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Along with his father and grandfather,
several members of Johnson's family are current and former
professional wrestlers, including his uncles, the
Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika
Anoa'i) and cousins such as the two-time
WWF Champion
Yokozuna, former
WWF Tag Team Champion and
WWF Intercontinental Champion
Rikishi, former WWE World Tag
Team Champion
Rosey and former two-time WWE
Intercontinental Champion
Umaga. When he declared his
intention to join the family business, his father resisted, but
agreed to train his son himself, warning him that he would not
go easy on him.[5]
With help from former
WWF executive and veteran
wrestler
Pat Patterson, Johnson secured
a tryout with the WWF. Impressed by his talent and charisma, he
was signed to a deal with the WWF after a short stint for
"seasoning" in
Jerry Lawler's
USWA, where he wrestled under
the ring names of Flex Cavana and Pidlaoan Rock. Johnson had a
tryout match with the WWF in
1996 in a house show where he
defeated
Brooklyn Brawler. He later had
tryout matches where he lost to
Chris Candido and then
Owen Hart. |
