The Rock reached the pinnacle of the company at , winning his first WWF Championship through a "Deadly Game" tournament. This victory was a shock double-turn: he joined Vince McMahon’s Corporation , becoming the "Corporate Champion" and the perfect foil to the rebellious " Stone Cold" Steve Austin .
In 1996, Dwayne Johnson debuted as , a name honoring his father (Rocky Johnson) and grandfather (Peter Maivia). He was pushed as a wholesome, smiling "blue-chip" babyface, but fans in the Attitude Era quickly grew to loathe the character. This peaked with the infamous "Die Rocky Die" and "Rocky Sucks" chants from live audiences who found his persona outdated and forced. 2. The Birth of "The Rock"
The story of in the WWF (now WWE) is a classic "rags-to-riches" arc, evolving from a widely rejected rookie to one of the biggest pop-culture icons in history. 1. The Disastrous Debut: Rocky Maivia
: The Rock and Austin defined the era, headlining WrestleMania XV (1999) after Austin personally pushed to work with him, recognizing their unique chemistry.
In 2002, The Rock participated in a "dream match" at against Hulk Hogan . Despite being a heel, Hogan was cheered by the crowd, and The Rock's ability to adapt to the audience's reaction solidified the match as an all-time classic. Shortly after, Johnson left the WWF in 2004 to pursue an acting career . 5. Returns and "The Final Boss" The Rock has returned periodically for high-profile feuds:
