Rocky Johnson, a former professional wrestler and the father of wrestler-turned-Hollywood star, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, has died at the age of 75.
According to NBC News, the death of Rocky ‘Soul Man’ Johnson, whose real name was Wayde Bowles, was announced Wednesday by World Wrestling Entertainment.
His manager confirmed the news to the outlet but did not share details on the cause of death.
Rocky Johnson started his career in the 1960s with the National Wrestling Alliance before becoming an athlete with the WWE, formerly known as the Word Wrestling Federation, in 1983, according to the wrestling league’s statement.
He partnered with fellow WWE wrestler Tony Atlas to form the duo The Soul Patrol, who would go on to defeat The Wild Samoans that year.
The duo became the first African American world tag team champions in WWE history.
Rocky trained his son, Dwayne, to be a wrestler despite initial misgivings. Upon his WWF debut in 1996, Dwayne Johnson took the ring name Rocky Maivia in honor of his wrestling roots before reimagining himself as the Attitude Era heel known famously as The Rock.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson inducted his father into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.
A representative for Dwayne Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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