Moms and Dads are important, yes some people get by without them, but it’s so much easier when they are there and pose as a positive influence. Once you get to know Dwayne Johnson’s parents, you will totally understand why he went down his chosen career path and you will definitely understand his drive. So let’s not beat around the bush people, it’s time to meet Dwayne Johnson’s parents.
Dwayne Johnson’s Parents
Dwayne Johnson’s Dad
Some would say that The Rock has ‘wrestling’ in his blood, and boy are they right. The wrestler turned actor was born into the house of Ata Johnson (née Maivia) and professional wrestler Rocky Johnson. Rocky was actually born Wayde Douglas, but we are guessing that wasn’t a very exciting wrestling name. So, in 1964 he legally changed his name to Rocky Johnson and that explains why The Rock’s full name is Dwayne Douglas Johnson.
Rocky is a Black Nova Scotian, but at the age of 16, he moved to Toronto to realize his wrestling dreams. Believe it or not, it was wrestling that hooked him up with his wife, Ata. Ata’s father, the High chief Peter Maivia was also a wrestler and alongside his wife, Lia Maivia, he built Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling.
Maivia and Rocky were tag team partners in a match on the independent scene, and that was where he met Ata. Against her father’s wishes, she married the wrestler and soon after, on May 2, 1972, Dwayne was born. The family moved around a lot, just like most wrestling families do, but that ended when Dwayne was 14.
They relocated to Honolulu permanently while Rocky continued to travel for his profession. It was hard work, and despite Rocky’s success in the ring, it didn’t pull in enough funds for the family. In relation to this, Dwayne told The Hollywood Reporter, ‘We were living in an efficiency that cost $120 a week. We come home, and there’s a padlock on the door and an eviction notice. My mom starts bawling. She just started crying and breaking down. ‘Where are we going to live? What are we going to do?’
Meanwhile, Rocky was still pushing for himself and his family and it paid off. Though he no longer wrestles, he is still considered Wrestling Royalty and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame along with his father-in-law “High Chief” Peter Maivia by The Rock. In addition to this great honor, he is the first non-Samoan to be named High Chief. His title is High Chief Tafiaiafi.
Dwayne Johnson Mum
She was born, Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia and she hails from a prolific Samoan wrestling family. Yeah, we are just going to go with Ata, because that is one long name. Her father was the High Chief” Peter Maivia and her mother, Lia Maivia, was one of wrestling’s few female promoters.
It was not odd at all when she fell for a wrestler, coming from a family like her’s. Life as a wrestler’s wife was not glamorous and her father knew it when he expressed disapproval for her union with Rocky, but the heart wants what it wants until it doesn’t. In 2003, her marriage with Rocky Johnson ended and we guess they have both been flying solo since then.
Ata has been a strong driving force in her son’s life and we know for sure that he does not joke with her. Dwayne was forced to come face to face with the possibility of losing his mother, and also his cousin in a fatal auto crash that happened in 2014. He posted a picture of the crash with the caption below.
‘My mom & cousin @linafanene was struck head-on by a drunk driver this week – they lived. The first reaction is to find the person who did this and do unrelenting harm to them. But then you realize the most important thing is my family lived thru this and we can hug each other that much tighter these days. Hug your own family tighter today and be grateful you can tell them you love them.’
Though no lives were lost, the new car the actor bought for his mother was bashed beyond repair. Since The Rock is a guy who sees the glass half full, he used that as an excuse to get her a new one in her favorite color. We can spot this Mama’s boy from a mile away.
