Guide Note

Rocky Johnson is a retired professional wrestler for the National Wrestling Alliance and World Wrestling Entertainment.

Fast Facts

1. Real Name: Wayde Bowles
2. Born: August 24, 1944
3. Birthplace: Amherst, Nova Scotia
4. Billed height: 6'2"
5. Billed weight: 247 lbs
6. Finisher: Dropkick
7. 2008 WWE Hall of Fame inductee

Prior to his WWE (then WWWF) debut in 1983, Johnson won multiple individual and tag team titles in several NWA territories.

In November 1983, Johnson and his tag team partner Tony Atlas became the first African-American WWE World Tag Team Champions. They defeated The Wild Samoans, members of the Anoa'i wrestling family headed by "High Chief" Peter Maivia.

Johnson was trained by Maivia, and later married Maivia's daughter Ata. The couple had a son, Dwayne, who as "The Rock" became a popular wrestler in the late 1990s.

In 2008, Johnson was inducted by his son into the WWE Hall of Fame.