Being good on the microphone is a necessary skill for a WWE superstar. Talking to the crowd or cutting promos is a staple of every good wrestlers’ repertoire, but none used it to perfection as The Rock did. Dwayne Johnson and his electric charisma carried him to the main event of many WrestleManias and multiple title reigns.

The Rock had to convince Vince McMahon to let him speak

In conversation with Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, Dwayne Johnson talked about convincing his boss to let him cut a promo. The Rock walked into the WWE, a complete babyface at Survivor Series 1996. Before you know it, he became the smack-talking leader of the Nation of Domination.

“Give me two minutes. If I suck, never give me the microphone again.” Vince McMahon gave The Rock two minutes to show him and the WWE Universe what he was capable of. And the rest was history.

Trending

Sheamus’ Raw Return Marred by Overweight Allegations Online Following 8 Month Hiatus

April 16, 2024 02:34 AM EDT

“Boring Champion”: Cody Rhodes Loses IWC Confidence Days After Beating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL

April 16, 2024 04:17 PM EDT

Bo Dallas’ Uncle Howdy & Matt Hardy’s Return Date Seemingly Finalised After Bray Wyatt Connection Emerges

April 17, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

“Coming Back”: Brock Lesnar’s First Opponent After Rumored WWE Return Named Following His WrestleMania XL Defeat

April 15, 2024 09:21 AM EDT

“Beefcake”: Sheamus’ ‘Big Boned’ Response to Fat Shamers Earns Huge IWC Response Following Raw Debut

April 17, 2024 11:23 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest WWE stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

‘I had to tell him that ‘Listen, I understand that we only have two hours of live television,’ and the show was kicking a**, our ratings were great at that time and I said just give me two minutes- one minute, and if I suck, you’ll never give me the microphone again.”

The promo that saved his career

Many consider The Rock’s heel turn to be the moment that saved his entire career. Like most babyfaces, the WWE Universe treated the Rock very poorly. Fans chanted ‘Rocky sucks’ at literally every match since his debut. He received a huge pop when he won his Survivor Series debut match, but the aftermath was brutal.

After losing the Intercontinental Championship, Dwayne Johnson joined the Nation of Domination. Ron Simmons led the group that also comprised D’Lo Brown and Kama (who later became known as the Godfather).

The promo he cut will go down as one of the best heel turns of all time.

After joining the Nation of Domination, The Rock would feud with some of the biggest names in WWE. He faced the likes of Steve Austin, Owen Hart, Triple H, Ken Shamrock, and Mick Foley. Mick Foley would become one of his most iconic rivals in 1998 when he lost to the Rock in the main event of Survivor Series 1998.

The promo led him to some of the best moments of his inspirational WWE career. It almost proved the fact that a heel turn can rejuvenate your career. That moment will go down as one of the smoothest heel turn executions of all time.