Before rising to become a highly successful Hollywood figure with a net worth of $800 million, Dwayne Johnson faced challenging experiences in the form of bullying from two prominent figures in the WWE industry, who had targeted him due to personal reasons.
The realm of wrestling can be challenging not only for spectators but also for those involved within. However, fans often only get to witness the exciting in-ring battles, unaware of the behind-the-scenes bullying that takes place. Even individuals as physically formidable as Dwayne Johnson have experienced this unfortunate mistreatment before achieving great success as an $800 million Hollywood powerhouse.
During an interview for Confessions Of The Hitman (as reported by WrestlingInc.com), Bret Hart revealed incidents of mistreatment towards The Great One within WWE. While sharing a past anecdote, he mentioned Shawn Michaels and Triple H as the individuals involved in this bullying. From the very beginning, they had targeted Johnson. Hart recalled a particular instance when Michaels reprimanded The Rock backstage.
He recounted, “Shawn approached him and gave him a stern talking-to, chastising him. I recall [HBK] instructing [The Rock] never to perform a top rope dropkick again as it was considered his signature move.”
While discussing the incident involving The Headliner and Johnson regarding the dropkick, the respected Hall of Fame legend shared his thoughts on Hunter’s actions. However, it has been previously acknowledged that The Game harbored animosity towards him.
The Hit Man further commented, “Triple H was no different. He consistently targeted The Rock. Shawn was targeting him as well, and they persistently focused on him… They desired his removal as much as they desired mine. It was clear they were after him.”
From Hart’s account, one can grasp the immense pressure The Rock must have faced during the 1990s. However, the 65-year-old legend also mentioned how The Brahma Bull later apologized to Shawn Michaels after becoming upset about the dropkick incident. This incident deflated The Rock, as HBK held a prominent position within the company.
Nevertheless, Hart played his part in supporting Johnson and revealing strategies to navigate the intricacies of industry politics.
Bret Hart imparts wisdom to The Rock about the dynamics of wrestling
Following Shawn Michaels’ outburst towards The Rock for his move, the seasoned veteran slammed the door and walked away, leaving Johnson feeling downcast. That’s when Bret “The Hitman” Hart approached The People’s Champion and firmly stated, “That’s completely unfair.”
In addition, Hart emphasized to Johnson that the seasoned wrestlers were playfully teasing him and attempting to influence him. This experience must have been challenging for The Rock. However, despite it all, no one could hinder him from becoming the remarkable sensation he is today.
