The Rock News: Johnson/Rock Names, LA Times Article, Leno Tonight
Posted by Ashish on 06.18.2008
Former WWE star ready for new movie opening...
- The New York Daily News mentioned today that Dwayne Johnson no longer wants to be called The Rock.
- The Los Angeles Times has an article up on Dwayne Johnson as part of their coverage of Get Smart. The article talks about Johnson's career, The Rock name, and more. Check it out here.
- Get Smart opens this Friday and features Dwayne Johnson in a starring role.
- Dwayne Johnson will be on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight on NBC.
Much like Ed O'Neill will always be Al Bundy, this "Dwayne Johnson" character will always be The Rock.
Posted By: Guest#4427 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 01:26 PM
I can see it now....WWE mark on here saying he's dissing wrestling by not wanting to be called The Rock and blah, blah, blah...
So what? He has made a damn good career outside of wrestling. Yeah wrestling gave him his start, but like the song goes, life goes on and so does DJ.....WWE will probably not catch lightning in a bottle like this again. RIP "The Rock" Helloooooo DJ :P
Posted By: g (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Oh well. I only want to see movies starting the Rock so I guess Dwayne Johnson is shit out of luck.
Posted By: The Rock (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 01:28 PM
The Rock doesn't want to be The Rock anymore? Tough shit.
Posted By: Crazy8 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 01:35 PM
I just died a little...
Posted By: Guest#0518 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Honestly, I had already started calling him Dwayne. He is no longer ANYTHING like he was.
However he has also decided to forget about the wonderful tradition in acting known as TYPECASTING!
You will be associated with wrestling for as long as you dare show your face on camera DWAYNE. Get used to the name, or maybe we should go back to a rib that Triple H pulled once and give you a more appropriate name.
The CROCK!
Posted By: CM Wolf (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 01:45 PM
He's done with wrestling, people need to respect that.
Posted By: BFG08 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Why not continue calling himself Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson? Sure he's done well for himself, but he wouldn't be in his position if it wasn't for WWE. He's just distancing himself further and further away from what made him a star in the first place.
Posted By: sefdog (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 01:54 PM
So why do you suddenly start calling The Rock by his real name just because he asked to, but still refer to Nick Bollea as "Nick Hogan", a name he never went by?
Posted By: NameGuy (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:05 PM
He's funny and likable but he is truly forgetting his roots. He's a 3rd generation Wrestler and on his mothers side a member of the the Samoan equivalnt of the Harts. Him not even accepting his wrestling name, (and it's a cool middle name) is sad. It's not like were asking for him to raise his eyebrow every movie.
I'll always love "The Rock" same as I'll always love "Hulk Hogan" but I'm fast losing my love for Dwayne Johnson and Terry Balloa.
Posted By: Davis (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:11 PM
It doesn't really matter what he wants us to call him!!!!
Posted By: Charlie (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:13 PM
he realized a long time ago that there was life outside of wrestling. DJ didnt want to end up like kurt "i broke my neck 76 times" angle, hulk "i'm training hasbeen celebs to wrestle" hogan, or ric "i should collecting social security check but i'm still taking crazy bumps" flair.
Posted By: rey (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Hey, it could be worse. Roy Rogers' real name was Leonard Slye.
Posted By: HoosierJim500 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:20 PM
What is your name?
My name is.............
It doesn't matter what your name is.
Posted By: Rockyfan1 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:21 PM
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MY NAME IS!
Posted By: Rocky Johnson's Son (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Hey Dwayne, I'm sorry if pro-wrestling embarrasses you so much. We wrestling fans will pretend not to know you when you're hanging with all the cool, celebrity types.
Posted By: The Crock (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:26 PM
FINALLY, Dwayne Johnson has left the WWE!
Posted By: yo mama (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Yeah well Mark Walberg changed his name too, but I think we all still refer to him as "Marky Mark"
Posted By: The Funky Bunch (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:29 PM
ME: so Dwayne you dont want to be the rock anymore.
DwayneRock: Yes tha...
ME: IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT YOU WANT!!!
Posted By: Guest#6728 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Maybe it's just me, but I think it's going to be kind of hard to get people to stop calling him The Rock. A lot of those people that go to see his movies became fans of his when he was a wrestler, so we're obviously going to identify him by the name we knew him as when he wrestled. It would be like Hulk Hogan all of a sudden saying he wanted to be called Terry Bollea. Until he does something huge as Dwayne Johnson, he'll have to get used to being called The Rock.
Posted By: Exodus (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:32 PM
That summary is bulls**t. The article says:
"They call me both," says Johnson. "Rock is a nickname, and it will always be. I'm fine with that."
Posted By: A. Jobber (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:33 PM
"Much like Ed O'Neill will always be Al Bundy, this "Dwayne
Johnson" character will always be The Rock."
Couldn't agree more....i don't think it's a bad thing that he's dropping "the rock" name but everytime time i see him on tv i always call him the rock
Posted By: cj (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:34 PM
"They call me both," says Johnson. "Rock is a nickname, and it will always be. I'm fine with that."
Don't see how that interprets to him not wanting to be called Rock anymore!
Posted By: A. Jobber (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:34 PM
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HIS NAME IS!!
Posted By: 2kev (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Fair play I say, by not being called "The Rock" not only can he position himself more successfully as a serious actor, but it means the WWE will no longer be able to cash in (as they own the rights to 'The Rock' name).
All the IWC fanboys need to accept Rock has gone and deal with it. Be thankful for all the great matches & memories rather than criticising him because he isn't around anymore. And seriously, why the fuck would he even want to be around anymore? So he can job to HHH a few more times? WWE is stale as old bread right now, Rocky is right to stay away.
Finally, I remember a commenter saying in a rock-related article a week or two ago that he "wasn't a legend" (it was JJ, that 16-year old little brat who wasn't even around to watch Rock & the attitude era in its prime). Allow me to clarify for you, dumbass:
If you don't like Rocky, that's cool. That's your opinion. But to say he isn't a legend is fucking ridiculous. Look at some of his accomplisments:
- 9-time world champion, which includes...
- 7-time WWF/E champion, tied for the most reigns ever with HHH (think about that - guys like hogan, stone cold, bret hart etc... he's had more reigns than any of them)
- General recognition as one of, if not THE best talker/promo giver of his generation, and one of the best of ALL TIME
- Royal Rumble winner 2000
- Involved in some of the greatest matches & feuds of the modern era - foley, HHH, stone cold, etc...
- Always put people over clean (Brock Lesnar, Goldberg & so on) and never injured anybody
- Sucessfully carried WWE through some of its most popular days both as #1 face & #1 heel
- Achieved such great popularity he successfully crossed over to the mainstream
Now, if you don't like the guy personally thats cool, its just your opinion (though its pretty worthless when your only 16 years old and clearly dont know jack shit), but to say he is not a legend is absolutely ridiculous. If anybody genuinely thinks that all of the above dont constitute a legend, then you sir are a grade-A retard. Now, finish your homework and then go and get your fucking shinebox.
Posted By: Hyperstorm (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:42 PM
you have your wish Mr. Johnson. Noway has spoken, you can put it to bed
Posted By: noway (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Whats that make the WWE the minor leauge of Hollywood. they build up all these Actors oh I mean Wrestlers to leave to go to work in the Movies or TV. Bet with in 2 years Cena will be gone too.
Posted By: Singh (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Dwayne doesn't want want to be called the Rock, thats o.k, but the release of the new Rock DVD isn't gonna help much
Posted By: umberger (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Unless it's a monetary issue, I don't get why anybody would want to go from "The Rock" to "Dwayne Johnson". It's sounds like a nerdy pornstar's name.
Posted By: Bill (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:04 PM
I guess "The Rock" was his slave name.
Posted By: Mattheapar (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:05 PM
I.m a fan of the Rock and just got his dvd , and I understand that he has a new career. But he could have at least showed up at mania and raw a few times as a farewell and to promote his dvd that is basically a tribute to his life's work.
Posted By: mark7 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Maybe you doofi (the plural of doofus) should try reading the interview before you comment. He's fine with people calling him the Rock, it's his nickname and always will be. He just wants to billed in movies under his real name. Any of you who are somehow insulted by that need to grow up and get a life. If you can smell .... what truthie is .... cooking!
Posted By: truthsayer (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:12 PM
i'll just call him "The Rock" just to piss him off.
lol.
Posted By: Thomas (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:24 PM
A recent convo I had with Dwayne Johnson:
Me: So Rock what would you like to be known as from now on?
The Rock: Well my name is...
Me: It doesn't matter what your name is!
Posted By: The Weasel (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Lets be glad he wont become the next "Hulk Hogan"
Posted By: Retroactive (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Technically he said he doesn't want to be BILLED as the Rock, but if you saw him and said "hey Rock" he's supposedly cool with that.
Posted By: M:-X (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Holy Crap! Al Bundy goes by another name!
Posted By: Jefferson (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Dwayne's a sellout! Dwayne's a sellout!
Posted By: BillyBobJoeBob (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 04:07 PM
...and in MOVIE NEWS
Posted By: Brett (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 04:18 PM
"Yeah well Mark Walberg changed his name too, but I think we all still refer to him as 'Marky Mark'"
No we fuckin' don't, retard. Did you see The Departed? Game, set, match. Unless you actually prefer the man's rapping to his acting...
Also, why anyone would begrudge a GROWN ASS MAN to choose what he wants to be called in public is beyond me.
Posted By: Guest#5884 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 05:02 PM
i still call him marky mark too.
Posted By: Guest#6784 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 05:26 PM
It doesn't matter what his name is...
Kevin Nash is still Diesel, Scott Hall is still Razor Ramon, Dwayne Johnson will always be The Rock!
Posted By: Andaddy (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 06:12 PM
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DWAYNE JOHNSON WANTS!
Posted By: The Crock (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 06:43 PM
WOW Amazing that some people take a quote out of context and immediately start bashing him. Or hauling out the it doesn't matter what his name his jokes. Yeah real original, about as original as HHH bashing on here. How about read the article and then comment, or would that take too long, Personally I prefer to watch my Rock dvd and remember him as the most electrifying man in sports entertainment. And I also respect Dwayne as an actor who has made some good films, not all great but overall a good actor. I can respect him in all his roles.
Posted By: JP20 (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 08:41 PM
I've heard this news story a few times in the past couple years. We get it. He doesn't want to be called The Rock. Let's move on please.
Posted By: thesting (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 08:45 PM
All we have to do to understand Dwayne's position is to defer to Mick Foley's feelings on the cover of his first book. Allow me to paraphrase:
"I really felt the book was special. I was proud of completing it, of everything inside, and I wanted my own name on the cover. That didn't stop the editor from plastering a huge MANKIND above the title, "A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks," something else I had to fight hard for.
"I confronted the editor about it, and he felt there was more recognition in the name "Mankind," and while I don't disagree, I told him, I didn't write the book rocking back and forth in the corner of a basement, talking to a rat and calling for mommy. I wrote the book as Mick Foley, and I wanted Mick Foley to be recognized for that."
Dwayne Johnson no longer wants the name "Rock" tagged on to his every role not because he's forgetting where he came from or because he wants to distance himself from the business that made him. He wants proper and due recognition of his ongoing career accomplishments to Dwayne Johnson, the man, not The Rock, the character.
As much as the IWC is loathe to admit it, yes, there is a difference between the man he is and the character we've come to enjoy. And I think Dwayne Johnson, the man, deserves at least enough respect for us to recognize him as separate from the character he played so damn well.
Posted By: Greg (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 09:14 PM
When's the last time you heard anyone say the following:
"Honey, let's go see that new Dwayne Johnson movie, it look great!"
He's The Rock the way Terry Bollea is Hulk Hogan, he should just accept it. The closest he will ever get to not just being The Rock is being Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Posted By: RDog (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 09:54 PM
"So why do you suddenly start calling The Rock by his real name just
because he asked to, but still refer to Nick Bollea as "Nick
Hogan", a name he never went by?"
Hogan stills bills himself as Hogan, he still uses that name to promote shows and he is still involved with wrestling.
The Rock is not involved with wrestling whatsoever and will never wrestler again, ever.
Posted By: lolwtf (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Some of you really sound dumb. "Forgetting his roots", what rubbish!
He wants to be called by his given name, that's all there is to it. And he's probably the smartest wrestler who ever lived. He made a fortune in wrestling - but earned all of it, and owes NOTHING to anybody because he was paid for services rendered, not future services to be rendered - and has found a way now to make a great living and not risk becoming a pain-killer-addicted cripple later in life. Ric Flair should take notice.
Posted By: someguy (Guest) on June 18, 2008 at 11:22 PM
That Hyperstorm guy is sure being a dick. I don't know how old this JJ guy is, or why it should matter, but he is clearly emotionally more mature since he didn't even respond to that douche.
Posted By: Joel Yeomans (Registered) on June 18, 2008 at 11:54 PM
"Fair play I say, by not being called "The Rock" not only can
he position himself more successfully as a serious actor, but it means
the WWE will no longer be able to cash in (as they own the rights to
'The Rock' name)."
Actually, The Rock owns the rights to the name. He negotiated them sometime back before he has his last run in 2003.
Posted By: Guest#9073 (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 01:33 AM
I no longer want to be known as Darren. Please refer to me as my parents first born.
Posted By: Darren (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 02:25 AM
Look, it's not that I have a problem with him not wanted to be called the Rock, I have a problem with his reasoning for it. I have all the respect in the world for someone who will move on to better themselves, even if it means leaving wrestling, or a TV show, or whatever it may be. But most people still pay homage to what got them to where they are today. I personally feel insulted that Dwayne Johnson feels that wrestling is going to hurt his image when the only reason he HAS an image and ANY recognizability is because of his time as a wrestler. For example, Hulk Hogan may be an ass, but at least he still acknowledges the fans of wrestling that got him to be as big as he is today. While I respect Dwayne's decision to drop his wrestling character's name, I certainly do not respect his decision to ignore what got him to where he's at today. It was all summed but the fact that the only reason he went to WrestleMania 24 is because WWE told him they would not induct his father and grandfather UNLESS he performed the inductions. Pretty bad, if you ask me.
Posted By: Enygma (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 06:04 AM
I Think Everyone Is Forgetting Wrestling Is Fake. "The Rock" Was A Character He Played. does Sean Connery Go Around Wanting To Be Called James Bond? No He Does Not, Because It Is A Character He Played. I Enjoyed "The Rock" As A Wrestler, But He Is No Longer Doing That, Get Past It, It Is Over. "The Rock" Is Dead.
Posted By: Jake (real) (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 09:37 AM
wow 54+ comments and no one has mentioned "EPIC ____" progress is being made....
Posted By: C (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 10:29 AM
I don't know if anyone ever mentioned the fact that Dwayne Johnson is pretty close to being the most generic name possible -- people with generic names don't tend to last very long in Hollywood.
He should at least steal his old man's name and go by Rock(y) Johnson or something.
Posted By: Guest#9622 (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 11:30 AM
the final nail in the coffin that he sold out and he craps on the fans that made him. i have never seen a movie of his and never will. he is a sell out.
Posted By: Big Boy (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 11:38 AM
the movie reno 911 bombed because of his roll. Rock needs to go play in the jungle and leave movies to real actors. he sucked as much as Marky Mark does.
Posted By: neo (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 11:47 AM
C: Yeah, progress WAS being made, until you had to open your big mouth. You're just as bad as the people who say it.
Posted By: Guest#8573 (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Who cares? I can't wait until Dwayne Johnson wins an Oscar because then all of the IWC fags who take wrestling too fucking seriously to the point that they'll boo John Cena for existing yet cheer Chris Benoit for having "great workrate" despite being a fucking murderer will have an ulcer when Dwayne wins an Oscar.
Posted By: Rahrahrah (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 09:06 PM
The best part of this all is that this is listed as "The Rock News"
Posted By: Jesse (Guest) on June 21, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Copyright (c) 2011 411mania.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
Click here for our privacy policy. Please help us serve you better, fill out our survey.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to our terms of use.
