The Rock Reveals Grueling Wrestling Schedules Nearly Broke His Family

The Rock is reflecting on his wrestling roots and the relentless grind that defined both his and his father’s careers—revealing just how close they came to breaking under the pressure.

Appearing on the Artist Friendly podcast with Joel Madden, the Final Boss found common ground with the Good Charlotte frontman over a shared fear: stopping. Madden admitted his band had endured years with “330 shows a year”, touring nonstop because they were afraid that if they took a break, it could all disappear.

Johnson instantly related. He recalled his early days as a full-time wrestler and the work ethic passed down by his father, the late Rocky Johnson, who endured a schedule far more brutal than even The Rock’s.

“So we would do back then, like, 230 to 240 dates a year, which is a lot, right? But still, it’s performance after performance. Our matches would last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the night.”

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The Rock added that every show came with the risk of injury, even on a good night. They would then pack up after the show and head straight to the next town as the grind continued.

“You’re trying not to get injured, doing your best, but you still deal with surprise injuries. Same thing as you guys—we’d pack up after the show and head straight to the next town.”

Johnson then shifted to talk about the generation before him—specifically, his father’s brutal run in the 1980s, when wrestling offered far less glamor and far more physical toll.

“You know what’s crazy? My old man was a pro wrestler back in the ’80s. It’s almost like that Mickey Rourke movie The Wrestler. If it hadn’t been for the grace of God and being able to take care of my mom and dad, we could’ve ended up like that.

There wasn’t a lot of glory back then. Those guys were working over 300 dates a year—just like you guys—and they were completely run into the ground. It was nuts back then.”

Johnson’s reflection shows what life was like before the WWE boom—long before Hollywood stardom or billion-dollar franchises. It was road miles, packed bags, cheap motels, and a fear that slowing down might mean never getting back up.

The Rock may be a global icon today, but his comments are a reminder of where he came from—and just how much sacrifice it took to build his legacy. For Johnson, the fear of losing it all wasn’t a motivator from the sidelines—it was a real part of the journey, just like it was for his father.

What do you think—has the wrestling industry evolved enough to protect talent from being overworked? Or are today’s stars still grinding the same way behind the scenes? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.