Professional wrestlers have been switching over to films for decades, with Andre the Giant turning up in The Princess Bride in the 1980s and Dave Bautista's acting career thriving in the present day in films such as Dune: Part Two. But none have found the record-breaking success of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
The 51-year-old had an early start in professional wrestling, travelling the world with his father Rocky Johnson, who was also a working wrestler, before pursuing a career in American football.
Johnson's time as a football player was short-lived due to constant injuries, forcing him to pivot to wrestling. Despite a bumpy start, Johnson would shoot to the top of the card in the late 1990s, establishing himself as one of the most famous faces in the industry over a four-year period.
Johnson capitalised on his outsize fame when he appeared as The Scorpion King in the second Mummy film, a small role that launched him towards huge film franchises. Today, Johnson balances his film career with professional wrestling, returning to the WWE earlier this year for his first major match in more than a decade.
After months of anticipation and fast-talking promos in the ring, Johnson is set to take part in the main event of night one at WrestleMania 40, WWE's biggest night of the year. In the lead-up to the big match-up, we look back at Johnson’s career, chronicling the highs and lows.
1972 – 1995: The 'Young Rock' era
Dwayne Douglas Johnson was born in California in 1972 to the professional wrestler Rocky Johnson and Ata Maivia, the daughter of the legendary Samoan wrestler Peter Maivia. Being part of a wrestling family meant the young Johnson travelled a lot, moving around with his parents to where the work opportunities were.
During his childhood, Johnson got to spend time with some of the biggest names in the world of wrestling, from Andre the Giant to Hossein "The Iron Sheik" Vaziri. These figures were friends and colleagues of his father and constant travelling partners of the family, so Johnson was able to learn from the best wrestlers in the business.
Johnson brought the story of his interesting childhood to the small screen with the sitcom Young Rock, in which he appeared and narrated the events that shaped his life and career in a comedic, dramatised style.
1996 – 1998: Rocky Maivia and the Nation of Domination
After debuting in 1996 under the name Rocky Maivia in the WWE, then still called the World Wrestling Federation, Johnson initially struggled to find his feet as a pro wrestler. Audiences rejected the bland hero character of Maivia, which leaned into Johnson's heritage but did not offer much in the way of personality.
It wasn't until he turned "heel", leaning into his status as a villain with the Nation of Domination faction, that he started to figure out a character that would resonate with audiences: calling himself The Rock, referring to himself in the third person, and finding his voice on the mic.
1998 – 2000: 'Know your role and shut your mouth'
Soon, the so-called Attitude Era in the then-WWF was in full swing, marked by an edgier sensibility. In that context, Johnson's brand of unique trash-talking thrived, spawning multiple catchphrases that resonated far beyond the wrestling community ("Know your role and shut your mouth!"; "Lay the smackdown!") and helped turn The Rock into a cultural hero the likes of which wrestling had never seen before and has never seen since.
Drifting between hero and villain depending on the storyline but always receiving deafening reactions from wrestling crowds either way, Johnson helped bring pro wrestling into the cultural mainstream. Together with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, he defined the era, and brought in millions of new fans who have stayed loyal to him since.
But even then, his acting ambitions were clear. In 1999, Johnson was given the opportunity to portray his father on the hit comedy series That 70s Show. While the role was small, it gave Johnson the confidence to pursue further television work. That same year, he appeared in an episode of the crime thriller The Net, a television adaptation of the Sandra Bullock film of the same name.
A year later, Johnson landed a role on an episode of the hit science fiction show Star Trek: Voyager. The episode, titled Tsunkatse, sees Johnson portray a fighter from a species called the Pendari. Johnson’s appearance bridged the wrestling and Star Trek fandoms, earning him praise for both his acting and his wrestling moves on the episode.
2001 – 2002: The Rock goes Hollywood as The Scorpion King
In 2001, Johnson appeared as the villain in the sequel to the successful film The Mummy, portraying a character named The Scorpion King. While the role was small, it was memorable enough to give the character and Johnson his own film in 2002.
The spin-off film was directed by Chuck Russell and starred Kelly Hu and Michael Clark Duncan. Made on a modest budget of $60 million, the film made $180 million at the box office. The film was an important stepping stone for Johnson as it was his first as a leading man, and its success proved he could attract viewers from inside and outside the wrestling world.
When he returned to wrestling around that time, he worked his success in Hollywood into the character, playing a brash and arrogant villain similar to the one he portrayed during his initial years of success.
2003 to 2010: An emerging superstar
Between 2003 and 2010, Johnson appeared in 13 films, most of which were moderately successful. Some of the highlights included Gridiron Gang and Walking Tall. He also took chances with experimental projects that allowed him to flex his acting skills as well as his muscles. These included roles in films such as Doom, a big-screen adaptation of the popular video game, and Southland Tales, an ambitious film from Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly.
During this time Johnson was also appearing in family-friendly films such as Race to Witch Mountain and Tooth Fairy. These films, while not successful commercially or critically, gave Johnson a new outlet to expand his fame among children.
2011: Return to WWE
After years away from the ring, Johnson returned to WWE as The Rock in WWE in 2011 to feud with John Cena, who at the time was the biggest star in the company. The rivalry was lightning in a bottle, leaning heavily on Johnson's long absence and Cena's status as the full-time pillar of the sport.
Leading to two WrestleMania main events, the return reinvigorated Johnson both inside and out of the ring, as he soon took the next step in his film career as well.
2011 – 2022: A proven blockbuster draw
In 2011, Johnson was cast as Luke Hobbs in the fifth entry in the Fast and Furious series, Fast Five. Johnson towered over his co-stars both literally and figuratively. With his acclaimed addition, the also-ran franchise rose to the status of a cultural touchstone.
The series reached new heights with the inclusion of Johnson, with the film making over $620 million in box office returns, launching him as one of the biggest stars of the silver screen. The film also gave Johnson a chance to reignite his talent for cutting a promo, engaging in confrontation scenes with Vin Diesel.
Establishing himself as box office gold, Johnson even found himself discussing presidential bids after an online poll ruled 46 per cent of Americans would consider backing him. He would also cement his position in the Fast and Furious, appearing in Fast & Furious 6, Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious.
Johnson’s Hobbs character became so popular that he and Jason Statham’s character Deckard Shaw would appear in a spin-off film titled Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw in 2019. The film capped off a successful decade for Johnson as he became the highest-paid actor in Hollywood.
2022: No more capes
Black Adam was supposed to be Johnson’s big entry into the DC universe, which includes Superman and Batman, and was more than a decade into the making. Unfortunately for him and fans of the character, the film was a failure critically and commercially and was one of the last films in the extended universe that ended with Aquaman 2 in 2023. The DC universe will be rebooted under the leadership of James Gunn, and it remains to be seen whether Johnson is part of his new plans.
While Johnson publicly insisted that the film was not the flop some portrayed it as, it nevertheless led to a widespread perception that he was not the sure thing he once seemed to be, leading him to make several moves that many thought would never come.
2023: A return to his roots
The perceived failure has seemingly led to Johnson finding his feet once again in the places that helped launch him into the stratosphere.
After announcing his return to the Fast and Furious franchise after a multiple-film absence and public declarations that he would never return, Johnson appeared in a post-credit scene at the end of the 10th film in the franchise, Fast X, promising an important role in the story of the next film.
Johnson is also due to return as Maui in the sequel to Disney’s Moana, a film Johnson has said was very important for him because of his Samoan heritage.
He's even rekindling certain aspects of his early days in Hollywood, this time teaming with acclaimed filmmaker Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems) for an MMA-themed film about the life of fighter Mark Kerr, with Johnson set for the starring role.
2024: The Final Boss
In the world of WWE, Johnson has set his return for a tag match against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, teaming up with his real-life cousin Roman Reigns. While initially set to face Reigns in a singles match, fan backlash caused the company to pivot, turning Johnson's character into a proper villain for the first time in years.
The "Final Boss" character has been a massive success with audiences, leading to highly rated segments and widespread praise, with Johnson seeming to have more fun than he's had in years. While it's too early to say how long Johnson will compete in the ring, the stint has seemingly reinvigorated his creative prowess, with a new era for his filmmaking career seemingly to follow.
And who knows, maybe he'll actually end up running for president.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
The%20specs
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MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
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Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
RACECARD
6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m
7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
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The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELuv%20Ranjan%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Shraddha%20Kapoor%2C%20Anubhav%20Singh%20Bassi%20and%20Dimple%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score)
Porto (0) v Liverpool (2), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
