Moms and dads are important, yes, some people do not need them but it is so much easier when they are there and pretend to be a positive influence. Once you get to know Dwayne Johnson’s parents you will understand why he chose his career path and you will certainly understand his dynamism. So let’s not beat about the bush it’s time to meet Dwayne Johnson’s parents.
Dwayne Johnson’s parents both came from wrestling backgrounds
Rocky Johnson moved to Toronto from Nova Scotia at the age of 16 in order to pursue his own ambitions as a wrestler which ultimately led him to meet Ata Johnson. The union between Rocky and Ata resulted in the birth of their son Dwayne.
Ata Maivia daughter of Grand Chief Peter Maivia married Rocky Johnson in 1970 despite her father’s objections. Together with his wife Lia Maivia the Grand Chief had built the Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling (PPW) and partnered with Rocky within the independent wrestling scene. After their marriage Ata and Rocky welcomed their son Dwayne into this world on May 2nd 1972.
Rocky’s pursuit of a career in wrestling meant the family had to move around frequently which brought both joy and hardship. Unfortunately, they were evicted from their home in Honolulu due to financial issues. Fortunately, however, they eventually found stability when settling down in Miami where Dwayne attended college and played football until suffering an injury that caused him to take a break from sports and focus on his studies instead. After going through a period of depression he persevered with his education graduating with a degree in criminology.
Rocky had two children from a previous marriage before he married Ata and moved to Canada; his son Curtis Bowles and daughter Wanda Bowles, who are both Dwayne’s half-siblings. Rocky and Ata did not have any more children beyond Dwayne. After 30 years of marriage, the couple divorced in 2003.
Dwayne Johnson’s Parents
Dad
Some would say that Rock has ‘struggle’ in its blood and they are right. The wrestler who became an actor was born in the house of Ata Johnson (née Maivia) and the professional wrestler Rocky Johnson. Rocky was actually born Wayde Douglas but we guess it wasn’t a very exciting wrestling name. Thus, in 1964, he legally changed his name to Rocky Johnson and that explains why the full name of The Rock is Dwayne Douglas Johnson.
Rocky is a Black Nova Scotian but at the age of 16, he moved to Toronto to fulfill his dreams of wrestling. Believe it or not it was the struggle that put him in contact with his wife Ata. Ata’s father Grand Chief Peter Maivia was also a wrestler and with his wife Lia Maivia he built Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling.
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Maivia and Rocky were partners in a match on the independent scene and that’s where he met Ata. Against her father’s wishes, she married the wrestler and soon after on May 2 1972, Dwayne was born. The family moved a lot like most wrestling families but it ended when Dwayne was 14.
They moved to Honolulu permanently while Rocky continued to travel for his profession. It was hard work and despite Rocky’s success in the ring it didn’t raise enough money for the family. In this regard, Dwayne told the Hollywood Reporter: “We were living in an efficiency that cost $120 a week. We go home and there’s a lock on the door and an eviction notice. My mother starts crying. She started crying and collapsing. Where are we going to live? What are we going to do?
Meanwhile, Rocky kept pushing for himself and his family and it paid off. Although he no longer fights he is still considered a member of the wrestling royalty and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame with his stepfather “High Chief” Peter Maivia by The Rock. In addition to this great honor he is the first non-Samoan to be appointed Grand Chief. Its title is Grand Chief Tafiaiafi.
Johnson had a close but complicated relationship with his father
Rocky Johnson, a Hall of Fame inductee passed away on January 15th 2020 at the age of 75 due to complications from a pulmonary embolism that caused him to suffer from a heart attack. His death was sudden and shocking for many fans who had grown up watching his career in wrestling.
His life story is an inspiring one as it has been revealed that he was kicked out of his home at the age of 13 and became homeless. This experience shaped him into the man he eventually became. In Young Rock Dwayne Johnson offers insight into his relationship with his father and how these formative years helped define him as a person. Through this show, viewers can gain a deeper understanding of Rocky’s character and appreciate all that he has overcome in order to become successful.
Johnson shared with People that the bond between him and his father was an intricate one underpinned by a unique kind of tough love.
Through sharing his and his late father’s story he hopes to give a unique outlook to those who are facing struggles within their family. Despite the complexity of their relationship, there was still an abundance of love between them.
Dwayne Johnson’s Mum
She was born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia and comes from a family of prolific Samoan wrestlers. Yeah, we’re just going to go with Ata, because it’s a long name. His father was the great leader” Peter Maivia and his mother Lia Maivia was one of the few women to promote the struggle.
It wasn’t weird at all when she fell in love with a wrestler from a family like hers. A wrestler’s married life was not glamorous and his father knew it when he expressed his disapproval for his union with Rocky but the heart wants what it wants until it doesn’t want it. In 2003 his marriage to Rocky Johnson ended and we think they’ve both been flying solo since then.
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Ata has been a strong driving force in her son’s life and we know for sure that he is not kidding with her. Dwayne faced the possibility of losing his mother and cousin in a fatal car accident in 2014. He posted a picture of the accident with the caption below.
My mother and cousin @linafanene were hit hard by a drunk driver this week – they survived. The first reaction is to find the person who did this and hurt them relentlessly. But the most important thing is that my family has lived through this and we can hug each other even more these days. “Give your family a hug today and be thankful you can tell them you love them.
Although no lives were lost the new car the actor bought for his mother was destroyed without any hope of repair. Since The Rock is a guy who sees the glass half full he used it as an excuse to offer him a new one in his favorite color. We can spot this mama’s boy miles away.
Johnson has a less complicated relationship with his mother
Dwayne and his mother have an incredibly strong bond despite the complexity of his relationship with his father. They are “practically inseparable” and Dwayne’s daughters look up to her as a role model; she is 72 years old yet still has such a positive influence on their lives.
In 2014 his mother and cousin were fortunate to escape a car accident that was caused by a drunk driver being chased by the authorities. When he speaks of this incident it is clear that he has immense love for his mother and is grateful they both survived.
In 2018 Dwayne made a generous gesture by purchasing a home for his mother as an unforgettable Christmas present. This kindhearted act of kindness demonstrates the strong bond between them and shows how much he values her.
