Former WWF Tag Team Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson has passed away at the age of 75. The former tag team champion accomplishments helped to blaze the standard for African-American wrestlers in not only the WWE but professionally wrestling as well. Johnson is also the father of former WWF Champion Dwayne’ The Rock’ Johnson. While no public statement has been made by the Johnson family reports have begun to circulate with his passing.
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As nearly a veteran of the ring for forty years, Johnson captured several titles throughout the territories. A former Mid-Atlantic, Continental, and Georgia Championship Wrestling champion, Johnson gained a great deal of notoriety of as one-half of the WWF Tag Team Champions with Mr. USA Tony Atlas. Johnson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame along with the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame both in 2008. Johnson is survived by his three children and brother Ricky Johnson also a former wrestler. Rocky Johnson was also the son in law of the late High Cheif Peter Maivia. This has connected Johnson with the Anoai Family as well.
Born Wayde Douglas Bowles, in Amherst, Nova Scotia Canada. Johnson was among black loyalists who immigrated to Canada after he escaped a plantation in the United States after the Revolutionary War. Johnson initially was training to become a boxer and enamored with wrestling that he easily transitioned into the sport. He moved to Toronto, Ontario Canada and began driving a truck and wrestling at the age of 16.
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In recent years, Johnson had helped to share the story of his life and times. His influence on his son, Dwayne acted as a motivator for the younger Johnson to be better. We here at Pro Wrestling Post send our heartfelt condolences to the Johnson and Anoai Family at this difficult time.
