Rock Tribute
Dec. 12 2008, Published 6:18 a.m. ET
(Photo: Splash News Online) No, not rock 'n' roll. We mean THE Rock, wrestler-turned-film-star Dwayne Johnson.
The Rock's grandfather, Peter Fanene Maivia, will be honored tonight at the Samoan Sports Awards and inducted into its hall of fame.
Maivia, who died in 1982, was one of the first Pacific and New Zealand wrestlers to make it big, having wrestled in the World Wide Wrestling Federation in the 1970s. His stage name was High Chief Peter Maivia. As a kid, the Rock made good money selling photos of his grandfather for ten cents each. Maivia's career was what inspired his grandson to become a wrestler himself.
Although The Rock can't attend the Auckland ceremony, his mother Mataniufeagaimaleata (Ata) Maivia Johnson will make an appearance in place of her son, whom she has lovingly calls 'The Pebble.'
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