It’s with great sadness that Wayde Douglas Bowles aka; Rocky Johnson has passed away this evening. He was 75.
The obvious notoriety for most readers is that this is The Rock’s father. Rocky Johnson was much more than just that. A multiple time champion in most places in which he wrestled, Johnson held practically every NWA Championship during his 20 year stint before joining the WWF (WWE) in 1982. He could never quite wrestle the NWA Championship away from Terry Funk or Harley Race.
Johnson then made history. Himself and Tony Atlas became the first Black WWF/E Tag Team Champion in WWF/WWE history after they defeated the Wild Samoans in 1983. Rocky would retire in 1991 but his legacy would be passed along to another as himself and Pat Patterson would train his son, Dwayne Johnson, now known as The Rock.
Rocky Johnson would occasionally show up on WWF/E television but mostly stayed away after The Rock’s (As Rocky Maivia) debut at Survivor Series and a brief angle.
Rocky Johnson would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.
We at TWM wish Rocky Johnson’s family and the Anoa’i family all of our well wishes at this difficult time.