Young Rock

- Good evening, I'm Randall Park.

The primaries are over and the nominees

for the 2032 U. S. presidential race are set.

And one name...

you may have heard before.

Candidate Dwayne Johnson has wasted no time

hitting the campaign trail

with his No Muss, No Fuss bus tour,

traveling cross-country to talk to American voters.

I'll get the upstairs.

- And show that he's one of them.

Wow.

It's about as big as Kevin Hart's ego.

- But that level of fame also has its downside.

Dwayne Johnson's success is being used against him

by his critics.

They say he's lived the cushy Hollywood life

for so long, he can't relate to the struggles

of the average American. - Randall,

that couldn't be further from the truth.

I have had one hell of a life, but I wasn't born into it.

I've had to work very hard for everything that's come my way.

There's still so much that I have to share with the world.

- Hmm, I'm surprised to hear you say that

because you're such an open person.

- Well, I try to be as open and as real as I can.

For example, people don't know that every time

I open the fridge, I still gotta...

you know.

- Can you do it? - You want me to do it?

I'm begging you to do it.

- Are the people ready? - They are not ready,

but they need to see it.

Well, every time I open the fridge,

I've gotta say, "Can you tell...

llll...

that the Rock is hungry?"

Oh, yeah.

I do that too.

You're a wild man.

So, as you can see, Randall, there's still so much

that I haven't told anyone.

Stories about my life

that I haven't been ready to share until now.

- You can't tell because I used to be an actor,

so I'm skilled at hiding my emotions,

but I'm on the edge of my seat.

- I can tell. You're a hell of an actor.

- Oh. True.

You know, Randall, to understand me,

you gotta understand where I came from.

I was born into a wrestling family.

- Your dad was wrestling superstar Rocky Johnson.

- The "Soul Man" Rocky Johnson.

That was him. - Yeah!

The crowd is in an uproar.

There he goes!

Mom, listen to this crowd.

Dad is over.

- He is. They love him.

- My mother's father was the legendary

Samoan wrestler, "High Chief" Peter Maivia.

Wrestling is in my blood.

- Rocky hits him with a dropkick.

Yes, Rocky!

- Oh, the Samoan is in trouble now.

He's done, he's done!

And Rocky Johnson is the winner tonight.

Rocky! Rocky!

- You know, being a kid growing up

in the world of professional wrestling,

I learned a lot of stuff very early on in life.

- Sign my chest? - I'll sign your chest.

Ah, no, you won't.

Thank you.

- I won't be signing any chests, but how about an arm?

Is this Carl Weathers?

- But, at the same time, I was also

just a regular little boy.

And I idolized my dad.

- Dad, how come our car is nicer than where we're staying?

- 'Cause the fans don't drive home with us, do they?

They need to see me leave the arena in style.

That's called working the gimmick.

- Hmm, interesting. - Cars, the clothes,

the jewelry--they need to think who I am inside the ring

is who I am outside the ring.

- That's why we can't hang out in public

with Uncle Iron Sheik.

- That's right. And get this:

one day, you work the gimmick hard enough, it'll become real.

- It will? - Sure will.

Soon, our house will be as nice as our car.

Then I gotta buy a better car.

- Ooh, red one? You know I love red.

I know you like red.

- Hey. I'm gonna get changed.

We'll go to your grandma's so I can get paid,

then I'll take us out to dinner.

A quick stop at my mom's.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

Hey, get your buns in here.

- Hey, boys. - Hey!

Yo.

Uh, Grandma?

What's wrong with your dog again?

- It's a belly tumor, but don't worry.

It's benign.

- Is that mushroom looking one new?

- Go shake everyone's hand, Dewey.

- Junk Yard Dog, great match tonight.

Let me see how fast you are.

Oh, that's quick.

Damn, kid.

- Hi, Uncle Afa. Hi, Uncle Sika.

Hey.

I hated you guys tonight. Great job.

Dewey.

Who wants a margarita?

- I make with almost all triple sec.

- Shake it, baby! - Dewey baby,

are you old enough to drink yet?

I'll drink it for him.

Hey!

- Anyone want to play cards? - Yes.

- Hell, yes. - Yeah, I'll take your money.

- Hey, babe, you don't mind if we order food here, right?

- We were just gonna do a quick in and out.

- Please, Mom? I want to hang with the guys.

Ah, that's my boy.

- Hey, and, after, I promise we'll get some ice cream.

- Okay. - You wanna play Belote?

And it wasn't just my dad.

I was surrounded by people working the gimmick.

- I worked a match in Detroit with Playboy Bobby Riggs.

Ton of talent, man. Terrible body.

- He looked like a loaf of bread, huh?

- Bobby Riggs is funny guy. Like the Burt Reynolds.

- No, he's gotta work the gimmick.

Wild Samoans, André the Giant, "Soul Man" Rocky Johnson.

- You can have all the skill of the world, right?

But if the audience don't buy your look--

You'll never get over.

- His beige trunks aren't doing him any favors.

- How's your girlfriend doing? - Not so great.

She stabbed me.

- I've come a long way from when Peter--miss you, Peter.

Love you, High Chief--

from when he first took me to his matches.

I thought he was really getting hurt.

Aah!

Lia, no, Lia, no, no, Lia!

I bet the crowd loved it.

Now that's a shoot.

- I don't get why there's so many rules.

It's all fake anyway.

What happened?

Does this feel fake?

Then it's not fake.

You never use the F word.

Comprends?

- Yes. - Good.

Now we hug.

Huh?

- I did not raise him like that.

- That's your boy. - I'm so sorry.

That's your boy. - Your move.

Let's go.

Slight change of plans.

I'm gonna go grab drinks with the guys.

- I knew we shouldn't have stopped here.

It's just André's thinking

about investing in this tiki bar,

and he wants us to check it out.

- I want you all to be honest with me.

- You promised Dewey you'd take him for ice cream, Rocky.

Dewey will be fine.

Hey, Dewey.

Daddy's got to go take care of some business

with André and the guys.

So we're gonna have to rain check on that ice cream.

Can I go with you?

- I'm sorry, buddy. It's adult stuff.

But hey, ice cream for breakfast tomorrow.

I'll see you later.

I love you. - Love you too.

- Okay. - Bye.

Hey, come on. Let's go.

You ready to go? - Mom, why doesn't Dad

let me do anything with him?

Can you keep a secret?

I told your dad I wouldn't tell you, but...

the president called earlier today.

Now, he can't talk about it or give any details,

but it's big, and no one can know.

Like in "Shogun Warriors"?

Mm-hmm.

Whoa.

Does Grandma know? - No.

So let's not mention anything when we go for ice cream, okay?