Dwayne “The Rock" Johnson's Eulogy to His Father

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Glasses in session. Find Try This from the Washington Post wherever you listen. And we continue with our American stories. A blood clot was the cause of death for Rocky Soulman Johnson, the WWE Professional Wrestling Hall of Famer and father of Hollywood actor Dwayne The Rock Johnson. Johnson died at the Florida home his son bought for him. He was 75.

Rocky began wrestling at the age of 16 and retired in 1991, but he went on to train his son to become a wrestler. Here's Dwayne The Rock Johnson paying tribute to his father. Wish I had one more shot, you know, just to say goodbye. Say I love you. Thank you.

Respect you. But you know, I have a feeling he's watching. He's listening. I know my dad will be saying kayfabe the tears. You know, you try and you think about, well, what am I going to write? This is, you know, you don't know what to write for a eulogy. It's your dad.

You don't expect it. As you guys know, you know, he went very quick. I was on my way to work the other day on January 15th, and I was just pulling into work. We were shooting that day, and it was the very first day of production. And then I get a call from my wife, Lauren, who said, you know, hey, I just spoke to Cora.

Seems like something's going on with your dad. And Lauren was with our babies. She was with my mom.

And she said, you know, I really can't talk. She goes, I think you should call Cora, though. So, of course, I called Cora. Cora, you know, she broke the news to me. And right when she broke the news, I was literally just pulling in.

I'm looking at the whole crew, hundreds of guys and women milling around and carrying equipment and waving at me in the truck and waving back. And it all got really foggy, and it seemed like it was just a big dream. And you know how you have those moments you try and shake yourself out of it?

I'm like, no, it's not a dream. My dad's gone. And in that moment, I just thought, well, what do I need to do?

What's the next thing that I need to do? And I heard a voice say, oh, hey, the show must go on. And that was my dad.

That was my old man who told me that. You know, this idea about the show must go on. It just reminded me of, you know, what my dad was and what he represented to our business and to our wrestling business. And something that, you know, we're all very proud of because many of us are in this wrestling business and it is in your blood.

Once it's in your blood, it never goes away. The phrase of Trailblazer is connected to my dad's name. My dad, Rocky Johnson, Trailblazer never been done when you do things that have never been done, but impactful things and things that actually move the needle in industry.

And he did that. And for my dad, when he broke into the business in the mid 60s and throughout the late 60s and into the 70s in the United States, where racial tension and divide was very strong. And in the 60s and the 70s, you have a black man coming in.

It's a it's an all white audience. There he is. Good looking dude, wouldn't you say all these small little towns that eventually I would go on to wrestle in, but at that time changed the audience behavior and actually had them cheer for this black man. A man that has been a top star all over the United States for the past decade. Introducing Rocky Johnson. Look at this, Rocky Johnson.

Is he excited or is he? And not when he was wrestling against other black men, because he was usually the only black guy in the territory. He was wrestling against other white wrestlers. And I thought that was really unique and I thought that was really powerful. And I thought that it deserved to be said.

And that's what this man did. You know, we celebrated and we gave honor to Dr. Martin Luther King yesterday. And I woke up this morning and my heart, of course, is heavy. But there was a lightness to it that I thought, wow, you know, it's very appropriate because, you know, my dad fought for racial equality at a time where it was needed.

We are the first black champions of the world ever. Dr. Martin Luther King would be very proud of my dad. When you think of my dad's name, you think hard work.

You think barrier breaking. You think, you know, that being the hardest worker in the room, always working out, taught me how to work out when I was a very, very young age, hard work, discipline. Those are things and tenets that are synonymous with my dad's name. What's amazing to me now, after a day like today, after we come here and we give our respects and our love, he's galvanized, he's responsible for galvanizing families now and families coming together just a bit closer. Because, you know, through processes like this and we all go through this, we all go through this. We've all lost loved ones, but guaranteed when we walk out of these doors, we're going to hold each other a bit tighter. We're going to hug each other a bit harder. We're going to kiss each other. We're going to say, I love you.

And we're going to be a little bit more present. And I think that's the beautiful irony about my dad and all the things that his name is synonymous with all over the years. Now, his name is synonymous with the power of love and bringing people together. It's very appropriate for the soul man. I wish your soul at rest and at ease.

It's no more pain, no more regret. I'm sorry. Just give me a second. Thank you for bearing with me.

Just give me a second. So happy he had friends, a place like this that he could come to. And all of you who have been in his life and all of you have said really wonderful things. All the messages that you sent me. He would be very happy at this.

It would make his heart full. This isn't goodbye. This is just I'll see you down the road.

We'll see down the road. I thank you guys so much for your time and your love. I love you all. I thank you. We love you all. My family.

Thank you guys very much. And I'll see you down the road, soul man. Father and son rocking the house here, ladies and gentlemen. You carry the family name, you carry your grandfather's name, you carry my name. And I sat in that crowd and I watch you. And I was so proud. My dad was a hero to me. He was larger than life. Legendary matches I witnessed as a kid.

He was able to cross all lines and become one of the most dynamic and formidable performers of his time. It is my great honor to welcome, congratulate and induct into the 2008 WWE Hall of Fame. My dad, Rocky Johnson. I would also like to thank my beautiful daughter, Wanda.

My son, Curtis. And for Dwayne, for everything you've done for me. You made me proud by continuing our family wrestling legacy. I know in the beginning I resisted you from entering the business because they knew it was extremely difficult. And I only agreed to train you on one condition, that I would not go easy on you. And let me tell you, I didn't. I will tell you, my little silly, I will tell you a story that's not on this script.

He got sassy with me one time. It was about a mile and a half from home. And he wanted sympathy.

And it was pouring down rain. And I said, if you want sympathy, go home to your mother and get it. He said, that's exactly where I'm going.

He took his bag and he left. But I will say this from the bottom of my heart, and I love him very much. He's my son and he always will be. And I'm very proud of him. I would like to be remembered for helping pave the road for other black athletes. But I'd also like to remember paving the road for all athletes. No matter race, color, or creed. Thank you, and may God bless each and every one of you.

Thank you. And a terrific job on the production, editing, and storytelling by our own Greg Hengler. And you were listening to Dwayne The Rock Johnson eulogize his father, Rocky Soul Man Johnson. In the end there, you were listening to Rocky Soul Man Johnson himself. A father and son love affair. It's not a dream, The Rock said. Dad's gone.

I heard a voice though, the show must go on. My dad taught me that. He fought for racial equality, breaking barriers, hard work and discipline. Always working out, always working hard.

That's what my dad taught me. His name is associated though in the end with the power of love and bringing people together. He would be very happy with this. It would make his heart full. And he closed with those words, I'll see you down the road, Soul Man. Dwayne The Rock Johnson's eulogy to his father.

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