Rocky Johnson, father of actor Dwayne Johnson, dead at 75

Rocky "Soulman" Johnson, a WWE Hall of Fame wrestler who became better kwn as far of actor Dwayne “ Rock” Johnson, has died. He was 75.

WWE issued a statement on Johnson's death Wednesday night. Johnson and Tony Atlas became first black world tag team champions in WWE history when y defeated Wild Samoans on Dec. 10, 1983.

Johnson later helped train his son, who opted Rocky moniker from his far. Johnson came to his son's aid after a match at WrestleMania in 1997. Rock inducted his far into WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.

Former professional wrestler Brian Blair, ar 1980s WWE star, was friends with Johnson for deces and y still went to church toger in Tampa, Florida area. Blair told Associated Press on Wednesday that Johnson h complained of an unspecified illness of late and h missed church that he attended with Blair and or former wrestlers. Blair said Johnson's wife, Sheila, was distraught over her husband's death.

"He was just under wear, he thought he h flu or something," Blair said by phone. "I said, 'You, need to get checked out, Rocky.' He said he'd be OK. n he missed this Sunday, a few days ago. When I talked to him again, he said he still wasn't feeling good and he still missed church. He still didn't get checked out. I talked to Sheila and she said he was just being stubborn. He died at home, today."

Johnson was born Wayde Douglas Bowles and started his wrestling career in mid-1960s. He spent bulk of his career in National Wrestling Alliance and later joined n-World Wrestling Federation in 1980s. He formed a tag team with Atlas kwn as "Soul Patrol" and became of one popular teams of era. Johnson retired in early 1990s, but helped introduce his son to officials at WWE.