Rock up until he joined the nation is a PERFECT example of how you can't totally get over with JUST in-ring work alone. Cuz from JUMP he was a DAMN good worker, especially for mid-late 1990s WWE standards. But boy was he a charisma vacuum and was WAY too restrained to be entertaining.

[@fattiger6957]

They wanted him to be a generic 80s or early 90s face at the time when that was really going out of fashion.

[@philiphunn194]

I seem to recall the Undertaker saying in an interview that he took one look at Rocky Maivia and thought "This kid ain't gonna make it". I imagine he felt happy when he was proven wrong.

[@babayaga1988]

he wasn't that bad he did have something there but the company and vince let him down with the outdated booking and bad creative

[@jamalwalker]

He wasn't even a bad talker in the USWA he was more similar to his heel persona and it was good his character also fit the period better. Vince just doesn't know how to make a good babyface because they all turn out like Hogan no matter the period Cena, Roman, and Nash all clearly talented but Vince wanted to make them like Hogan so they got booed

[@brewswayne9027]

You're right, and also how many damned people can you make this exact comment about, it's sad

[@marcusalston0910]

That "peacock dance" is his University of Miami fraternity salute

[@wbcwinnipegbeltcollector]

Also look at the star power of his first match CRUSH, LAWLER, MERO, ROBERTS, GOLDY AND ONE OF HIS ARCH RIVALS

[@charlesiofaustria7361]

Rock looked goofy with the broccoli boy haircut.

[@dacobylaw4721]

I never actually thought the rock was the most exciting in the ring when he was wrestling from 1998-2004, but it's crazy watching him do athletic moves like dropkicks, leapfrogs, flying crossbodys, top rope moves, and other stuff like that.

[@jerelminter]

It's probably of The Rock's injuries, he's had 5 knee surgeries, herniated and ruptured discs, and a reconstructed shoulder. That's gonna limit what he can and can't do in the ring.

[@Slow_Burn_Cards]

It's pretty cool seeing the transition The Rock made from being kind of a cartoonish character that would easily blend in with a number of other wrestlers of the time period to coming back and being a much more serious wrestler who would quickly become a foundational staple of the WWF.

[@mermaidman1985]

There was serious politics involved with the Bret v Rock match, the clique wanted Bret to win the IC title to partly cool The Rock's jets and keep The Hitman in the midcard. Bret refused to win the match and said it would do neither of them any good. The fans always suffer with matches that don't go anywhere or make sense due to backstage shenanigans and egos.

[@ricardonb6375]

I was wondering if you'll do a wrestler's run in the USWA promotion

[@Megadebt]

Wow I don't recall The Rock ever sporting an earring ever.

[@jerelminter]

He wore earrings a lot during his Rocky Maivia days, his old pictures from 1996 - 97 show it.

[@fattiger6957]

@@jerelminter The fanny pack Rock look.

[@beastmode_576]

We gotta have Kung Funaki for Ring of the Hawk

[@That_Guy-]

Or jimmy wang yang cowboy gimmick 😂

[@NJ973201]

19:38 He actually injured his knee in a match against Mankind at a house show in June and while he was out, they had him tape promos for the War Zone video game and you can see him with a mustache on him.

[@conradojavier7547]

Please Review The Ringmaster(Stone Cold's Debut Gimmick).

[@jamesytez6639]

Or ECW Steve Austin Run

[@turkishjanitor3666]

That'd be pretty interesting

[@charlesiofaustria7361]

Didn't Austin only have like two matches in ECW?

[@jamalwalker]

The Rocks' first face run is a great example of why Vince was losing the Monday night wars for so long he was stuck in the '80s and early '90s booking had long gone extinct by then and couldn't even see what was going on in his own company (Austin, DX) and outside of it (NWO) was what the people wanted not some corny jerry curl dude with no character.

[@itsjustjo9592]

Lance Archer in WWE. He had a few smackdown matches after his WWECW Run

[@leonarddillon256]

4:50 Yes, I would like to see if Rock n' Sock can do the J.O.B. lets see if nostalgia really did blinded us attitude era fans.

[@SatanSquad]

Early drop kicks were up there. Starting entering the Shove It Zone midway thru

[@celsobernal2695]

Love your videos and work. We need a Rocko and socko connection video. Keep up the great work

[@darrinfromvault801]

The rating Marky gave him is higher than the actual Young Rock tv show deserves. That show and all other network sitcoms can shuv it. I fear if that show is a Patreon request then Marky may quit

[@arostwocents]

There's a Young Rock TV show? W t actual f

[@self-parternerd8661]

Curiously enough both Rocky and Roman started as bland babyfaces ,shoved down the audience throat, and more or less rejected, who then turned heel and become the faces of their generation. 🤷🏼‍♂

[@ThatGamerDudeTy]

Would Justin Credible run in WWE make for RoH or did he have more than 30 matches ?

[@arostwocents]

Im surprised he never had a TNA run

[@petesmart1983]

He did for a short time alongside jerry Lynn but was only for a few months​@@arostwocents

[@turkishjanitor3666]

If you count his Aldo Montoya matches, then yes, that's more than 30

[@LordDeBahs]

@@arostwocents he was glorified jobber . he even got title win as montoya when wwf was short on stars , vinces idea for character obviously

[@gr8powerfuloz86]

Mil Muertes in MLW. 11 matches. Went by King Muertes as it progressed. Has been on the ROTH before but as Judas Mesias so definitely a big difference between his early vs his later days being part of a promotion

[@notashinytyphlosion]

Hello there once again Markyd aka the HAWK, I am once again asking for you to do a ROTH episode on the entire run if Roddy Piper in WCW. You will find that his entire 3 year run consisted of 28 matches on Nitro or PPV (his one other match was a dark match). With a chance to take a look at a legend in Attitude Era WCW, I think the Hot Rod it would be quite fun to watch. I hope you see this and consider taking a look at his run. (Which will probably be a C grade at best) Sincerely, The same joyful viewer from last time who will once again get his head caved in by another brick doing the J.O.B.

[@daJNX]

Not only did we chant "DIE ROCKY DIE!!!" with our whole chest, 2 minutes later we'd cheer him. The 90's were wild.

[@roccojamison89gooker51]

The first Rocky Maivia/Savio Vega match is infamous for Savio Vega doing 6 Nerve Pinches.

[@tafua_a]

Savio Vega's Nerve Pinch: the evolution of the dreaded Davey Boy Smith Chinlock

[@CadChamberlain]

Yes. His finisher was a shoulder breaker and they thought he would be a star.

[@brianboese9884]

I actually liked Rocky during this time period and thought he had a cool look. But also, I was 7. So what did I know?

[@CTback]

3:27 "OK, we won a game yesterday. If we win today, it's called "two in a row". And if we win tomorrow, it's called a "winning streak"...it has happened before."

[@choke9270]

It’s interesting to note that the Rock was a lefty in this era. Throwing left handed punches and the rock bottom on the left side. Later on it was on his right. Strange. Guess it’s better for the hard cam. As a leftie that learnt to do a lot of performance related things right handed. Maybe I noticed it more. Edit; unless the footage was flipped to dodge copyright 😂

[@TophDaGreat]

the continuity of this show was all over the place 🤣

[@Trill_4_Life]

I was at that Raw with Rock and Al Snow from February 17th 1997

[@SamirTripleA]

They pushed him down our throats we hated it and didn’t want it and then became the biggest star and everyone loved him, same with Roman Reigns sometimes a heel turn saves a career better for them not being as forced

[@ageo434_6]

If we’re doing this you should totally do a Hollywood Rock run I think it qualifies??

[@turkishjanitor3666]

10:44 Holy shit, Billy Bob Thornton fought The Rock?!

[@MrBeezyb88]

A Rock n Sock connection would be great

[@freekshow0011]

Well the rumor is that the rock sucked off pat paterson to get his push after rocky miavia was flopping

[@carter3369]

That was HHH

[@spoongina]

I heard it was a 3 way in the sauna?

[@DavidS4209]

As someone who grew up watching wrestling back in the attitude era. Yes I will admit that their were chants and sign's in the crowd that said Die Rocky Die. But even Vince has gone on record that saying something bout the Rock I can't remember what. But nobody liked the Rock until he joined the Nation. The Rock joining the Nation helped his career. And also the Rock Bottom was created to have the Undertaker break character to see if he 😂😂😂

[@RichardWFE]

Marky can you do Batista in OVW

[@theelvis654]

Leviathan!

[@johnkallday]

Not far off from the punches he would end up doing

[@fumpr84]

That end of the 97 Rumble match man, if you had told anyone watching that you were watching the guys who would lead the biggest and simply best in every way boom period in the history of the business, no one would have believed you. Rock, Austin, Foley, Taker, the future Kane.

[@AquariusLeviathanProphecy]

No slap nuts today😢😂😂😂

[@LordDeBahs]

he was still in wcw . doing matches with mongo . i dont even know how many times he switched companies lol . he got record thats for sure

[@AquariusLeviathanProphecy]

@@LordDeBahs right lol crazy how wcw didn't pan out

[@AntonioScott-ic4uf]

That beat playing the background is dope

[@JTwis]

That stalker guy does look like Spike Dudley after puberty

[@pedrocas2847]

Rocky changed my hole life how i see wwe. I saw his risdom live in the 90-2000

[@ShockerTopper]

Before I watch this video…yes, yes he did. His finishing move was a f’n shoulder breaker! I can’t believe I remember that all these years later; but ya. His smiley baby face gimmick with his weird tassel neck piece was just strange. I was a triple h fan from his early days as a blue blood and it pissed me off he lost his IC title to this joke. What isn’t weird is that I forgot he made his debut at Survivor Series in 1996. I remember that PPV pretty well but mainly for being pissed that a)Sid beat my boy HBK and b)the power went out for the feed and I didn’t even get to see what happened

[@AlphaProto]

I remember them cheering Rocky Sucks, but I think Rock said Die Rocky Die in his promo because saying someone sucks was not allowed at the time.

[@provinggroundswrestling9039]

1:08 That Kip up may have been the smoothest one I've ever seen lols

[@kidz4p509]

I don’t think this version of Dwayne sucked. The real problem was that this gimmick debuted in the wrong era.

[@flyguy7825]

1000% agree and I’m not even a rock fan. I think his gimmick sucked and this was damn near a month or two or three months away from the attitude era where everybody had to have a gimmick that connects with the type of story in the type of entertainment that they were going for, and that was really what was lacking From him from the start

[@Vercingetorix.Fantasia]

He was getting a regular chant from the crowd. That's always a good thing.

[@TopFloorTy]

4:37 FORESHADOWINNGGGG

[@bradleybeal8163]

rocky looks taller than vader

[@Mister_Skar]

Vince was trying to do a Roman Reigns and pushed him way too hard way too quickly, the audience resented this. Or that's the impression I got.

[@kisubags437]

I remember instantly being on board with him when he joined the nation. Loved that group

[@NexusFantismo]

You're damn right that I want you to cover The Rock and Sock connection.😂

[@avinegi007]

fantastic work ,can you make a video on entire wwe career of gene snitskey

[@KenRising1996]

Ahmed Johnson WWF run?

[@rugalb98]

Had more than 30 even counting all his injuries

[@ajnboilerup]

Suggestions for future Ring of the Hawk: Hulk Hogan from 1994-1996 before the NWO in WCW. Hollywood Hogan because I think he had less than 30 matches in WCW.

[@Anynom]

I was at Wrestlemania 13 live and always struck by how live crowd was far more lively and loud than what was on TV. So it wasn't that bad for Rocky as folks seem to think it was.

[@jetman80pops]

Since I'm old as hell I remember this era of the Rock well. The die Rocky die came from signs fans brought in the arena. Rocky maivia was mostly rejected because he was an 80s era Babyface throwback. You can tell he had some in ring talent in his early career it was just the character that was horrible.

[@aaronhurst4379]

Cool to see the early stages of the feud and eventual allyship between The Rock and Mankind, here

[@wweminehead5458]

RKK Scott Steiner for ROH please

[@trystanstewart1120]

Mexicools WWE tag run on ring of the hawk

[@chidiokoro934]

Do if rock really buried billy gunn

[@Markyd123]

I swear I already did that

[@freeparking301]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5_ZopyjaribqsU

[@ad206]

5:25 They're chanting "Ba-tist-a! Ba-tist-a!"

[@jerelminter]

Batista wasn't around yet, so I doubt it.

[@anthonyshirley3558]

The Rocks dropkick looks like flying footsy

[@tafua_a]

He just jumps and then goes horizontal

[@joninterglad]

His athleticism was definitely there in his early run with the high cross body and float over DDT but he was definitely green and the crowd just didn't get into him. He was also pushed HARD by the WWF at the time and constantly referred to as "the blue chipper" and the crowd didn't buy that at all either. The shoulder breaker was a weak finisher too, imo, and that may have contributed. Getting him in the Nation where he was able to get more comfortable and natural with his character and promos as well as a flashier finisher did wonders for him.

[@bryanklein6428]

When he got the tattoo and became the brama bull is a turning point in his career

[@deathsnitemaresinfullust2269]

Haa! 5:32 Yeah that was a "Rocky Sucks" chant, probably one of the first ones to be heard on TV. 😄👍

[@ClearestPage98]

Public Enemy’s 1999 WWF run? It’s only like 6 matches but still. They also had a dark match in 1995

[@sparkplug405]

I had just started watching Raw regularly right around this time. Watching the rise of The Rock in real time was pretty cool, even though I was an Austin guy back then.

[@BigHossAC]

Watching this one gave me a good suggestion for Ring of the Hawk, John Cena’s pre rap gimmick run in 02

[@conradojavier7547]

Also Reveren D-Von as a Singles Star.

[@bsovvy07]

Kurt angle end of tna run for a video or dolph ziggler and lana love triangle would be good videos

[@Jajanken98]

Camacho aka Tonga Loa at the Ring of the Hawk