Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is one of the biggest movie stars on planet Earth. WWE fans know him, first, as one of the greatest promo machines in the history of wrestling. Along with his great promos, The Rock is an 8-time WWE Champion that helped wrestling become a popular program on television during the WWE's Attitude Era.
Almost every wrestler in existence would love to have a career like The Rock's. He was a top wrestling star that became a top movie star. Despite all his success, there are still a ton of "what if" scenarios that surround the illustrious career of The Rock, and this list will examine ten of them.
10 What If The Rock Never Got Hurt In 1997?
Any fan who followed the early career of The Rock knows that he was not a beloved superstar upon his arrival in the WWE. His gimmick as "Rocky Maivia" was a tough sell to audiences, and they hated every moment of it. Fans infamously chanted "Die, Rocky, Die" before The Rock returned from injury in 1997. Some fans wonder what would have happened to The Rock's career if he didn't get injured.
He returned to the WWE from injury with a perfect heel angle where he attacked the fans and adopted a new name, "The Rock." Sure, he could have still adopted this gimmick and turned heel without the injury, but how soon would it have happened? There is even a case to be made that it wouldn't have happened if he never suffered a knee injury.
9 What If The Rock Feuded With Shawn Michaels?
One of the most famous "dream matches" that wrestling fans will likely never get to see is The Rock versus Shawn Michaels. The two notoriously had issues backstage and there are rumors galore as to why the two stars never feuded in the WWE.
It is unclear who would have ultimately become victorious in this rivalry especially if Shawn Michaels would have still been in the WWE around 1999, but every fan can clearly imagine how great the promo wars between the two would have been. If The Rock and HBK had a chance to feud in early 1998, odds are, they also would have put on a few classic matches. It's a what-if scenario that is a true bummer for WWE fans.
8 What If The Rock Never Joined The Nation Of Domination?
The Rock's successful heel turn (that led to a main event career in the WWE) wouldn't have worked out the way it did without him joining the Nation of Domination. Some fans wonder what would have happened if The Rock never joined the Nation.
The truth is, his talent would have likely allowed Rock to succeed as a solo heel wrestler, but his impact wouldn't have been so massive. The Nation's feud with D-Generation-X is what lead to The Rock's first major run in the WWE. It seems without the Nation he would have probably still gotten to the top, but it would have taken a lot longer.
7 What If "The Mummy Returns" Flopped At The Box Office?
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is one of the safest box office bets in Hollywood today. He's able to bring in a massive box office no matter who co-stars in a movie with him. The Rock's massive movie career began when he played a role in The Mummy Returns. The film was so successful that it led to a spin-off, The Scorpion King. The Scorpion King launched The Rock's Hollywood career.
If The Mummy Returns was not a hit at the box office, it's hard to know where The Rock's acting career would be. Hollywood is such a fickle game that he could have had a solid movie role afterward like Scorpion King or could have never worked again. It's a what-if situation The Rock is glad he'll never have to worry about.
6 What If The Rock Didn't Return To Wrestle John Cena?
The Rock's wrestling career was largely over in 2004. He went on to become a massive movie star and most wrestling fans thought they had seen the last of him in the ring. He very famously returned to battle John Cena at WrestleMania 28.
Their match reignited love for The Rock among WWE fans, and he became a more accessible wrestler despite the fact that he was also a Hollywood movie star. If he had never returned, The Rock might also feel like a wrestler who abandoned the WWE instead of someone who clearly cares about the company enough to participate despite his success away from the ring.
5 What If The Rock Only Wrestled Cena Once?
The first "Rock versus John Cena" match led to one of the most purchased WrestleMania events of all time. The WWE tried to replicate its success by having them compete again, and it took away from the magic of the first match.
The whole Rock vs Cena saga has a weird vibe to it thanks to the second match. If the WWE had left their feud alone after WrestleMania 28, it might be looked at as fondly as The Rock's match against Hollywood Hogan at WrestleMania 18 instead of a "cash grab moment."
4 What If WCW Gave Him A Shot?
The Rock's journey to the WWE was not easy. He even once attempted to join WCW but the company apparently wouldn't even look at him. The Monday Night Wars would have looked completely different if The Rock ended up at WCW.
It doesn't matter if some fans hated his gimmick, his skills in the ring and his generational talent on the microphone would have eventually shown through if given a chance at WCW. It's a "what if" scenario Vince McMahon is glad never happened.
3 What If The Rock Was As Good At Football As He Was Wrestling?
It's hard not to see The Rock as one of the most "winningest" people in history. He even won a college football National Championship in 1991 with the Miami Hurricanes.
Unfortunately for The Rock, scouts didn't think that he was a good enough football player to compete in the NFL, and he never did. If The Rock was as good at football as he is at wrestling or acting, he would have never ended up in the WWE and would probably be in the NFL Hall of Fame by now.
2 What If The Rock Didn't Get Injured In His Second Match With Cena?
The biggest fear for The Rock when he returned to the WWE was the possibility of getting injured. His schedule is extremely tight and getting hurt could cause a lot of trouble. This worry became reality when he tore his abdominal and adductor tendons from his pelvis during his match with John Cena at Wrestlemania 29.
He did not appear on Raw after 'Mania because of the injury even though he was scheduled to be there. If it weren't for this injury, fans would have likely seen a little more of The Rock in the fallout from his loss.
1 What If The Rock Wrestles Roman Reigns?
The biggest "what if" scenario that constantly surrounds both The Rock and Roman Reigns' careers is the possibility of a match between the two of them. "The Tribal Chief" has become the face of the WWE, and he's taken down everybody who stood in his path.
Could The Rock be the person to dethrone him? Many fans would be excited to see the two battle but as it stands, the match seems like an unlikely reality, although not impossible.