Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has become one of the most well-known actors in Hollywood, starring in a range of blockbusters, and has generally become something of a household name. But long before his time spent on the big screen, The Rock was one of the most popular professional wrestlers of all time.
A towering, well-built wrestler with plenty of charisma, The Rock fit well in the world of pro wrestling, and during his career, he faced off against a number of equally famous opponents. Let’s explore some of the best matches that The Rock has performed in.
Wrestlemania 28 – The Rock vs. John Cena
Held in 2012, this match saw The Rock take on John Cena after a long rivalry and following the return of The Rock to professional wrestling just a year before. This means that there was a year-long wait for the two titans to clash, and it proved to be one of the very best matches of all time. During the match, The Rock put on a memorable show, and would eventually go on to win the event. It was also a match that set box office records for the WWE, seeing countless fans going out of the way to see the two wrestlers battle it out.
Backlash 1999 – The Rock vs. Steve Austin
Another famous rivalry that eventually saw the two wrestling stars fight for glory; this match was held when the two were still extremely popular on the circuit. By then, both Steve Austin and The Rock had attained worldwide fame, and the match quickly became one of the most talked-about matches of the year. Shane McMahon made a guest appearance as the referee to try and give The Rock the advantage. Despite that, Steve Austin proved to be the better wrestler for that particular match, successfully defending his WWE Championship title, and becoming a new favourite for fans everywhere.
Wrestlemania 17 – The Rock vs. Steve Austin
Another match that involved Steve Austin and The Rock, except this time it took place during Wrestlemania 17 on the first of April 2000. Many argue that this is the most impressive display ever put on by The Rock, and it set him up for a long and successful career that saw him reach new heights. The Attitude Era at the time is widely considered one of the best eras of professional wrestling of all time, and the two icons faced off against each other in a titanic match, one that rivalled even the best Australian horse racing bets . It ultimately ended in The Rock holding off his opponent to take the win for the event, one that will be remembered for all time.
Summerslam – The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar
Just a month after The Rock became the WWE Champion, he would go on to fight pro wrestling star Brock Lesnar. At the time, many felt that Lesnar was going to be the next big thing in wrestling, and it proved to be a momentous time for Lesnar, as he would go on to defeat The Rock and claim the title.