Before going to Hollywood, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was one of the most popular superstars in the WWE. The most electrifying superstar in the world started out as a face but soon became one of the best heels in WWE history.
Former CEO of the WWE, Vince McMahon, usually has a great sense about the true potential of a fighter in his company. Sure, McMahon knew The Rock will become a fan-favorite during his career. However, it took an electrifying heel run during the early days of Johnson’s career to make that a reality.
Joe Rogan Shared his Honest Thoughts on Vince McMahon’s Original Plan for Dwayne Johnson in the WWE
When a young Dwayne Johnson arrived at the WWE in 1996, he was not even close to the superstar that he became later in his career. Despite that, McMahon saw potential in him and wanted him to always put a smile on his face.
Well, that plan backfired as The Rock turned heel in 1997. In hindsight, it turned out to be a sensational decision. As for the previous plan for The Rock, Joe Rogan defended the former CEO of the WWE for trying to keep Johnson a face in an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
Vince is just so interesting. He’s just an interesting guy and the fact that he’s driven for so long. For so long this guy has been f***ing getting after it and just lives and breathes this idea of crafting narratives, figuring out who’s the good guy, who’s the bad guy, and how to setup a storyline. I can see how he tried the thing about you smiling all the time, you’ve got a great smile. Friendly, good looking guy. Why not? See if people like it.
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Rogan began by praising the former CEO of WWE and ultimately understood his decision to try to ensure that The Rock never wiped the smile off his face.
However, Dwayne Johnson’s heel run from 1997 to 1998 skyrocketed his popularity among fans. So much so that even decades later, there are hardly any superstars that could match his insane charisma when he had the mic in his hands.
Dwayne Johnson Changed His Career After WWE Success
Under the leadership of Vince McMahon, WWE saw insane heights. While there were many superstars like The Undertaker and John Cena, who contributed to the success of the company, The Rock holds a special place in the hearts of the fans.
So much so that when Johnson entered Hollywood as the Scorpion King in the 2001 film, The Mummy Returns, his popularity increased further.
Fast forward to 2023, Johnson has left his WWE days behind but remains one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. As of now, Johnson has several projects under development, including Red Notice 2, San Andreas 2, and Fast X: Part 2.
