The Rock Remembers Father Rocky Johnson On Social Media
The Rock took to Instagram and Twitter today to pay tribute to his father, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson.
"I love you," The Rock wrote. "You broke color barriers, became a ring legend and trail blazed your way thru this world. I was the boy sitting in the seats, watching and adoring you, my hero from afar. The boy you raised to always be proud of our cultures and proud of who and what I am. The boy you raised with the toughest of love. The intense work. The hard hand. The adoring boy who wanted to know only your best qualities. Who then grew to become a man realizing you had other deep complex sides that needed to be held and understood. Son to father. Man to man. That's when my adoration turned to respect. And my empathy turned to gratitude. Grateful that you gave me life. Grateful you gave me life's invaluable lessons.
"Dad, I wish I had one more shot to tell you, I love you, before you crossed over to the other side. But you were ripped away from me so fast without warning. Gone in an instant and no coming back. Im in pain. But we both know it's just pain and it'll pass. Now I'll carry your mana and work ethic with me, as it's time to move on because I have my family to feed and work to accomplish. Finally, I want you to rest your trailblazing soul, Soulman. Pain free, regret free, satisfied and at ease. You lived a very full, very hard, barrier breaking life and left it all in the ring. I love you dad and I'll always be your proud and grateful son. Go rest high. #ripsoulman #rockyjohnson [Goat emoji]"
As noted, the former WWE Tag Team Champion passed away at the age of 75 on Wednesday.
It was reported earlier today, via the Wrestling Observer, that Johnson had been sick in the weeks leading up to his passing. Brian Blair, head of the Cauliflower Alley Club who first announced the passing, told the Observer that Johnson had been sick for a few weeks and thought he h ad the flu. Blair advised Johnson to go to the doctor or hospital after he had been sick for a week, but he did not go to the doctor, and passed away at his home in Lutz, Florida on Wednesday. The cause of death has not been ruled as the autopsy was not completed as of Thursday.
You can see The Rock's full IG post on his father below: