Posted on: Friday, June 14, 2002
Homecoming for The Rock
• The Rock to star in movie about King Kamehameha
• World Wresting Entertainment returns to Hawai'i
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Joe Onosai prepares to present 'awa to The Rock (seated at right) during a Samoan 'awa ceremony in his honor at the Blaisdell Center Galleria. Seated to The Rock's right is Chief Leusogafofoma'aitulagi Emmsley. Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, sported his trademark "People's Eyebrow" while addressing fans and the media yesterday.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser |
The Rock remembers the lean times in Hawai'i, when his family was barely getting by and his grandfather's wrestling promotion struggled to fill seats.
The Rock was just Dwayne Johnson then, a student at Washington Intermediate and later McKinley High School.
There were no adoring fans, million-dollar movie contracts, status as one of the greatest sports entertainers, or broad appeal.
"Growing up here there's so many different memories that I hold near and dear to my heart," said The Rock, dressed in a lava lava and an aloha shirt at yesterday's press conference at the Blaisdell Center Galleria. "Things were pretty hard for us here. We didn't have much money, I didn't have a car or anything and we'd ride the bus."
Despite being a third-generation wrestler, The Rock wasn't an instant hit. But with his charisma, cleverly worded interviews and ring presence and maneuvers, The Rock has become a multiple-time World Wrestling Entertainment champion and main event performer at virtually all of his events.
As proof of his popularity, tomorrow's card at Blaisdell Arena was sold out in less than two hours.
"This is without a doubt the biggest night of my professional career," The Rock said. "Just to come back here and perform at home, everything else pales in comparison. I've headlined WrestleManias and performed in front of 60,000 people. Without a doubt this is the best night of my life, this Saturday night."
What distinguishes The Rock from the other macho men in his trade are his TV double-takes and perfectly delivered improvisational zingers.
His entrance music, "If You Smell What the Rock is Cooking," the simple raising of his right eyebrow and his finishing move, The People's Elbow, are enough to bring crowds to their feet.
He removed his sunglasses yesterday and flashed The People's Eyebrow.
"I wanted to raise the bar as far as wrestling interviews," said The Rock, who cuts down his opponents with a mixture of humor and seriousness. "I really got tired of that old-school mentality that guys had to scream and yell."
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser He began practicing his verbal jabs in high school.
"I started talking trash at McKinley when I was playing for them as a freshman football player," The Rock said. "As freshmen you don't talk trash in front of the seniors unless you wanted to get beat up. So it started there."
The trash-talking continued as a defensive lineman at the University of Miami, where he was part of the 1991 national championship team.
According to The Rock, the WWE crew also is looking forward to performing in Hawai'i.
"I can't tell you how excited all these guys are just to be over here," he said. "And Chris Jericho especially is so excited to be over here. We're going to have a tremendous night, a great match."
The WWE is on the "Tour of Defiance," which will proceed to Australia after tomorrow's show.
Tough early life
The Rock, 30, lived near the Daiei store on Kaheka Street with his father Rocky Johnson and mother Ata in the late 1970s.
Peter Maivia, Johnson's maternal grandfather, purchased a local wrestling promotion in the '70s and tried to turn it into a success business until his death in 1982.
The Rock's grandmother, Leah Maivia, took over the business, but The Rock noticed wrestling venues were still "half full or quarter full" when his father wrestled.
Wrestling's interest has exploded since then, and The Rock, who moved to Pennsylvania after his sophomore year at McKinley, is a large reason why 9,000 fans will be at the Blaisdell.
His appeal has broadened into the movies.
The Rock played a lead role for the first time in "The Scorpion King," which was released earlier this year. He received $5.5 million for the film, according to Variety magazine.
The movie, which also starred Kamehameha Schools graduate Kelly Hu, made a reported $89 million in its first eight weeks.
The movie was a prequel for "The Mummy Returns," which was released in 2001.
"I just always wanted to go out, make movies, and I'm lucky enough 'The Mummy Returns' and 'Scorpion King' were movies that were highly entertaining, had a lot of energy and were fun movies," he said.
• The Rock and his wrestling comrades have a tight grip on Hawai'i fans. See story. A unique performer
The Rock was honored yesterday during a Samoan 'awa ceremony at the Blaisdell.
The late "High Chief" Peter Maivia was a Samoan chief, according to Leusogafofoma'aitulagi Emmsley of the Samoan Service Providers Association, the group that performed the ceremony. His nickname wasn't a wrestling gimmick.
The Rock sat on a straw mat as a group of about 10 performed the ceremony, which included clapping, chanting and consuming of a drink made from 'awa root.
"I'm so proud with this ceremony, the 'awa ceremony, my heritage and all the love that the island has shown me since I've been back this week," said The Rock, who is of Samoan and African-American ancestry.
Emmsley said the ceremony was "preserved only for those (of Samoan ancestry) who have succeeded well."
Family ties
The Rock said many of his relatives live in Hawai'i. He also mentioned he likes manapua, and teriyaki beef and chicken.
According to his cousin Sade Ruscen, The Rock hasn't been here in a few years.
"It's cool because he's here for two weeks, and I'm very excited we get to see him," said Ruscen, a sixth grader at Kahala Elementary School.
"I'm really happy because we haven't seen him in a long time," said cousin Micha Pouvave, a 9-year-old at Ka'a'awa Elementary. "We miss him."
Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, sported his trademark "People's Eyebrow" while addressing fans and the media yesterday.
See the rock
