Young Rock is an American television sitcom based upon the life of professional wrestler and actor Dwayne Johnson, also known by his ring name "The Rock". The series is created by Johnson, Jeff Chiang and Nahnatchka Khan. It aired on NBC from February 16, 2021, to February 24, 2023. In April 2021, the series was renewed for a second season. A holiday special episode aired on December 15, 2021, ahead of the second-season premiere on March 15, 2022. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on November 4, 2022. In June 2023, the series was cancelled after three seasons.
Premise
The sitcom is organized around a frame story set in the early 2030s, beginning with Johnson running for office in the 2032 United States presidential election. Each episode involves Johnson participating in an interview or other conversation which leads him to flashback to a story from one of three periods of Johnson's life, with occasional episodes where all three periods are shown. In the first season, Johnson is depicted as a ten-year-old in Hawaii; as a high school student in Pennsylvania; and as a college student and football player at the University of Miami.
Cast and characters
Main
Dwayne Johnson as himself in scenes set in the future
Adrian Groulx as 10- to 14-year-old Dwayne, usually called Dewey by family. Bradley Constant as 15- to 17-year-old Dwayne Uli Latukefu as 18- to 26-year-old Dwayne Joseph Lee Anderson as Rocky Johnson, Dwayne's father Stacey Leilua as Ata Johnson, Dwayne's mother Ana Tuisila as Lia Maivia, Dwayne's grandmother, Ata's mother Tuisila also plays the 1960's version of Lia Matthew Willig as André the Giant (season 2–3; recurring season 1)
Recurring
1982
(Note: All the wrestling recurring characters who appear in 1982 also appear in 1987 and the 1990s) Brett Azar as The Iron Sheik Nate Jackson as Junkyard Dog Kevin Makely as Randy Savage Fasitua Amosa and John Tui as Sika and Afa Anoa'i, better known as The Wild Samoans Wayne Mattei as Sgt. Slaughter Kiff VandenHeuvel as Pat Patterson (season 2–3) Marshall Williams plays a Young Pat Patterson in the 1960s (season 3) Josh Thomson as Bob, Lia Maivia's assistant Ronny Chieng as Greg Yao (season 1), a rival promoter of Lia's who is scalping wrestlers Sarah Gattelleri as Miss Elizabeth (season 2) Dave T. Koenig as Mean Gene Okerlund (season 2) Antuone Torbert as Tony Atlas (season 2) Jacob Hadley as "Chuck"/Jeff Cohen (season 3) Jason Devon Jenkins as Mr. T (season 3) Pete Gardner as Liberace (season 3) Brock O'Hurn as Hulk Hogan (season 3) Mike Holley as Lars Anderson, a booker and wrestler for Ata's stable (season 3)
1987
Lexie Duncan as Karen, teenage Rock's girlfriend (Duncan also plays Lisa, Karen's twin sister.) Bryan Probets as Principal Boggs Stephen Adams as Kevin, Teenage Rock's rival for Karen Grayson Waller as Ric Flair Jade Drane as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (season 1) Ben Vandermay plays Roddy Piper in season 3. Adam Ray as Vince McMahon (season 2–3) Taj Cross as Gabe, Dwayne's best friend in high school Genevieve Hegney as Diane, Ata's employer Ryan Pinkston as Downtown Bruno (season 2–3) Greg Larsen as wrestler Bob Owens (season 2)
1990s
Arlyn Broche as Dany Garcia, Dwayne's girlfriend/wife (season 2–3) Mark Casamento as Coach Wally Buono (season 2) Mana Tatafu as Uncle King Tonga (season 2) Luke Hawx as Stone Cold Steve Austin (season 2–3) Sam Ball as Mick Foley/Mankind (season 3) Nicholas Bernardi as Bret "the Hitman" Hart (season 3) Eltony Williams as Chad Frost, a fictional wrestler (season 3)
2032
Randall Park as a future version of himself who has retired from acting and now is the host of his own news show The Straight Line with Randall Park Kenny Smith as a future version of himself, now a solo sports show host, unlike Inside the NBA Rosario Dawson as General Monica Jackson, the VP candidate for Dwayne Johnson's presidential campaign Ata Johnson cameos as a future version of herself during an interview between Dwayne and Randall, and in the season 1 finale. Ed Orgeron cameos as a future version of himself during an interview between Dwayne and Kenny Smith Chelsey Crisp as Casey, a member of Dwayne's campaign staff (season 2) Jenna Kanell as Jamie, the camerawoman on The Straight Line with Randall Park (season 2, episodes 4 and 11) Dawnn Lewis as Prime Minister Angela Honig (season 3)