Young Rock: Dwayne Johnson shares childhood family stories on series premiere of surreal NBC show

Dwayne Johnson shared childhood family stories that included wrestling stars such as André The Giant on Tuesday’s series premiere of his surreal show Young Rock.

The NBC comedy inspired by the early life of wrestler-turned-actor Johnson, 48, showed him as a child, played by Adrian Groulx; a teenage high school student, played by Bradley Constant, and as a young adult, portrayed by Australian actor Uli Latukefu.

Matt Willig, 52, stole the show as the late Andre The Giant, one of several prominent wrestling figures shown as regular fixtures in Johnson’s uncommon childhood.

Series premiere: Dwayne Johnson shared childhood family stories that included wrestling stars such as André The Giant on Tuesday’s series premiere of his surreal show Young Rock

The debut episode opened with Randall Park, 46, playing himself as an actor-turned-TV journalist, interviewing Johnson as he campaigns for the 2032 US Presidential race.

Johnson was on the campaign trail on his No Muss, No Fuss bus tour as Park relayed that his success was being used against him by critics claiming 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,’ Johnson protested.

Johnson then told his interviewer that in order to understand him, ‘you gotta understand where I came from’.

Surreal series: The NBC comedy inspired by the early life of wrestler-turned-actor Johnson, 48, showed him as a child, played by Adrian Groulx

Surreal series: The NBC comedy inspired by the early life of wrestler-turned-actor Johnson, 48, showed him as a child, played by Adrian Groulx

TV journalist: The debut episode opened with Randall Park, 46, playing himself as an actor-turned-TV journalist, interviewing Johnson as he campaigns for the 2032 US Presidential race

TV journalist: The debut episode opened with Randall Park, 46, playing himself as an actor-turned-TV journalist, interviewing Johnson as he campaigns for the 2032 US Presidential race

Campaign trail: Johnson was on the campaign trail on his No Muss, No Fuss bus tour

Campaign trail: Johnson was on the campaign trail on his No Muss, No Fuss bus tour

‘I was born into a wrestling family,’ Johnson said.

‘Your dad was wrestling superstar Rocky Johnson,’ Park said, referencing the actor’s late father who died in January 2020 at age 75 of a blood clot-caused heart attack.

‘The ‘Soul Man’ Rocky Johnson. That was him,’ Johnson said as flashbacks were shown of young Johnson watching his father, played by Joseph Lee Anderson, in the ring along with his mother Ata, played by Stacey Leilua.

Wrestling family: 'I was born into a wrestling family,' Johnson said as his younger version was shown with his dad Rocky Johnson, played by Joseph Lee Anderson

Wrestling family: ‘I was born into a wrestling family,’ Johnson said as his younger version was shown with his dad Rocky Johnson, played by Joseph Lee Anderson

Johnson recalled idolizing his father who played up his image to his fans and once asking him why their car was nicer than where they 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,’ Rocky told his son in the debut episode titled Working the Gimmick.

Johnson was shown at his grandmother’s house surrounded by wrestling stars including Andre, The Iron Sheik, Junkyard Dog and The Wild Samoans.

Wrestling stars: Johnson was shown at his grandmother's house surrounded by wrestling stars including Andre, The Iron Sheik, Junkyard Dog and The Wild Samoans.

Wrestling stars: Johnson was shown at his grandmother’s house surrounded by wrestling stars including Andre, The Iron Sheik, Junkyard Dog and The Wild Samoans.

The wrestlers were sharing match stories when the boy interjected, ‘I don’t get why there’s so many rules. It’s all fake anyway.’

A heavy silence filled the room as the boy asked, ‘What happened?’.

Andre rose from his chair and towering over the boy lifted him high off the ground.

Fake claim: The wrestlers were sharing match stories when the boy interjected, 'I don't get why there's so many rules. It's all fake anyway'

Lifted up: The  boy was lifted off his feet by Andre after saying that wrestling was fake

Fake claim: The wrestlers were sharing match stories when the boy interjected, ‘I don’t get why there’s so many rules. It’s all fake anyway’

‘Does this feel fake?,’ he asked the petrified boy who shook his head no.

‘Then it’s not fake. You never use the F word. Comprends,’ Andre asked the boy who answered, ‘Yes’.

‘Good. Now we hug,’ André said as he embraced the boy.

Big hug: 'Good. Now we hug,' André said as he embraced the boy

Big hug: ‘Good. Now we hug,’ André said as he embraced the boy

Scene stealer: Matt Willig, 52, stole the show as the late Andre The Giant, one of several prominent wrestling figures shown as regular fixtures in Johnson's uncommon childhood

Scene stealer: Matt Willig, 52, stole the show as the late Andre The Giant, one of several prominent wrestling figures shown as regular fixtures in Johnson’s uncommon childhood

Eighth wonder: Andre The Giant was shown on a trading card

Eighth wonder: Andre The Giant was shown on a trading card

Late wrestler: French professional wrestler Andre The Giant is shown in the 1980s as a special guest referee

Late wrestler: French professional wrestler Andre The Giant is shown in the 1980s as a special guest referee

Pro wrestler: Iranian-American wrestler The Iron Sheik also was portrayed in Young Rock

Pro wrestler: Iranian-American wrestler The Iron Sheik also was portrayed in Young Rock

He even lied and said his name was ‘Tomas’ in order to impress Karen in his algebra class.

Johnson was shown as a teenager drawing suspicion from his classmates who believed he was an undercover cop.

‘I’m 15!,’ he shouted in the lunch room at students staring at him.

Drawing suspicion: Johnson was shown as a teenager drawing suspicion from his classmates who believed he was an undercover cop

Drawing suspicion: Johnson was shown as a teenager drawing suspicion from his classmates who believed he was an undercover cop

In order to impress Karen, he also bought a car for $103 from a crackhead, only to find another crackhead in the backseat and one sleeping in the trunk.

He then told how he continued to work the gimmick at the University of Miami which he attended on a football scholarship after being a five-star recruit out of high school.

Johnson strode confidently into the locker room filled with veteran star players. 

Used car: In order to impress Karen, he also bought a car for $103 from a crackhead, only to find another crackhead in the backseat and one sleeping in the trunk.

Used car: In order to impress Karen, he also bought a car for $103 from a crackhead, only to find another crackhead in the backseat and one sleeping in the trunk.

‘What up, Coach Orgeron,’ Johnson said as he greeted his position coach Ed Orgeron, 59, who would later lead the 2019 LSU Tigers football team to a national championship.

He also introduced himself to his teammates, saying, ‘Dwayne Johnson, Beast of Bethlehem. Also known as Hitzilla, Edward Blitzerhands, and the Chairman of Goldman ”Sacks”.’

Johnson learned that his father had been in the locker room earlier hyping his son and then lived up to it by taking on a bench press challenge.

Position coach: 'What up, Coach Orgeron,' Johnson said as he greeted his position coach Ed Orgeron, 59

Position coach: ‘What up, Coach Orgeron,’ Johnson said as he greeted his position coach Ed Orgeron, 59

National championship: Orgeron shown in January 2020, would later lead the 2019 LSU Tigers football team to a national championship

National championship: Orgeron shown in January 2020, would later lead the 2019 LSU Tigers football team to a national championship

Multiple names: He also introduced himself to his teammates, saying, 'Dwayne Johnson, Beast of Bethlehem. Also known as Hitzilla, Edward Blitzerhands, and the Chairman of Goldman ''Sacks''.'

Multiple names: He also introduced himself to his teammates, saying, ‘Dwayne Johnson, Beast of Bethlehem. Also known as Hitzilla, Edward Blitzerhands, and the Chairman of Goldman ”Sacks”.’

‘That’s when I found my version of working the gimmick. Be me, but with the dial turned up to 11. So that’s who I was every time I flashed the People’s Eyebrow,’ Johnson said flashing his trademark facial expression.

Park peppered Johnson with more questions and he promised to share much more about himself.

‘Oh, and I’ve got some pretty cool stories about André the Giant,’ he added as the wrestler was shown taking over career day at an elementary school classroom.

Young Rock will return next week on NBC. 

More stories: 'Oh, and I've got some pretty cool stories about André the Giant,' he added as the wrestler was shown taking over career day at an elementary school classroom

More stories: ‘Oh, and I’ve got some pretty cool stories about André the Giant,’ he added as the wrestler was shown taking over career day at an elementary school classroom