The Story of "Hollywood" Rock in 2003

Wrestling Bios Presents - The Story of "Hollywood" Rock in 2003
During the late 90s and into the 2000s, The Rock became a megastar in professional wrestling. Dwayne Johnson was not only one of the most loved and popular superstars in the ring, but his charisma took him far in the world of entertainment for beyond a wrestling ring. TV shows, endorsements, movies, The Rock became a household name thanks to the character he first displayed while in the WWE.
When WWE fans noticed that The Rock was spending more time away from wrestling and more time making movies, they felt snubbed by The Great One. In late 2002, when The Rock faced Brock Lesnar at Summerslam, the crowd got behind Brock, knowing that the People's Champion would be leaving them once again to film movies.
When The Rock returned to the WWE in 2003, he had a brand new attitude and a new character. Dubbed by fans as "Hollywood" Rock, this new version of The Rock felt that the fans had turned their backs on him. What would follow were some of The Rock's greatest promos and some really entertaining matches that really hold up today.
In today's Wrestling Bios mini documentary, we take a look at the worldwide megastar known as The Rock and the time he spent in the WWE during 2003. Topics covered:
00:40 - The Rock gets into acting
02:52 - The Rock vs Brock Lesnar at Summerslam 2002
05:59 - "Hollywood" Rock debuts on Smackdown in 2003
07:12 - Rock vs Hogan II at WWE No Way Out 2003
10:10 - The Rock's promos with The Hurricane
12:30 - The Rock challenges a returning Stone Cold Steve Austin
14:58 - Steve Austin vs The Rock at WrestleMania XIX
16:02 - Goldberg debuts in the WWE and challenges The Rock
- Much More!
Opening Theme sampled from "Hollywood Rock Theme Cover" by JaydeGarrow/
#wrestling #documentary #TheRock

[@RandomBlackGamer]

Enjoyed this version of The Rock. I enjoyed him even more in Smackdown HCTP. His heel moveset was so damn fun.

[@jordandennis6794]

Samoan Drop, sit up and clap clap clap. I remember doing that in HCTP all the time

[@RandomBlackGamer]

@@jordandennis6794 lol I remember trolling my friend by using Rock's face slap grapple over & over until the head damage was in the red.

[@jphasson]

That sounds pretty dope. The last wrestling game I played was WCW/NWO: Revenge. I loved it so damn much I never wanted to play another PW game again. I also went to college and I had very little time or money for games at that point.

[@Maradala]

God your damn right. The drop then clapping, then taunting with the finger point to the head was the way to get anyone pissed off. It was awesome

[@youngcity4241]

Why don’t they make signature animations like that anymore in wrestling games

[@gsignaturemessage]

I remember when he appeared on the Slammys and the crowd Boo’d him when he appeared via satellite and you can tell that he was trying to be face and the segment didn’t went well. I felt that was pivotal on him coming back heel officially. I can’t be the only one that remembered this lol

[@BrianLG100]

I seen it.

[@jarrettpennington4579]

I remember it. He was also pissed that the fans voted for Austin as wrestler of the decade or something and that helped fuel his heel turn.

[@og3777]

@@jarrettpennington4579 lol

[@bthesilentgames]

@@husqua5362 also that match with Hogan at WM18 was a turning point. People there booed him though hogan was the big heel and Rock babyface

[@ChiGuy251]

It was Raw's 10th anniversary awards show and yeah they were booing so hard. He was actually entertaining there too but the fans were not having it that night.

[@taylormademyself89]

This was my fav version of rock .. him and the hurricane going back and forth joking about the other was awesome .

[@thataurus2492]

"I got my hurrah powers BITCH" that line cracked me up

[@brandonyouth5241]

The fans that he lost at SummerSlam 2002, he got back at the end of Backlash 2003. Indeed came to full circle.

[@ShroomDoggyDogg]

The rock also antagonized the crowd the entire Summerslam match and played the roll of the heel during the match as well. Shows how versatile and captivating he was. Great performer!

[@gerardocont03]

Started watching WWE around this time so I didn't grow up with Austin & Rock. I continued watching up until Brock Lesnar returned in 2012. After his match with Cena at Extreme Rules that year I stopped watching full-time. I only watch whatever interesting segments come out on KZbin now. Having grown up more around the Ruthless Aggression Era, one of my favorite WMs is 26 since it featured Batista, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Edge, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Cena, and Undertaker. Which was the last time some of those would be wrestling.

[@jordanjuarez8102]

When I get a text message, the tone is the rock asking if I can smell what he is cooking!!! I say yes, every time.

[@DragzFire]

After all the Rock has accomplished he never got to walk out of Mania as the WWF/WWE champion

[@superlex611]

Never had a Wrestlemania moment to close the show

[@DragzFire]

Yea exactly...HHH has walked out heel and face with a belt...Rock wins the Rumble in 2000 and still doesn’t win the main event mania

[@superlex611]

@@DragzFire a disrespectful moment at that time

[@Venemofthe888]

The Rock has held the wwe title with 4 different designs im not sure if anyone else has done this

[@2126beatz]

Hulk hogan 84 Green belt title. 85 and 86 belts. 87 title, winged Eagle title 88 to 93. Undisputed title 2002.

[@spinebuster9490]

The Rock: The Rock has a very big night millions and millions of The Rock's fans waiting for him The Crowd: BOOOOOOOOO! The Rock: The Rock said _millions and millions of The Rock's fans waiting for him_ 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@passmorekj2010]

I swear that was my favorite line lol

[@fabio0352]

Hollywood Rock is my fav gimmick of all time. The Rock is a pure genius

[@georgemunro319]

Saying that The Rock is charismatic is like saying winter is cold he was undeniable he truly was the most electrifying man in not just the WWE but the entire wrestling business he became bigger than the WWE not even Stone Cold Steve Austin became bigger than wrestling he became the biggest in wrestling history but The Rock transcended the business

[@ILLeeT36]

The best Rock of all time. This run needed a solid years worth of content atleast tho

[@cobracyxx8808]

I love Ric, Macho and the Warrior as far as promos, but the Rock is the best on the mic. I'mma let you finish, but "Steiner Math" is the greatest promo of all time!!!

[@AstonishingRed]

I never understood why people turned on the Rock. I mean the dude was just trying to be successful outside the ring. I was all for it. He entertained me and many others all through our troubled teen years. He deserved it.

[@adamdaniel01]

This particular version of the rock was my favorite heel ever

[@GrayFox8983]

Not to mention the fans didn't know whether to boo or cheer, plus the "Is Cookin" theme is my favorite theme of my favorite all time wrestler

[@ViraL_FootprinT.ex.e]

A real Rockajabroni, that guy 😎

[@oooo1110]

He litterly begged the crowd to boo him as Hollywood Rock and they didn't. 🤣

[@bobbyboucher3815]

Simply the greatest ever

[@francisovah8879]

I remember watching heel rock every week and I hated him but his songs made me laugh, ahhh memories of the good old wwe days

[@thetonyclay]

He's coming back boys! Hollywood/Corporate Rock 2024 this Friday!

[@TheLegginator]

His Heel turn solidified him as the Greatest of All time. John Cena would be challenging for that praise had he gone back to the Doctor of Thugganomics Cena.

[@fahadalshareef]

How I can see what happen to after summer slam 2002 off air?

[@Lawyernumber1]

Such a great topic Thumbs up on this video!!!!

[@chibwekapalajnr]

Best rock ever

[@kashteller7466]

The best version of The Rock

[@Raj-ul9my]

I loved this rock so much he was funny and a great heal

[@Juan_rivera]

Crisp Ben Wah never heard of her...

[@totibro1186]

This the best rock

[@austin316rules9]

Oh yeah, the rock has sold out, the rock has sold out every arena he's been in.

[@jonathonfulmore7097]

Movie theaters too!

[@axlsixx4679]

@@jonathonfulmore7097 that is a fact my friend

[@soolthegreat1581]

He killed that promo

[@jakelang806]

Classic line

[@Thor-Orion]

Jonathon Fulmore i was about to say; “and theaters on opening nights for his movies the world over!”

[@atlien1988]

Interesting how The Rock’s run was insanely short, yet generationally iconic.

[@Mickieshelton]

What it means everything he did was quality.

[@theazureknight9399]

His run being short also meant that it never had the time to get old and for fans to get bored of him. Same with Stone Cold btw.

[@ArthurKillingsworthJr]

Yet Cena on top for 10 years got so stale and cancerous

[@Hausbrauen]

Short runs with a lot of effort and talent behind them *are* typically the greatest. That's why knowing when to cut something before it gets stale is so important.

[@bigolebot]

Not better than Ric Flairs run

[@danielmankowski922]

The Rock: " Hey it's nothing, he knows you!" The Crowd: laughing The Rock: " Aw don't laugh at the Rock's jokes!"

[@DC4L1991]

Daniel Mankowski any Heel Rock was the best heel ever!

[@Sheffdawg2305]

I was thinking about this moment the other day.

[@jerelminter]

I was at that show on WWE RAW the night when The Rock did that, that was the same skit when The Hurricane said : _"From what I saw behind that curtain, it means The Scorpion King got a tiny ding a ling"_ after Rock asked him what the line : _"Aku Machente"_ from the movie The Mummy Returns meant, and then everybody in the arena burst out laughing.

[@felixpimentel7401]

Every kid was actin like the rock in middle school lol great times

[@programSense]

Raising eyebrows to the ladies in 8th thinking it was a thing. Oh god...

[@thesprock5270]

Felix Pimentel I got in school suspension for telling our custodian to know his roll and shut his mouth (jokingly) but he didn’t take it as a joke lol. He was a wrestling fan too. Good times

[@Chosen.1296]

@@programSense still going strong though lmao

[@Jimmy_Hopkins15]

I was one of them lmao

[@jakelang806]

and in high school

[@-Thunder-Warrior-]

"Eeeeasy there Big Fella!"

[@Machete87]

When Rock feuded with Hurricane Helms. Good times

[@TheNoirAlien]

Whoa

[@robbirob557]

The Hamburgler 😂😂😂

[@Machete87]

@@robbirob557" gonna throw a cheeseburger @ the Rock?!"🍔

[@pedrogates3189]

😂😂

[@fitness65]

Hollywood rock was awesome he had a kickass theme song he had that swag when he walked to the ring and his promos at that time were legendary especially when he dissed Sacramento I still watch that promo from time to time on KZbin.

[@Machete87]

That version of the Rock was koo.

[@suprcrzy]

"Don't be mad cause the Rock's good friend Shaquille O'Neal called em the Sacramento Queens!!" He got so much heat that night. Legendary

[@kevinpayton2664]

"when the Lakers beat the Kings in May"

[@aaron_aj_knight_95]

"THEY GOT SOME FAT A-- WOMEN THERE, AND ROCK IS JUST GONNA SAY NO."

[@aleefmohammed244]

How do you people live here you must be insane ...

[@rockajabroni5975]

*This was also the last time Jerry Lawler was entertaining as a heel.*

[@tylerpitman2339]

Agreed. I like Paul Heyman and Jr better than Jerry and jr

[@TrideepNagg]

@@tylerpitman2339 oh hell no king and Jim Ross were gold

[@keepthatsameenergypodcast]

@@TrideepNagg facts he tripping

[@brickmoney4152]

@@TrideepNagg don’t know what dude is talking about. Jr and King are HOF commentators. Paul Heyman is nice , but hell so was Vince McMahon

[@GamerkillahBlaze]

Jr and King are the best commentary period

[@davidking5559]

"It's for you, it's Nobody! He says he knows you" *CROWD LAUGHS* "Don't laugh at The Rock's Jokes"

[@theguywhocomprehends8814]

Nothing

[@thejesman]

For me, Wrestlemania 19 was the end of an era. Stone Cold retired and The Rock would spend more time working on movies. In my opinion, that was the point where the product really started going downhill.

[@jumbomacaroni]

TheFatalitiesTV this is true Brock was huge from his introduction and new stars like Randy and Batista we’re taking huge strides in the main event scene, let’s not also forget Kurt and Trips were also big stars along with Cena and Edge. But when Hogan, Austin and The Rock left that was the end of the Ruthless aggression era. Soon things would decline into the PG era where the WWE went public on Wall Street.

[@BlackFlash7]

It started going downhill the second Bischoff handed the world title to HHH. You could hear the wrestling world collectively groan lol

[@dildonius]

@@jumbomacaroni that was the beginning of the Ruthless Agression era, which continued until 2007 to 2009.

[@og3777]

That an when both Goldberg & Brock left the next year

[@og3777]

@@jumbomacaroni lol Hogan was washed back then , more like when Goldberg & Brock left

[@shanison5901]

I've always referred to this version of The Rock as "Hollywood Heel Dwayne". This heel turn and doing his stints with The Hurricane and The Rock Concerts were nothing but pure gold.

[@King_Grizzly]

Completely agree. I've always wondered if off camera they had great chemistry and the writers took a notice to it. Their short program together was beyond entertaining & hilarious.

[@Juwellz18]

I think his Hollywood theme is his best music.

[@spinebuster9490]

@@rubberchix ?

[@desmondsimon4315]

1998 theme music

[@acerpro101]

Desmond Simon exactly the very clear “do you smell what the rock is cookin?”

[@romierome8385]

Yeah especially the beginning.

[@lamar1990lg]

#1 '98 to '99 Corporate Rock #2 '00 to '01 People's Champ Rock #3 03' Hollywood Rock #4 '97 Domination Rock #5 '02 Comeback Rock

[@lonewolf604]

"Don't boo the Rock fatty, the rock gets more pie in a week than you get in a lifetime" xD

[@albertthewisecrow]

That Concert before WrestleMania XIX was so epic. “He’s guilty of shoving chicken McNuggets up his a**” lol Hollywood Rock was so much fun. Shame it didn’t last too long! Great video!

[@poopsyko]

Albert Butler that had me rolling too hahaha the chicken McNuggets up his ass thing fuckin cracked me up so hard lol

[@JayCity10]

My favorite line was during Rock Appreciation Night. Goldberg was to debut and the crorwd began chanting Goldberg's name. The Rock procedded to say " Don't think you're cool because you know The Rock's accountant Ira Goldberg ok. It's tax season I get it." Only The Rock could have thought of something that witty, clever, and funny.

[@Nocofella]

and now 21 years to the exact month Hollywood rock was born he's due to now come back during this run.

[@Hustlinhusky22]

The first rock concert in Sacramento was my first wrestling event ever and man, when he dropped that Lakers best the Kings in May line, it was so brutal. Before the segment even started, the whole entire arena was just booing the heck out of a guy who was wearing a Lakers jersey that was trying to get back to his seat. With being said, I definitely took Hollywood Rock for granted. He was true comedy gold

[@WrestlingBios]

That whole episode of Raw was great. I ended up watching the entire thing while grabbing some images. The HBK / Jericho in-ring segment was fun too!

[@luvmenow33]

That song was amazing. The crowd lost it with that Lakers beat the kings in May line. That was my favorite Rock Concert but a close second was when he sang , "Byatch, you look horrible tonight" to Vickie. You dress like a hooker, & not the expensive kind. Pure Gold.

[@TheShapeshifter]

Literally fresh off of the 2002 conference finals battle.

[@MrE51917]

@@TheShapeshifter which was rigged in the lakers favor, like most things the lakers won.

[@patrickadams7120]

Hollywood Rock was definately feeling Ucey....😂😂😂😂😂

[@tyquanrainey6039]

This is when we all knew, The Rock was definitely going to Hollywood around 2003. Which was also the beginning of the Triple h burial era. #TheRockIsTheGoat

[@rogelioarmentasolorzano3848]

Tyquan Rainey of course, with Rock and Austin out of the way who could have stopped him?

[@dildonius]

@@rogelioarmentasolorzano3848 Well, Eugene was about to debut....

[@tyquanrainey6039]

@@rogelioarmentasolorzano3848 True, but he could have tried to evaluate others, rather than to buried them. You had the talent of Jericho, kane, RvD, Christian, Booker t, edge, Benoit, goldberg, steiner, hell even the hurricane helms, only one's he look after was shawn micheals. He did help Flair, Orton, and Batista, but that's only in evolution. The business definitely would've been bigger than it was, if his ego wasn't so huge. But triple h only made it about him, as the saying goes. It's all about the game, and how you play it. #MakeTheBusinessBetter

[@rogelioarmentasolorzano3848]

Tyquan Rainey True I agree, those are and were great stars. BUT none of them were Vince’s favorite like Austin or The Rock. Those 2 out of the way and also Undertarker ( he was on Smackdown) he was the favorite, the son in law, the cerebral assassin and he knew how to play the game. As the saying goes “ You have to learn to play with the cards that life gave you”

[@tyquanrainey6039]

@@rogelioarmentasolorzano3848 Not all the time friend, Cm Punk saw the cards vince & triple h was playing, and he got out of dodge. So did Cody Rhodes, which was great, cause if that didn't happen, we wouldn't have AEW.

[@mikesharon2177]

Once him and Austin left forget it I haven't followed since.. I think the attitude era died when they left!! Austin vs Rock=s The Greatest Rivalry Of All Time!!! 👇🏼

[@terrancefoster5270]

Honestly the Attitude Era ended after Wrestlemania 17 when they went into the invasion angle

[@ryuno2097]

The Rock looks "small" compared to how he looks now.

[@superlex611]

The Rock did lose weight at that time

[@shawnevans4959]

That because he was not doing movies at that time

[@shawnevans4959]

@@superlex611 he was younger and he was not doing movies or in gym

[@superlex611]

@@shawnevans4959 ok

[@aboriginalson]

He was massive in 2000 during his feud with hhh. He lost weight for the movies.

[@jerelminter]

I wish the Hollywood version of The Rock lasted longer but at the same time, I'm glad it didn't because too much of the same thing eventually runs its course. If you look no further than The Rock's babyface run from 1999 to 2002 before his brief heel turn in 03, it's the reason why he did it again in the first place, his face gimmick was getting stale and the novetly of his Hollywood gimmick would've worn off too. Sometimes less is more.

[@antwilder]

The rock had the most drip by far nobody got sauce like the great one

[@djr1829]

@ Ant Wilder. What happened to your head?

[@Vibe1610]

@@djr1829 You’ve never heard of waves? Lmao

[@g-dub5272]

Brother you are without a doubt the best wrestling channel on YT

[@sarthakbhalerao1045]

the rock was probably the most screwed wrestler as a face.... always put young talents ahead, had small championship reigns unlike stone cold or hunter, was gold on mic, stone cold was about hard mouth insult style with less comic more intense, rock used humour and pure words to insult that no one has ever came close to apart from book or jericho maybe,

[@nottoomuch87]

Yepp, which is why it made perfect sense for him to leave for greener pastures. Him not winning WM17 was literally a slap in the face but we know why that happened smh.

[@NitroNEXT]

This entire run from Wrestlemania X8 to the Hollywood Rock story was the peak of my childhood. Nothing else on television had me as captivated as wrestling did at the time. Summerslam 2002 was definitely still my most memorable WWE pay per view, the Triple H/Shawn Michaels feud plus the Brock Lesnar/Rock matches had such incredible build-ups that I don't think I'll ever forget them. Truly legendary stuff from all those men.

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

As much as I enjoyed The Rock as the corporate champion in November 98 - April 99, his best work was his heel run as Hollywood Rock in 2003. He was so funny and entertaining, his promo in Toronto Canada where he faced Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania X-8 is an absolute classic and the way he owned the fans for booing him out of the building. This period really showed how versatile he was as a performer and was always constantly reinventing himself, he got viciously booed at Summerslam 02 and straight away turned heel when he came back in 03. He never dragged things out and always knew when it was time to change his character. He isn't just one of the greatest of all time but one of the smartest, he always turns a negative to a positive and uses it to his full advantage. His promos were amazing as always and put over so many guys including Goldberg and Hurricane. He beat Hogan at No Way Out and finally beat Austin at Wrestlemania. So even though this heel run lasted three months, I still consider it to be his best one ever.

[@michaelsayles33]

If only it could've been a little longer tho

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

@@michaelsayles33 same here. It was so epic, I would have loved to have seen him stayed longer as a heel, he was so damn good at it.

[@michaelsayles33]

@@WarhawkBeyond2040 right but that's apart of the reason it was so great but it's amazing looking back now seeing how great he really was truly an all time great

[@jakelang806]

is dissagree his character here acted scared. atleast corporate rock had nuts

[@jakelang806]

@Stanky Danky You truely didn't misd much

[@itsX2024]

You left out Rock getting booed at the 10th Anniversary of RAW episode where he appeared via Satellite. He teased turning heel during the promo.

[@jerryglenn5122]

At wrestlemania 18 the fans weren't necessarily hating on The Rock. It was clearly nostalgia for Hulk Hogan. Summerslam 2002 was a different story. They legitimately felt the Rock was abandoning them to make movies

[@jaust9077]

Yeah, i was genuinely suprised at the rocky sucks chants at summerslam when Brock was clearly supposed to be the heel.

[@BC250]

Hollywood Rock is back for WrestleMania 40 🤯

[@hash4700]

Keep going bro, 100k in no time. Another great topic

[@Ghost-zq7bh]

'Leaving Sacramento.....'... The Rock concert was a classic moment.

[@TheSBleeder]

"But I'll be sure to come back when the Lakers beat the Kings in May!"

[@Moonboy65]

"Hollywood Rock" is probably the most entertaining version of The Rock, his segments with the Hurricane and his concerts were pure gold.

[@r.harris5615]

It's seems that the Scorpion King got a tiny dingaling😂😂😂😂

[@suprcrzy]

"WHOA!! NO!! WHOA!! WHAT?!? NO!!"

[@r.harris5615]

@@suprcrzy 😂😂😂😂

[@robbirob557]

'Easy big fella' 😂😂😂

[@thethirtythree482]

Meat gazer

[@davidstewart1061]

I loved how Cena clowned him for years when he went Hollywood. And then he got bit by the Hollywood bug,and now look at him. True hypocrisy

[@devonjones5200]

Cena legit apologized for it. And cena put in way many more years of work in wwe than rock did. And cena didnt go hollywood till he was in his 40s, a time when youre getting too old to be getting physical all the time, rock left during the peak of hia prime

[@jordandennis6794]

Cena apologized for it because he realized guys like The Rock did the right thing. Cena screwed up waiting to long to get to Hollywood. Rock did it at a good time

[@210SAi]

Well scripted for Cena by the writers

[@Crystopsy]

Oh, the memories. I was never a huge Rock fan to begin with, but when we realized he was leaving and going to Hollywood, we (the fans) took notice. In hindsight, as we all know "The Rock" was a major player and earned all the respect he was given. He's definitely a hell of a role model.

[@RC99_Productions]

"The New Shiny Toy" Brock Lesnar.... imagine the alternate universe where Brock's nickname was that instead of "The Next Big Thing" lol

[@KillaMusiktv1BlACKEYEDCORN]

No thanks.

[@gregoreisenhorn5093]

There isn't a man alive who can generate heat like a heel Rock on the mic.

[@thenycestmc]

lol elias in Seattle was a 1 shot that was better though lol

[@maxdecphoenix]

Jericho.

[@DylanAlexander93]

Jericho, hhh, angle, and even taker were way better heels than rock

[@TenshinhanIsKing]

Roman reigns John Cena As a heel Y2J HBK HHH Cm Punk And many others

[@DragonBallzMoviesHD]

@@DylanAlexander93 lol . Not even close

[@jaygreene5337]

This was around the start of my dark wrestling period.

[@owdeezstrauz1268]

yup! right around when i stopped watching

[@Juwellz18]

Same here

[@The_General_Zubas]

Yea....when Bentiot.....ya.know

[@jerelminter]

@@The_General_Zubas That was in 2007, The Hollywood Rock stuff was in 03 when that didn't happen yet.

[@The_General_Zubas]

@@jerelminter That was my dark Times.

[@darnelljefferson8617]

New look, best catchphrases, ROCK concerts, FINALLY beat Austin in Mania while being a heel. One of the best runs ever.💯🔥🙅🏾‍♂️

[@N_A__]

You are an absolute monster churning out this content so consistently.

[@LilZeusWrld]

The Rock put so MANY people over probably more than any other wrestler who was at the top .

[@demonic-deadbeat3212]

I liked The Rock back in the Attitude Era as well as in the Early to Mid 2000's when he would Mock the other Superstar's & The Skits with the Hurricane all of it was hilarious. Tears.. Good Times

[@jarrettpennington4579]

Love this bio. The heel "Hollywood" Rock seems to get overlooked but he was great as this character and his segments with The Hurricane were hilarious and his new slower theme music was awesome.

[@17southmusic40]

Corporate Rock next please

[@deadalivestore]

Ah this was so short lived but probably my favorite version of The Rock. People loved him but he actually made people hate him regardless. What an amazing performer

[@mageside]

The Rock and Austin feud in 2003 was one of my favorites, it felt like watching the last in the trilogy and felt more personal than Mania 17 and 15, Mania XIX felt like the real end of an era because Rock and Austin had one last go round on the greatest stage of them all.

[@anthonygordon9483]

You have to remember that the only reason The Rock returned to WWE was just to obtain his title again. When he became a fulltime actor, he lost his name cause Vince owned the title The Rock. When he was a full time Actor his name was Dwayne Johnson. After he returned to be Hollywood Rock, Vince gave him his title back when he obtained a new contract with him and now when you see him in the Movies his title is now Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Vince still has him under his thumb but I think Dwayne loves the wrestling business so much , he doesnt care which is why I love him so much as a wrestler. Wrestling is in the rocks blood. amazing life. The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin WAS the Attitude Era hands down.

[@thefestivalofatonement2470]

Heel Rock was way more entertaining than baby face Rock.

[@Mambaman7771]

Hollywood Rock was so awesome. You can actually identify with Rock's frustration, and the fans frustration as welll so it was a perfect gimmick.

[@DC4L1991]

“Yaaaayyyy he said Toronto! That’s where we live! We’re from Toronto!! AWWWWW SHUT UP!!!” 🤣🤣🤣

[@fredmiller8824]

The Rock made himself a star, People use to yell die Rocky die They turned on him at Wrestlemania with Hollywood Hulk Hogan

[@criminalmindsgirl2936]

I never cared for his movie career. I only seen like 4 or 5 of his films. But still, I can't get into his movies. I preferred his wrestling career better.

[@jerelminter]

Yeah it's the same with me, I've seen more of his movies than you have just to see if he would improve as time went on but nope, he just plays different variations of The Rock over and over again. In his latest one Jumanji he turns his head to the side and does The People's Eyebrow and in Baywatch he's shirtless flexing his muscles on a beach so you really didn't miss much.

[@criminalmindsgirl2936]

@@jerelminter, I totally agree. I find his wrestling career more entertaining than his movie career.

[@peterbruno657]

The best Rock was when he was in the Nation of Domination right before they turned on Farooq. That was when we got to see how great of a heel he truly was. All his heel runs after that, the fans didn't truly hate him. Even when he insulted the town he was in, fans cheered him.

[@ripstackbripchinxdcrew4485]

Peter Bruno yup there used to be DIE ROCKY DIE signs they literally hated the man

[@luvmenow33]

He was still really good during that first program against StoneCold When it was the Corporate Ministry. The stable kinda sucked but Heel Rock vs Austin up to WM 17 was awesome.

[@jakelang806]

you mean the corp

[@christopherray6370]

Especially when Farooq was fight Steve Blackmon and the Rock had the picture of himself ringside. 🤣 🤣 🤣 great times.

[@Advait_Deshmukh_11]

​@@christopherray6370 hahahahaha

[@kingofnewyork8818]

The Rock had a solid like 7 years in the ring and can be considered top 5 ever if not 1a or 1b with Austin. Imagine if he stayed 10, 15 or 20 years smh

[@Rezzylite]

His Hollywood theme is up there with the Brood’s theme as one of the best of all time. Johnston was a genius!

[@criminalmindsgirl2936]

WrestleMania matches that should have happened: Kurt Angle vs. Triple H Kurt Angle vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin Kurt Angle vs. The Rock Triple H vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin

[@AlphaProto]

Hollywood Rock was super fun. He would clap for himself when or opponent after a good move. I remember the crowd booing him while they laughed. I don't know if any prowrestler ever got that reaction.

[@bronxmade8710]

“It’s a shame that WWE didn’t take this approach with other superstars the years that followed” Via stars like John Cena and Roman Reigns...

[@dustman820]

Even though they should have done it sooner, at least they did with Roman Reigns. I bet now Cena wishes he did do a heel turn. It would have been great for his career if he and WWE would have ran with it when the boos got started.

[@JimmyBum-m3l]

He may have had the best character run in wrestling history with Hollywood Rock.. Positive and Negative..And both is Hollywood Rock was 3 months.Not the greatest wrestler but promos and entertaining...

[@slanderman3296]

Hulk hogan.......you mean double H right?

[@ant0586]

98 heel Rock with The Nation and especially with The Corporation was absolutely tremendous. This Hollywood version is another reason why he was so much better as a heel.

[@b24jackson37]

I'm 31 years old. Besides the 2000 Rock, this has to be the best Rock of all time .. I believe it was only 3 to 4 months but man, everything he did was a reminder of why you loved the guy in the first place. The Rock is forever, the great one!

[@juanharrybear9116]

His theme music of this era is my all time favorite one. So good yet so underrated.

[@yung_ph3nom147]

My favorite Hollywood Rock Promo in Toronto! Finally The Rock has come back To.Run To.Run To Run His Mouth On All Your Candy Azzzzz...😆

[@jdubyapee3709]

Best theme song ever!! Its my birthday and I was just slappin that song walkin down the street... Good times then man. Jim Johnston KILLED it on this one

[@djr1829]

Sad attempt to get happy birthday wishes dude. Poor guy

[@beefgravystudios]

It was so great to see the Rock beat Austin at WM given how Rocky was always willing to put others over

[@jakelang806]

tbh rock should have won at 17

[@jackcarraway4707]

In just a matter of a few weeks, Rock turned Hurricane into Raw's top babyface.

[@stephenremnant8151]

The Rocks best fued ever was with The Hurricane

[@Nickles4]

Nothing will beat the $300 shirt rock

[@AnoopKumar-ve7bf]

The rock was a born heel just like Vince and Stephanie. So entertaining when they are at their best

[@DjTractus]

“One Rock Bottom! Two Rock Bottom! 3 Rock Bottom!” And soon later in that segment “Whose Next Rock? YOU’RE NEXT!” *Spear*. That was epic

[@thrillathakilla]

I know The Rock as a Wrestler primarilly. My girlfriend knows him exclusively as an actor. She has no Idea what I'm on about when I mention the People's Elbow or his theme song or Westlemania.... Then I showed her his Pie song and she didn't believe it was him!