Do You Smell What Dwayne Johnson is Cooking?
| Published 11/19/04

Graphic by: Doni Neel

OK, first let's get some wrestling terminology in for those who don't know it. A “face” is a good guy in wrestling – baby face being someone completely over with the crowd - the extreme good guy. A “heel” is the bad guy - they generate heat or boos from the crowd - that's their job. Generally a face is the one who gets the props or cheers, and the heel is booed. The Rock was different.

When he came out as the clean swept good guy, he was booed. People were looking for something different. So when given the chance to become a heel, Rocky took the chance. Calling himself The Rock and donning a new attitude and catchphrases like “Jabroni,” “Smell What The Rock is Cooking,” and “Know Your Role.” The Rock took over sports entertainment as a whole. Fans loved to hate and cheered him because they loved him. He couldn't work as a face before because the fans didn't click with him. He couldn't work as a heel as The Rock because fans loved him too much. In the short time span that he was given, he won tag gold, intercontinental gold, and heavyweight gold. He donned phrases such as “The Rock Bottom,” ”The People's Elbow.” With one eyebrow raised, people knew The Rock meant business.

Now The Rock has taken a completely different turn. With his first acting start in “The Mummy Returns,” The Rock played the Scorpion King. The publicity that he generated from only about 3 scenes had the directors and people in Hollywood scrounging to pick him up to do his first feature film - "The Scorpion King." The Rock went on to star with Sean William Scott in "The Rundown," the story of a bounty hunter sent to South America to pick up his boss's son. The Rock then made "Walking Tall," the real-life inspired story about a sheriff in a small Tennessean town who ran the town with a two-by-four.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, The Rock is not done. He has an autobiography that was #1 on the New York Times best seller list. He has also managed to be on TV shows as well as make comebacks in the wrestling business during downtime between movies. Let's not forget his two appearances on Saturday Night Live that were some of the best rated shows ever.

The Rock's future roles include a part in the movie "Be Cool," a sequel to "Get Shorty" (If you don't know what "Get Shorty" is, LOOK IT UP). He also is set to star in the movie “Spy Hunters” based on the hit video game. Look for him also to have a part in the new “Doom” movie. Perhaps he will even be the next Terminator.

Without a doubt, The Rock has become the most electrifying man in Sports Entertainment and Entertainment with a world-wide fan base. What is next for this Superstar of Entertainment?