The Rock Personally Requested Vince McMahon For Heel Turn During Rocky Maivia Run

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s name is known far and wide for being one of the biggest and most influential stars in the pro wrestling business. His influence in the industry is known far and wide and it wouldn’t have gone the way he wanted, had The Rock not turned heel. Now it appears The Rock personally requested Vince McMahon for a heel turn while he was Rocky Maivia.

The Rock certainly had a pretty bad start in WWE as almost everyone hated his Rocky Maivia character. The infamous ‘Die, Rocky, Die’ chants are something no one will ever forget, especially The Rock.

While speaking on the Bill Simmons podcast, WWE CEO Nick Khan revealed that The Rock approached Vince McMahon and personally requested him to let him turn heel.

“When The Rock came in as Rocky Maivia, third-generation wrestler, smiling with the tassels from his arms. Boos throughout. Even worse than boos, no response. The worst. And then all of a sudden, and I’ve heard this story from both individuals involved, the story separately, from Vince and from Dwayne Johnson. Dwayne and Vince had a conversation at Madison Square Garden. Again, Rock was a face. And Rock said, ‘Let me go out, let me do my thing, let me sort of talk like I talk.’ And Vince said something to the effect of, ‘Do it. Go, get’em.’ And it was that night, the ‘Rocky sucks’ chants had already started, and all that stuff, where he sort of lit it up, and The Rock took fire.”

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The Rock’s father also never told him that pro wrestling is scripted. We’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for The Great One, as fans want to see him back on WWE television.

What do you think of this story about The Rock? Do you think the industry would have been different had The Rock never turned heel? Let us know in the comments!