Rocky Johnson
Canadian professional wrestler
Who was Rocky Johnson?
Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles; August 24, 1944 – January 15, 2020) was a Canadian professional wrestler. He was the father of actor and wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and the grandfather of wrestler Simone "Ava" Johnson. Wayde Douglas Bowles was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, the fourth of five sons. Another ancestor, Dembo Sickles, was the son of a chief in present-day Benin who was captured by slavehunters in 1762 and brought to Prince Edward Island, where he eventually bought his freedom. His parents were James Henry Bowles (1888–1957) and Lillian (née Gay; 1919–1996). As a Black Nova Scotian, he was descended from Black Loyalists who immigrated to Nova Scotia after escaping from a plantation in the United States after the American War of Independence. At the age of 16, Johnson moved to Toronto, where he began wrestling and worked as a truck driver.
Historical significance
Among many National Wrestling Alliance titles, he was the first Black NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion as well as the NWA Television Champion (2 times). He won the WWF Tag Team Championship in 1983, along with his partner Tony Atlas, to become the first black tag team champions in WWE history. Among many National Wrestling Alliance titles, he was the first Black NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion as well as the NWA Television Champion.
