Rookie years are a great deal essential for a WWE broad name. The main twelve months of a large name’s occupation decide how well he or she’s going to attain within the lengthy run. Most wrestlers like had respectable rookie years, whereas some like knocked it out of the park from the open. AJ Types, Kurt Perspective, Ronda Rousey, and after all The Rock had unparalleled rookie years.
The unparalleled rookie year of The Rock
In November 1996, vignettes showcasing the impressive physical specimen called Rocky Maivia started airing. It confirmed the lengthy run WWE Champion realizing within the gym and showing off his wrestling abilities. He would set that strength and skill to the take a look at at Survivor Sequence 1996.
Rocky Maivia debuted at Survivor Sequence 1996, the establish he picked up two broad eliminations. Goldust and Rupture met their doom by the fingers of the newborn, but the enjoyment and positivity surrounding The Rock’s debut soon dissipated.
At Shotgun Saturday Evening, Rocky Maivia beat fan current Razor Ramon. After the match, fans booed the Rock even supposing he used to be a babyface. Regardless of fans turning on him, The Rock beat Triple H for the Intercontinental Championship in February 1997. This used to be earlier than the Game turned ‘The Game’ and used to be is called Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
WrestleMania debut
Maivia defended his Intercontinental Championship in opposition to the Sultan at WrestleMania 13. This used to be his WrestleMania debut, and he registered an impressive title protection.
After the match, the Sultan and The Iron Sheik attacked the younger champion. His father, ‘Soulman’ Rocky Johnson, ran to his son’s abet, combating off the heels. As the heels over-powered Rocky Johnson, Rocky Maivia fought his formula help and rid the ring of the heels.
In March 1997, after WrestleMania 13, Rocky Maivia confronted his biggest take a look at yet in Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. Hart and Maivia wrestled a quick match which close to ended in disqualification. Hart wrapped Rocky’s legs around the ring put up and locked within the Resolve Four leg lock. The kid’s legs had been spared after a man who would change into his biggest rival saved him.
The Rock joins the Nation of Domination
In August 1997, Maivia had sufficient of fans booing him and chanting ‘Die, Rocky, Die’. He ditched his babyface persona by becoming a member of the Nation of Domination, a community of heels comprising Ron Simmons (aka Farooq), D’Lo Brown, and Kama Mustafa.
At some point soon of Farooq’s match with Mankind, Maivia planted the latter with an uranage, which he later called the Rock Backside. He also rechristened himself as The Rock, a reputation that would possibly are residing eternally and surpass generations.
Read more: Every Catchphrase That Made the Rock the Most Charismatic Megastar in WWE
