You remember the sideburns. You definitely remember the tracksuit. But most people forget that before he was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made his scripted television debut playing his own father. It was 1999. That '70s Show was in its first season, still finding its footing as a nostalgic sitcom, when they decided to lean into the era's obsession with professional wrestling.
The Rock on That 70s Show: A Meta Moment in Sitcom History
The episode, titled "That Wrestling Show," is basically a time capsule.
In it, Red Forman takes Eric to a local wrestling match, hoping for some father-son bonding. What they find is Rocky Johnson, played by none other than his real-life son, Dwayne. At the time, The Rock was the hottest thing in the WWF (now WWE). He wasn't "Movie Star Rock" yet. He was "The People’s Champion," still wearing the iconic Brahma Bull shirts and sporting that signature smarmy charisma.
It’s weird to watch now.
Seeing a young, incredibly fit Dwayne Johnson playing a version of his dad, Wayde Douglas Bowles (the real Rocky Johnson), feels like a glitch in the Matrix. He even delivers a line about having a son who is going to be "the most electrifying man in sports entertainment." The audience cheered. They knew.
Why this cameo actually mattered for Dwayne's career
Honestly, this wasn't just a gimmick. Most wrestlers back then were terrible actors. They overacted, missed their marks, or couldn't drop the "macho" persona. But in this episode, you can see the movie star DNA.
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Dwayne had timing.
He didn't just stand there and flex; he played off Kurtwood Smith’s "Red Forman" with a surprising amount of nuance. Red, the quintessential hard-nosed dad, is uncharacteristically starstruck by Rocky Johnson. It’s one of the few times we see Red genuinely happy about something other than Eric being a "dumbass."
Director David Trainer and the showrunners clearly saw something. Shortly after this, The Rock popped up in Star Trek: Voyager as a Pendari Champion. The industry realized he wasn't just a guy who could take a bump in a ring—he could carry a scene.
Breaking Down "That Wrestling Show"
The plot is simple but effective. Red, Eric, Kelso, and the gang head to the arena.
While Eric is busy being miserable and terrified of the rowdy crowd, Red is in his element. The episode captures that specific 1970s regional wrestling vibe. It wasn't the glitzy, stadium-filling spectacle we see today. It was smoke-filled gyms and intimate, gritty matches.
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- The Cast Dynamic: It’s one of the best "Red and Eric" episodes.
- The Costumes: The 70s-era wrestling trunks were a perfect touch.
- The Performance: Dwayne nailed the "Rocky Johnson" swagger, which was a mix of soulful athlete and showman.
It’s kind of funny. If you look closely at the locker room scene, you'll see other wrestling legends too. Both The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) and Ken Shamrock made appearances. But they were background noise compared to the charisma radiating off the future Black Adam.
The Cultural Impact of the 1999 Crossover
At the turn of the millennium, the "Attitude Era" of wrestling was peaking. Ratings were through the roof. That '70s Show was trying to capture the Gen X and Boomer audiences simultaneously. Bringing in a WWF superstar was a calculated move that paid off.
It solidified the show's status as a "cool" sitcom that didn't just rely on bell-bottom jokes.
It's also a testament to how well the show handled guest stars. Unlike some sitcoms that stop dead in their tracks for a celebrity cameo, The Rock’s appearance felt earned. It served the character development of Red Forman. We learned more about Red’s passions through his admiration for the elder Johnson.
Was it accurate to the real 1970s?
Sorta.
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The real Rocky Johnson was a pioneer. He was one half of the first Black tag team champions in WWE history (with Tony Atlas). In the 70s, he was a massive star in the NWA and various territories. The show got the vibe right, even if the "The Rock" playing his dad was a bit of a meta-joke.
What You Should Watch Next
If you haven't seen the episode in years, go back and watch it with a focus on Dwayne’s eyes. He’s listening. He’s reacting. He’s not just waiting for his turn to speak. That’s the hallmark of a good actor.
It’s the bridge between his life as an athlete and his destiny as a global icon.
To dive deeper into this specific era of television and the evolution of Dwayne Johnson's career, follow these steps:
- Watch "That Wrestling Show" (Season 1, Episode 15): Pay attention to the locker room scene. It’s the centerpiece of the guest spot.
- Compare it to Young Rock: The NBC series Young Rock actually covers Dwayne’s childhood and his father's career in much more detail. Seeing how Joseph Anderson (who plays Rocky in the newer series) compares to Dwayne’s portrayal is a fun exercise for any TV nerd.
- Check the Credits: Look for the other wrestlers in the background. It’s a "who’s who" of late-90s wrestling talent.
- Analyze the Red Forman Arc: Notice how this episode humanizes Red. It’s one of the first times the show lets him be a "fan" rather than just a disciplinarian.
The episode remains a high-water mark for the series. It didn't just use a celebrity for a ratings pop; it used a future legend to tell a better story about a father and his son.