Dwayne The Rock Johnson as a high school student
Credit: thestyleinspiration.com
When Dwayne Johnson made his WWE wrestling debut on November 17, 1996 – in Madison Square Garden, no less (truly hallowed ground in the wrasslin’ business) – he was not yet ‘The Rock’ but ‘Rocky Maivia’, a dorkish, insufferable do-gooder who had been instructed by wrestling bosses to constantly smile, no matter what.
The 24-year-old sported shiny white boots, makeshift Polynesian garb, and a frizz of jehri curled hair (Johnson later compared the hairdo to a “Chia pet” – one of those Seventies-style terracotta animals which sprouts plants). Despite the look, the crowd of 18,647 cheered him along as he won his rookie match. But not for long.