In a revealing discussion about his early wrestling career, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shared the emotional challenges and financial struggles he faced before becoming one of professional wrestling’s biggest stars.
Johnson recalled a pivotal moment at WrestleMania in March 1997, where he faced The Sultan (his cousin Rikishi) while 15,000 fans chanted “Rocky sucks.” This came just a year after being cut from the Canadian Football League, when he had only seven dollars to his name.
“And now I’m champion, and everything is supposed to be amazing, and I was getting booed out of the building,” Johnson reflected. Shortly after, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon informed him they would remove his championship title, and a subsequent knee ligament injury forced him to take an extended break.
During that summer, Johnson seriously contemplated transitioning to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), specifically with Pride Fighting Championships in Japan. “Maybe because I don’t think wrestling is gonna work out for me,” he said, describing his mindset at the time. “And I’m wrestling 225 dates a year, and I’m making $150,000. That was my guarantee.”
Johnson had connections in the MMA world, including fighters Mark Kerr and Mark Coleman, which made the potential career switch seem viable. However, during what he describes as a “depressive state,” he received a call from Vince McMahon in October 1997 that would change his trajectory.
“I get a call from Vince McMahon at the end of the summer in October of 97. He said I’m gonna bring you back and I’m gonna turn you heel,” Johnson recalled. This pivotal phone call would ultimately lead to The Rock becoming one of professional wrestling’s most iconic figures.
This isn’t the only time Johnson shared about MMA aspirations. During a November 2023 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Johnson explained what attracted him to MMA and how close he came to stepping into the octagon.
“In ’97, during that period when I was still traveling to LA and working out, we were encountering all the MMA guys. Pride had just opened up in Japan. I observed numerous MMA guys transitioning to Pride. ”
“During that timeframe, I was earning $150,000, wrestling 235 days a year. If you calculate that and consider how much you’re making per match, we started hearing that the guys in Pride were making $250k, $350k, $500k. At that point, I thought, well, I don’t think I’ll make it in WWE. People are booing me out of the arenas. I can’t be myself. They’re telling me to smile. I don’t want to smile; it’s not who I am. I began talking to Ken Shamrock, who was wrestling with us at the time. I ran into Mark Kerr and had a conversation with him. He shared a bit about Pride. I had this idea in my head – maybe I should train for MMA, go to Pride, and earn real money. Then I wouldn’t have to smile. ”
“So, I had this entire plan in my head. I discussed it with my wife at that time, saying, I think that’s the way to go because those guys are paying real money, and these fans are booing me over here for 150 grand.”
Interestingly, his claims on JRE are in contrast to comments he made in 2017. Johnson revealed back then that he contemplated an MMA career in 2007, envisioning a two-year training process with Greg Jackson, but ultimately opted to continue his path in the movie industry.
Pride was conceived of in 1997, to match popular Japanese pro-wrestler Nobuhiko Takada with Rickson Gracie who gained popularity in Japan after winning the 1994 and 1995 Vale Tudo Japan tournaments.
PRIDE FC peaked between 2003 and 2006—a golden era defined by stacked tournaments, legendary rivalries, and peak performances from some of MMA’s most iconic stars.
Why 2003-2006 Was PRIDE’s Peak
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Legendary Stars in Their Prime
- Fedor Emelianenko dominated the heavyweight division, cementing his GOAT status.
- Mirko Cro Cop was at his deadliest, with his infamous “right leg hospital, left leg cemetery” kicks.
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was an unbreakable submission machine.
- Wanderlei Silva ruled the middleweight division with ruthless aggression.
- Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson brought fireworks in brutal matchups.
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Grand Prix Tournaments
- PRIDE’s 2003, 2004, and 2005 Grand Prix events were some of the greatest MMA tournaments ever.
- The 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix featured an insane lineup, culminating in Shogun Rua’s breakout victory over Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona.
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Insane Production Value & Matchmaking
- PRIDE’s Japanese pro-wrestling-style production made every event feel larger than life.
- The matchmaking prioritized entertainment over rankings, leading to wild fights like Cro Cop vs. Dos Caras Jr. (in a luchador mask).
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Record-Breaking Crowds
- PRIDE Final Conflict 2003 drew 67,450 fans to the Tokyo Dome.
- PRIDE Shockwave 2002 and 2003 both exceeded 50,000 attendees—numbers the UFC has rarely matched.
