Literary Squared Circle #27 – THE ROCK SAYS…
Dwayne Johnson is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, both literally and figuratively. Prior to his acting career, Johnson first gained notoriety as one of the most popular and memorable performers in WWE history… The Rock. His road to superstardom began 25 years ago tomorrow, as he made his in-ring debut at the Survivor Series pay-per-view on November 17, 1996.
Under the moniker Rocky Maivia (“Rocky” for his father, wrestler Rocky Johnson and “Maivia” for his maternal grandfather, wrestler Peter Maivia), Johnson made an impressive debut as the “sole survivor” in a 4-on-4 Survivor Series Elimination Match at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was no small feat as he was paired up with an assortment of legends and Hall of Famers. Maivia’s partners were Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Marc Mero, and The Stalker (Barry Windham) and they took on Crush, Goldust, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. When the smoke cleared, only the rookie, Rocky Maivia, was left standing.
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Rock’s first match in WWE (then the WWF), the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews his 2000 memoir The Rock Says… by The Rock with Joe Layden (HarperEntertainment, 2000).
The Rock Says… is a three star book for me. There are things I really enjoyed about the book, as well as things I really did not like about the book. First, the things I enjoyed. I really liked Dwayne Johnson’s life story. Though many are familiar with his story today, and it is even depicted in his television series Young Rock on NBC; back in 1999, when The Rock Says… was first published in hardcover it was the first time many had heard it. Growing up in a wrestling family. His football career both at the University of Miami and in the Canadian Football League. His decision to become a wrestler and his rise to superstardom. All are told with both a sense of honesty, as well as Johnson’s trademark sense of humor.
What I did not like about The Rock Says… was that it was written just three years into his WWE career. Similar to Kurt Angle’sIt’s True! It’s True! (see Literary Squared Circle #14), for me it was just too soon. Done I’m sure to capitalize on the success of Mick Foley’s memoir Have A Nice Day!, the WWE suddenly began cranking out books by the likes of Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Jerry “The King” Lawler, the aforementioned Kurt Angle, and, of course, “The Most Electrifying Man In Sports-Entertainment” The Rock.
Despite being an interesting read, I would much rather The Rock have waited a decade or more to tell more of his life story. Hopefully, someday, Dwayne Johnson will write an updated memoir which includes the story of his post-wrestling, Hollywood success. Until then The Rock Says… will have to suffice.
The other thing I did not like about the book was that once Dwayne Johnson became The Rock, the narrative switched to being written as The Rock’s persona, catchphrases and all. Some readers might enjoy The Rock being The Rock, but I would have preferred that Johnson stuck with his own voice telling his story.
With regards to his WWF/E debut, The Rock discusses his debut match in Chapter 10, titled “Rocky Maivia”. He describes his meeting with WWE backstage agent Jerry Brisco who informed him that he would be winning his debut match. In one match, he went from being someone the crowd had never heard of to being someone who was going to be a part of the WWE for a long time to come. Or so we thought back in 2000. By mid-2002, The Rock began appearing in movies. His wrestling appearances became more and more infrequent and by 2004, he was an actor, not a wrestler.
Though he still occasionally pops up in WWE, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is busy making movies. For those who are unfamiliar with his life story, I would recommend The Rock Says… . For everyone else, it’s take it or leave it.
3 Stars out of 5
Under the moniker Rocky Maivia (“Rocky” for his father, wrestler Rocky Johnson and “Maivia” for his maternal grandfather, wrestler Peter Maivia), Johnson made an impressive debut as the “sole survivor” in a 4-on-4 Survivor Series Elimination Match at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was no small feat as he was paired up with an assortment of legends and Hall of Famers. Maivia’s partners were Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Marc Mero, and The Stalker (Barry Windham) and they took on Crush, Goldust, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. When the smoke cleared, only the rookie, Rocky Maivia, was left standing.
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Rock’s first match in WWE (then the WWF), the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews his 2000 memoir The Rock Says… by The Rock with Joe Layden (HarperEntertainment, 2000).
The Rock Says… is a three star book for me. There are things I really enjoyed about the book, as well as things I really did not like about the book. First, the things I enjoyed. I really liked Dwayne Johnson’s life story. Though many are familiar with his story today, and it is even depicted in his television series Young Rock on NBC; back in 1999, when The Rock Says… was first published in hardcover it was the first time many had heard it. Growing up in a wrestling family. His football career both at the University of Miami and in the Canadian Football League. His decision to become a wrestler and his rise to superstardom. All are told with both a sense of honesty, as well as Johnson’s trademark sense of humor.
What I did not like about The Rock Says… was that it was written just three years into his WWE career. Similar to Kurt Angle’sIt’s True! It’s True! (see Literary Squared Circle #14), for me it was just too soon. Done I’m sure to capitalize on the success of Mick Foley’s memoir Have A Nice Day!, the WWE suddenly began cranking out books by the likes of Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Jerry “The King” Lawler, the aforementioned Kurt Angle, and, of course, “The Most Electrifying Man In Sports-Entertainment” The Rock.
Despite being an interesting read, I would much rather The Rock have waited a decade or more to tell more of his life story. Hopefully, someday, Dwayne Johnson will write an updated memoir which includes the story of his post-wrestling, Hollywood success. Until then The Rock Says… will have to suffice.
The other thing I did not like about the book was that once Dwayne Johnson became The Rock, the narrative switched to being written as The Rock’s persona, catchphrases and all. Some readers might enjoy The Rock being The Rock, but I would have preferred that Johnson stuck with his own voice telling his story.
With regards to his WWF/E debut, The Rock discusses his debut match in Chapter 10, titled “Rocky Maivia”. He describes his meeting with WWE backstage agent Jerry Brisco who informed him that he would be winning his debut match. In one match, he went from being someone the crowd had never heard of to being someone who was going to be a part of the WWE for a long time to come. Or so we thought back in 2000. By mid-2002, The Rock began appearing in movies. His wrestling appearances became more and more infrequent and by 2004, he was an actor, not a wrestler.
Though he still occasionally pops up in WWE, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is busy making movies. For those who are unfamiliar with his life story, I would recommend The Rock Says… . For everyone else, it’s take it or leave it.
3 Stars out of 5
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