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Dwayne Johnson is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, the lead performer in the all-new film Jungle Cruise. Johnson, who has been a staple in the movie business since the early 2000s, has appeared in movies such as Hercules, Rampage, San Andreas, The Scorpion King, and the Jumanji films. Johnson, however, was first introduced to pop culture fans as a wrestler — and before that, the athlete made a name for himself in college as a talented football star. Johnson sustained his share of painful experiences during his time as a young up-and-coming football star, and in a recent interview with Wired, Johnson opened up about the specific injuries he endured. 

Dwayne Johnson got his start playing football

Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson | Steve Dietl/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Dwayne Johnson was born in 1972, the son of popular wrestler Rocky Johnson. As a young man, Johnson discovered that he had a natural affinity for sports, and started playing football. By the time he enrolled in college, Johnson was one of the University of Miami’s brightest young stars, and although he had a family history of wrestling, Johnson determined to make his own way in the sporting world. 

Unfortunately, Johnson’s football career was sidelined when he sustained a series of devastating injuries while on the team at the University of Miami. According to Biography, it was around this time that Johnson decided to shift his focus to wrestling, due to the injuries that he sustained. 

What injuries did Dwayne Johnson sustain while playing football?

Many football players experience a broken leg or sprained elbow — but according to Dwayne Johnson, he actually struggled with multiple football-related injuries during his time as a college player. In a recent interview with Wired, Johnson revealed that he’s had many, including a complete shoulder separation that required a complete reconstruction of his shoulder, five separate knee surgeries, and a torn Achilles heel. 

Ultimately, Johnson had much better luck at wrestling, becoming one of the biggest stars of the WWE in the late ’90s. Johnson’s persona as a tough, trash-talking wrestler served him well, and he wasn’t only wildly successful at the sport, but he became a major fan-favorite as well. A 10-time world champion, Johnson won multiple awards during his time in the WWE, and even became the WWE’s sixth Triple Crown champion. Still, Johnson had even bigger ambitions, and by 2002, after his starring role in the big-budget Hollywood film The Scorpion King, he had decided to refocus his attentions once again – this time, setting his sights on the acting world. 

Dwayne Johnson is now one of Hollywood’s biggest actors

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Although Dwayne Johnson started out as an athlete, it has been as an actor that he has experienced his greatest success. Johnson has managed to completely redefine his image in recent years, from wrestling’s trash-talking champion to Hollywood’s biggest action star, a man of the people who always makes time for his fans and who regularly shares inspirational messages on social media.

A producer and businessman as well as an actor, Johnson has appeared in everything from family-friendly comedies to dramas. A few of Johnson’s biggest films include Fast Five, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Skyscraper, and Central Intelligence. With a brand-new film, Red Notice, coming to Netflix in the coming days, it seems likely that Johnson’s world domination will only continue — and that, in the years to come, the wrestler-turned-actor will enjoy even greater popularity. Stay tuned to Showbiz Cheat Sheet for all the latest entertainment news!

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