Video: The Rock breaks silence on father's death

He posted a touching tribute to his father on Instagram.

Actor and former WWE wrestler Dwayne 'The Rock" Johnson posted a touching tribute to his late father, wrestler Rocky Johnson.
On his Instagram, @therock, Johnson said his father, who passed away on Wednesday in his Florida home at age 75, lived 'a very full, very hard, barrier-breaking life and left it all in the ring."
His post consisted of a video of his father's introduction at one of his bouts at the WWE (then the WWF), with Dwayne being shown as a young boy sitting ringside.
"I'm in pain. But we both know it's just pain and it'll pass," he says in the lengthy caption addressed to his father. "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."

 

 

 

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I love you. 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 deeply complicated 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 ??
A post shared by therock (@therock) on Jan 17, 2020 at 8:01am PST

Dwayne Johnson famously took on his ring name as a wrestler, 'The Rock', as a reference to his father.
Rocky Johnson, born Wayde Douglas Bowles, was a Canadian professional wrestler.
He was known as 'Soulman' after his work as one half of 'Soul Patrol', the first black tag-team in professional wrestling. He was also the first black Georgia Heavyweight Champion, and famously sparred with legendary boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.