Alex Marvez's Interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson...3-14-02Interview w/Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
By Alex Marvez
(Thanks to TONYDX1068 for sending this to me!)
Alex Marvez interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Finally, The Rock had come back to Davie. After spending almost two straight months on the road finishing filming of the Scorpion King and appearing on World Wrestling Federation programming, Johnson received a well-deserved break last weekend at his home outside of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In the following interview conducted March 8, Johnson discusses the filming of The Scorpion King, his upcoming match against Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania XVIII and his future in the wrestling business.
Q: How hard was it juggling filming of The Scorpion King and working WWF television tapings?
Johnson: “It was extremely difficult, but that was a sacrifice I knew I would have to make going into the process. The film industry is one I had wanted to break into for a long time. I had waited for the right opportunity. I got my introduction with the Mummy Returns and a lot transpired since then. In terms of personal sacrifices, it’s been a daunting, arduous, difficult task. You know the WWF schedule. And filming on top of that, the schedule was something else. But it was a sacrifice I’m willing to make. I’m looking forward to enjoying the fruits of my labor.”
Q: I read about your schedule finishing up the movie and how the WWF booked two injury angles to help you out. Was it as bad as it sounded?
Johnson: “Worse. Let me give you an example. I was pretty much filming five days a week and shooting (WWF) TV two days a week. Whenever I was off from WWF programming, I was away doing some sort of film activity whether it was filming or promoting the film. The (ambulance) angle in Chicago, the reason for it was to make an impact, especially knowing what it was leading to between myself and Hulk Hogan. But it also was for me to leave and go to Asia early. I was over in Japan, Singapore and Malaysia promoting the film. And it’s been non-stop since I came back.”
Q: What was the toughest part of the whole thing?
Johnson: “Not getting back to Davie, which was really difficult. I was on a soundstage in Los Angeles or in the mountains in California. There are some spectacular scenes in the snow. It’s unbelievable shooting up there. But I still wish I was in Davie at my favorite pizza joint. Hands down, I’d take Davie.”
Q: How have you evolved as an actor from The Mummy Returns to The Scorpion King?
Johnson: “That’s a good question. I think I have evolved tremendously with the guidance and tutelage of my acting coach, Larry Moss. He has worked with Helen Hunt and with Jim Carrey for The Majestic. It really helped a lot in terms of getting my emotions where they need to be for a particular scene. For the Scorpion King, there are such a different array of emotions he goes through. There was a moment of poignancy in that movie that I was able to convey, which was fantastic. In The Mummy Returns, it was introductory role. I did some Egyptian dialogue, so there was not a lot of emotion involved. In the WWF, you have one take because it's live TV. With the luxury of film, you can do 15 takes if you want to find something emotionally different. When I watched (The Scorpion King) last week when we had a screening, all that work was well worth it. That includes every single take, waking up at 4 a.m., getting in the makeup chair and ending (filming) at midnight.”
Q: How much longer can you continue to split time between acting and wrestling?
Johnson: "You know what? I’m as optimistic as I can possibly be, but I honestly don't know how long I can balance both having gone through what I did this past year. I did all I possibly could to balance both and it damn near killed me. But I tell you what I am certain about and adamant about: In some way, shape, form or fashion, I will always be part of the WWF. I never want to leave that. Not necessarily the business end, but the electricity of being in an arena going absolutely crazy, that's a feeling I can't describe and something I never want to let go of. And I won’t. Whether my acting roles become larger and more demanding and I return for one or two big matches a year, that’s something I’ll never let go of. It’s great to have other choices (besides wrestling), but I’ll never forget it. This industry is in my blood. I have a passion for it as well as a passion for acting.
“Here’s the thing. Talking about myself not only as an entertainer but as a person, I’ve always looked for growth. I’ve been able to accomplish so much in the WWF and I’m thankful for that. I’ve been able to reach out to millions and millions of people as I have transcended into acting. It’s all part of a growing process and starting a new chapter in my life. But wrestling is one thing I will never forget and I will always go back.”
Q: What’s your next step in Hollywood?
Johnson: “Right now, I’m looking closely at a lot of studios, with Universal being in the forefront. They showed a tremendous amount of support by way of green-lighting The Scorpion King for $70 million without even a script being done. They believed in my ability and I’m appreciative. I could possibly sign a deal with them for my next film. Maybe in the next couple of months it will go to pre-production. It would be an action-comedy with myself and another co-star. It’s going to be great.”
Q: When you went away from the WWF to film Scorpion King last summer, it seemed like the WWF didn’t know what to do with you when you returned. Is that a concern now considering you probably will miss a bunch of time again?
Johnson: “Yeah, the booking showed that. I will say this: I always talk about growth and challenges. Again, I’ve been fortunate to have accomplished so much in the WWF. And ironically enough, I have not always been involved in the top story lines. I’m OK with not being in the top story line. I’m gonna go out and be my best regardless of what I’m involved with. That helped propel me to the level I’m at now. It’s just that my mentality is that I’m always looking for a challenge. When I first started (in 1996), my challenge was to become Intercontinental champion because at that time that was the first belt you could attain before the world title. Then I grew to be WWF champion. Then my challenge became wanting to headline Wrestlemania. I did that in 1999. Then I wanted to make $1 million in one night. Last year, my challenge was that I wanted to sell out the Astrodome with (Steve) Austin and break the (pay-per-view) buy rate and box office records.
“Now, my challenge is with Hogan. “When the idea was thrown at me in a conversation I had with Vince (McMahon), I said, ‘Frankly, please do anything you can to make this happen. I felt it was a challenge. I wanted to one-up Wrestlemania from last year. I wanted something bigger than The Rock versus Steve Austin. I saw Rock versus Hogan being a marquee matchup. I don’t mean this as a challenge for my toughest opponent, and I don’t mean that in an insulting way. I look at it as a challenge in terms of it probably being the most meaningful matchup in the history of my career. I’m talk about a match that can transcend the industry. It’s a match you can ask everybody from all generations about. You can say, ‘Rock vs. Hogan. Who’s gonna win?’ I love that type of matchup, especially because the industry has become so closed.”
Q: I don’t want to sound negative, but the numbers for Hogan’s return have been really flat.
Johnson: “I don’t take that personally. I don’t pay a lot of attention to the numbers because I know business has been down. In this industry, it’s very cyclical. It’s up and down. You have peeks and valleys and cycles. At the very least, my intent and focus is to just go out and continue to entertain the fans. But the timing of this is very interesting with everything going on in my life and all the outside projects and transcending into film when things are how they are in our industry … I think it’s very important the company continues to at least try to build and create new stars because The Rock isn’t always going to be around full-time. Neither is ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin or a lot of other guys who are real important right now. I know it’s a delicate balance in the WWF with the way they have to produce four hours of live television each week and compete in a very competitive entertainment market. It’s extremely difficult and a lot easier said than done. Every single day, regardless of who is in there, WWF programming continues to try and raise the bar. It’s always imperative to me to be fresh and innovative with everything I say and continue to be creative. The guys have to have the same mentality as well.”
Q: Speaking of creating new stars, I have to give you a ton of credit for doing more jobs than any other main event performer in wrestling history. Why do you have that approach?
Johnson: “Oddly enough, I was just talking with someone about this the other day. I’ve been beaten at every Wrestlemania I’ve been in and oddly enough I’m in the position I am in. The thing is this is a very self-serving, egotistical industry. I got that a long time ago because I grew up in the industry and understand it. What’s important for me is to build other talent. If I can make a guy look like a million dollars, regardless of where he is on the totem poll or the popularity of his character, and I beat him, I beat a million-dollar guy. It’s just that simple. I got that a long time ago. I can make a guy look like a million bucks by letting them beat me. When I beat them, I beat a million-dollar guy. Even a guy like Hogan. Here’s a guy who, through the story line, does more to The Rock in one day (with the ambulance angle) than anything anyone has ever done. Being put in that position on TV, 90 percent of the guys in the industry would have the mentality that it’s really important to get mine next week. The first time I returned (after the ambulance angle at the March 7 Smackdown episode), I was adamant about not even touching him. I made an attempt to touch him, but during the big moment in the ring, I didn’t touch him. That’s something I’ve worked for, to create desire. That affect should create the big payoff at Wrestlemania … Even when I was a heel, I got it then. That’s from growing up in the industry and working closely with Pat Patterson. I realized it as a heel champion. The formula is so simple as a heel champion. Guys would tell me, ‘So, do you want to hit your big move here or use it here?’ I would say, ‘You can’t kick my ass enough in this match. Because at the end of the day, you’re going to kick my ass for 95 percent of the entire match and I’m still gonna win.’ It’s a very easy formula. It annoys me when some guys have the mentality of tit for tat. You did me so I have to do you. That’s not where the money is. It’s just not a logical formula.”
Q: What is your favorite match?
Johnson: “Undoubtedly, I would say myself and Stone Cold at last year’s Wrestlemania. The hype going into the match with two babyfaces getting ready to go at it in what was being billed as the biggest matchup ever, the electricity involved was crazy. It was a very special night being on top. But I will say oddly, since you asked, that one of my favorite matches I just had with Chris Jericho in Yokohama. As highly respected as the industry is over there and never having toured Japan, it was great to go for the first time in my career. I might not ever get that chance again. And it was great to go over and work with Jericho. I give Chris a lot of credit. He’s a trooper and a hell of a guy. I really enjoy working with him. He makes up for his weaknesses. He’s not that big of a guy and not that muscular, but he does a great job making up for it. He’s an athletic guy and he’s very creative and selfless.”
Q: I also have to give you credit for keeping The Rock and Dwayne Johnson as two separate entities. Is that still easy to do considering how much your popularity has grown?
Johnson: “Yeah, I think it’s easy because I never got caught up in all the hype. I’m a fairly even-keeled, level-headed guy. I don’t live extravagantly and I’m usually pretty accessible, too. Oddly enough, one thing that pisses me off is guys not signing autographs whether it’s wrestlers or actors. It’s just so superficial. That’s a pet peeve of mine.”
Q: Here’s an off-beat question for you: Why did you move to Davie?
Johnson: (Laughs) “My inspiration is that we have a 24-hour Dunkin’ Donuts. It’s a small town and a real town. I have a place in (Los Angeles), but this is a great place to raise children. That’s very important to me.”
Q: Speaking of which, that leads to my last question. How has fatherhood changed you (Note: Johnson and wife Dany’s daughter Simone was born last August)?
Johnson: “I think of myself a lot less now. With every decision I make, I have to think about the baby. To have a baby at 29 was something I never planned for, but there was an immediate realization that it was the greatest blessing I ever had. It’s really great even giving the baby a bath. I can make movies and headline Wrestlemanias, but it’s the simplest things that make me the happiest.”
Alex Marvez's weekly pro wrestling column can be found in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Denver Rocky Mountain News, Biloxi Sun-Herald and a host of other newspapers that subscribe to the Scripps-Howard News Service.
-30-
