Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson juggles a variety of roles in 2025. He is front and center, a businessman. Known extensively for his expertise in the sports entertainment circle, it suffices to say that he knows something about health and fitness.
He recently discussed a variety of topics on this subject, which led to him opening up about his grandfather, the “High Chief,” Peter Maivia.
The Rock Details Peter Maivia’s Physical Struggles That Ultimately Led to Cancer
On “The Dr. Hyman Show,” The Rock wondered why men don’t get regular checkups and figure out what is required for their bodies. He asked the host whether it was because men do not confront their vulnerable side. They agreed that might, in fact, be the case, as The Rock couldn’t help but recall his grandfather’s physical struggles, which ultimately led to a terrible fate.
“My grandfather was a prime example of that,” The Rock said in response to how men become too late to rectify certain things. “He was a tough guy. He was one of the first Samoan wrestlers. He toughed through [the physical struggles]. He had all these aches and pains, and he refused to go see the doctor.”
The Rock then became a crucial part of Peter Maivia’s story, as the High Chief’s health was deteriorating. “One of [Maivia’s] fellow professional wrestlers, he used to have this guy come over every day, and this was in Hawaii, he goes, ‘I need you to pound on my back.’ [The fellow wrestler] would just pound on [Maivia’s] back. Just constantly thinking like — just that, old school, probably barbaric head in the sand mentality,” The Rock introspected. He added, “He was 45 when he died.”
Rock noted that because his grandfather never dealt with it in its initial stages, “It had metastasized to a point where there was just no going back. And that was it. By the time they caught it, reached a point where — I got to go see a doctor and see what’s happening!”
Will Rock Be Back in WWE Before John Cena’s Farewell Tour Ends?
Cena became Undisputed WWE Champion at WrestleMania 41. Although Rock played a key role in his heel turn, The Final Boss was ejected from the storyline after Elimination Chamber in March.
However, the global star later praised The Last Real Champion, stating that Cena had officially entered the Mount Rushmore, surpassing him. Rock did not rule out the possibility of his involvement in the storyline. Still, he implied that there is no rhyme or reason for that, because it is all about Cena’s legacy.
