Deserving Hall of Famer helped open doors for African Americans
Through his father and grandfather, The Rock has persevered in football, pro wrestling, movie making and life.It seems only fitting the former World Wrestling Entertainment star inducts his father, Soulman Rocky Johnson, and grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 29 at the Amway Arena, 600 W Amelia St. in Orlando.
Rocky Johnson, 63, lives in Pembroke Pines. He started wrestling in the 1960s during times of prejudice and racial tension, especially in the South.
”Some guys didn’t want to wrestle me because I was black,” said Johnson. “Others would try to make me look bad.”
Johnson, a former boxer who sparred with Muhammed Ali and George Foreman, is known for a tremendous dropkick and the Rocky Johnson shuffle.
”I created the shuffle because guys were taking too long to get up after my dropkick,” he said. “They were purposely doing that. So, I started shuffling my feet [ala Ali] in between dropkicks, and the fans loved it.”
Johnson, a babyface (good guy), competed against heels (bad guys). Still, because of his color, he had his share of abuse and even death threats from fans. Some threw things at him during shows or his car after. He also had his share of fan support, and that number continued to grow.
”It was very different for me when I first started wrestling,” said Johnson, born Aug. 24, 1944 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada. “The biggest change for me was going to the South. I would always walk with my head up, never put my head down. There were things promoters wanted me to do because I was black, and I wouldn’t do it.”
In the 1960s, there were several, well-known African American wrestlers in the United States including Bobo Brazil, Sweet Daddy Sika, the Black Panther, Bearcat Wright, Sailor Art Thomas and Johnson. Most worked the North.
Johnson could make money working the South which was a good region for professional wrestling, but some promoters in the South did not hire black wrestlers, or if they did, they labeled them. Some opponents missed spots intentionally or not sold moves.
In pro wrestling, the combatants are supposed to protect each other in the ring while making the action and tension appear believable. In some of Johnson’s matches, opponents would take cheap shots — not pull punches or kicks.
”They wanted me to leave the area and quit the business,” he said. “They didn’t want me to go over because of my color, but I new in my heart someday I would be a champion.”
With his boxing background, Johnson could handle himself if things got out of hand — for real — in a match. Still, he took a big chance in the South.
Some promoters in the South, especially Alabama, told Johnson he would never be a champion. So Rocky opted to work elsewhere.
In Tennessee, Anglo promoters and Anglo wrestlers ridiculed black combatants during television time by making them eat chicken and watermelon. Even whip them. They referred to them as ”Sambo” and ”boy.” They made them do the monkey walk or act like a gorilla.
Black leaders eventually took a stand, forcing a television station in Memphis to pull a wrestling show after a scripted tar-n-feather skit.
”To get respect, you have to give it,” Johnson said. “I was not going to respect them, if they were not going to respect me.”
Following the famous Muhammed Ali/Antonio Inoki boxer versus wrestler match in Japan, Jerry Lawler wanted Rocky to face him in Memphis, billed as a boxer (Johnson) versus wrestler (Lawler) matchup.
”I was reluctant. I told him I’m not a clown, and I’m not playing a clown,” Johnson said. “I’m not a boy. I’m a man, and my name is Rocky. I wanted to give blacks in Tennessee someone they could believe in, respect.”
Lawler respected Johnson, and Johnson versus Lawler sold out the Memphis Coliseum — actually turning away 5,000 people which nearly led to a riot. Johnson proved a black man could command respect in the South, and he spent two years in Tennessee.
”Since I was 17, I wanted to be a pro wrestler,” he said. “My sister-in-law [Audrey Jones] told me to be like Martin Luther King and follow your dreams.”
Johnson’s muscular physique, fish tattoo and quick hands and feet excited fans. In the 1970s, he overcame the barriers to become the first black champion in Texas and later won belts in Georgia and Florida. One of the most decorated black wrestlers in history, he was the first African American to win the U.S. title in San Francisco.
Most notably, Johnson teamed with WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas in 1983, and they were the first African American tag team champs in the North-based World Wrestling Federation, now known as WWE.
”I thank Vince McMahon Jr. for having confidence in me to make me a champion [in WWF],” Johnson said. “I think I helped pave the road for black wrestlers because of what I did. I think being honored, the WWE Hall of Fame, means a lot for the black wrestlers. I’m very proud of that.”
Ron Simmons officially became the first African American world champion in 1992 in World Championship Wrestling. Brazil actually won the NWA world title in 1962, but it was not recognized. In 1998, Johnson’s son, The Rock, became the first African American world champ in WWF history.
Where Rocky Johnson helped pave the way for African American wrestlers, the late, great High Chief Peter Maivia did the same for Samoans. Ironically, Rocky married Maivia’s daughter, Ata, and they parented Dwayne The Rock Johnson.
”It’s fantastic to be inducted with my father-in-law [Maivia] who helped train me,” Johnson said. “I’m very, very proud of that. He also went though a lot, and he opened the door for the Samoan wrestlers.”
Maivia, a Samoan, not only had a successful wrestling career in the WWF and abroad but also trained WWE HOFers Afa the Wild Samoan, Superstar Billy Graham and Johnson. A smart businessman, he served as promoter and owner of the National Wrestling Alliance’s territory in Hawaii.
Maivia’s famous tribal tattoos, which covered his abdomen and legs, were a symbol of his real-life High Chief status. He died of cancer at age 45 in 1982.
The WWE Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of the sports entertainment business, reminiscent of a Lifetime Achievement Award. Rocky, who also trained under Jack Wentworth in Toronto and Stu Hart at the famous dungeon in Calgary, learned of his WWE Hall of Fame selection while working out at a South Florida gym.
”A guy saw it on the Internet, and he told me about it,” Johnson said. “I thought he was joking.”
Johnson believes there are others more deserving than he for WWE Hall of Fame status but felt someday his turn would come — just not this soon. He will speak the truth during his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, thanking those who helped him and mentioning others who did not.
• Many thanks
Rocky will thank several people including his son; his mother-in-law, Lia; daughter-in-law, Dany; grand daughter, Simone; friend, Cora Diaz; training friend, Irv Boll, 82; and best friend, Sheila.
• Hail to the Chief
Rocky is also a recognized Samoan chief — Samoan Chief Tasiaeafe (one in a million).
• Armstrong, Brazil and Superfly
Johnson looked up to the late, great WWE Hall of Famer Bobo Brazil and remains in contact with wrestling friends Jimmy Superfly Snuka and Jumping Jack Armstrong.
”I traveled with Jack for 15 years,” Johnson said. “We were on the road a lot traveling from city to city, and I couldn’t get a room at some hotels because I was black. So, Jack would get the room by himself, and I would go there later to sleep. We would move the mattress and take turns sleeping on it. He is my best friend.”
Johnson received his first break from former NWA champ Whipper Billy Watson who lived in Toronto. Johnson moved to the states in the 1960s, competing in Detroit for The Original Sheik (Ed Farhat). When his friend, Brazil, injured his knee in California, Johnson did a very good job filling in and eventually landed in Texas, before venturing the South.
Snuka, a WWE Hall of Famer, is like Johnson’s brother.
• Bobo and The Soulman
Rocky teamed with the legendary Bobo Brazil. Brazil made $400 and Rocky just $75.
“Bobo would always joke with me about that payday every time he saw me.”
• Training at Stu Hart’s Dungeon
“The stories are true. Oh, he stretched me. When I went there, I was 6-0. When I left, I was 6-4.”
• WWE HOF
The WWWE Hall of Fame ceremony is 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at The Amway Arena, 600 W Amelia St. in Orlando.
WWE’s roster and staff, past HOFers, family, fans and guests attend. Each recipient is presented by current or former stars.
Dwayne The Rock Johnson inducts his father, Soulman Rocky Johnson, and grandfather, the late, great High Chief Peter Maivia. Also inducted will be the Nature Boy Ric Flair by Triple H, Eddie Graham by Dusty Rhodes, Jack and Jerry Brisco and Mae Young.
Business attire is requested.
Tickets ($55) are on sale at the Amway Arena Box Office, all Florida Ticketmaster locations (including FYE stores) and on Ticketmaster’s website. Also charge by phone at 407-839-3900.
• On USA
The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will air taped delay at 11 p.m. EST Saturday, March 29 on the USA Network.
• Wrestler versus boxer
WWE’s WrestleMania 24, live on pay-per-view, is 7 p.m. Sunday, March 30 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. The 7-0 Big Show will face the 5-8 Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a wrestler versus boxer matchup.
Other wrestler versus boxer matchups: Gorilla Monsoon vs. Muhammed Ali (post-match altercation, Monsoon airplane spins Ali). Andre the Giant vs. Chuck Wepner (Andre wins by countout in round three). Antonio Inoki vs. Ali (15-round draw). Cowboy Bob Orton vs. Mr. T (Mr. T by knockout in round two). Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Mr. T (Mr. T by disqualification in round four). Bart Gunn vs. Butterbean Eric Esch (Butterbean by knockout in round one). Matt Hardy vs. Evander Holyfield (no contest). Thunderlips vs. Rocky (draw).
• Raw in Orlando
WWE Monday Night Raw is 8 p.m. Monday, March 31 at the Amway Arena. Tickets are on sale at TicketMaster outlets, by phone and online. Prices range from $20-70.
• WWE in Miami
WWE SmackDown! tapings and WWE’s ECW live are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. Tickets are on sale at the AAA box office, TicketMaster outlets, by phone and online. Prices range from $20-75.
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