OK, get this: the word “smackdown” actually entered the Merriam-Webster dictionary thanks to no other than The Rock himself. As a beloved wrestler, Johnson was known among fans for his catchphrases, one of which was “lay the smackdown” (we can only assume this meant something along the lines of “crush your wrestling opponent”).
Anyway, long story short – by 2007, the Merriam-Webster dictionary had already included the word “smackdown,” and it’s all thanks to The Rock.
A Descendant to a Family of Wrestlers
It's no secret that The Rock is a former wrestler, but did you know that he actually comes from a dynasty of them? He may have been the only one to become a celebrity, but still. Johnson is a third-generation wrestler, after his father and grandfather. The Rock's father, Rocky Johnson was his own kind of famous, too, due to being one of the first black wrestlers to win the WWE tag team championship.
Johnson even inducted his father and grandfather into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008. That's what we call family pride.
He Lived in 38 U.S. States!
Some kids are constantly forced to move due to one of their parents' military careers; and The Rock was a lot like that, due to his father's wrestling career. As a child, Dwayne actually lived in 38 different U.S. states! That's like, about 2/3 of the United States.
He also lived in New Zealand for a while with his mom's family. This meant changing schools often, and who knows, maybe that's what gave him his versatile and adaptive nature, allowing him to switch careers smoothly later in his life.
He Once Saved a Life
We weren't too surprised to find out that The Rock had once saved a life. The really crazy bit, though, is that it was his mom's! And no, we're not mixing up one of Johnson's blockbusters with real life.
When the famous actor was only 15 years old, his family was going through a rough patch financially and lost their home. As a result, his mom tried to take her own life by stopping their car in the middle of the highway; but young, brave Dwayne stopped her from going through with the act and brought her back to her senses.
Pizza Lover
Looking at The Rock, you'd expect him to be a man that sticks to his diet. Like, honestly, how can one maintain such an amazing physique without being under a strict culinary regime?
Well, apparently, even The Rock makes exceptions every now and then, to get a taste of life's less healthy delights. His personal favorites are peanut butter, pizza, and coke. All classics!