The Father to the professional wrestler and actor, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has passed away, aging 75 years.
The deceased, Rocky Johnson (real name, Wayde Douglas Bowles) who was himself a former professional wrestle was on Wednesday confirmed dead in a statement released by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Born on 24 August 1944, Johnson grew up in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada briefly before moving to Toronto to start off his wrestling career.
In his teenage years, Johnson started the training to become a boxer right from his teenage years. And so, he got in to the industry with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in the mid-1960s, and adopting the ring name “Rocky Johnson”
He rose to spotlight in the 1980s being part of the first black tag team to win a WWE championship. Soul Man, as he was referred to then, helped train his son Dwayne in becoming a WWE star after his retirement in 1991. His son has since then gone ahead to become a huge success in the sport before becoming an actor, starring in blockbuster movies such asFast & Furious 6 and the Jumanji franchise.
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“He found his greatest success when he teamed up with Tony Atlas as The Soul Patrol,” WWE said in its statement. “The two men became the first African-American World Tag Team Champions in WWE history when they defeated The Wild Samoans on 10 December, 1983.”
In another of its statement, WWE said it was “saddened” to hear of his death and “extends its condolences to Johnson’s family, friends and fans,”
“he will be forever enshrined as one of sports-entertainment’s most influential performers”, the WWE said.
It will be recalled that Dwayne in 2008 inducted him into the WWE Hall of Fame. His co-hall of fame member Triple H in paying tribute to Johnson has described as a “barrier-breaking performer”
Johnson’s professional career will be remembered for his high-flying drop kick in the ring. A gravity-defying feat, this move would often send Johnson’s opponents hurtling towards the canvas.
The cause of his death, to this moment has not been mentioned.
