The Rock and his “Uncle” Tonga (Photo: Instagram)
Time and again, The Rock has proven one simple thing: It is very good to know The Rock. This Christmas, he went and did it again, giving his “Uncle” Tonga a massive truck just to say, “Thanks for being there.”
On Instagram, The Rock wrote about the influence Tonga Fifita — better known to wrestling fans as King Haku — had on his own wrestling career. In 1996, Dwayne Johnson was called on by Vince McMahon to make his WWE debut, as the organization’s first third-generation wrestler, despite having no professional experience.
“I had never actually HAD a real match in my life. Ever,” Johnson said. “WWE thought that I already had multiple matches under my belt, but little did they know. What they also didn’t know was that I was broke as hell and didn’t actually own wrestling gear — no boots, knee pads or most importantly… wrestling trunks.“
So he reached out to Tonga, who was trained by his grandfather and whom he’d known since he was 5. Tonga lent him a pair of wrestling trunks in his own signature purple.
“When I picked the trunks up from him I’ll never forget the monster hug he gave me, look me in the eyes and said, ‘I’m so proud of you. Go get ‘em nephew!’” The Rock continues.
He also shared a photo of himself in the trunks at his first WWE match.
The Rock makes his wrestling debut (Photo: Instagram)
This Christmas, nearly 20 years later, The Rock repaid Tonga’s kindness, giving him a truck for Christmas.
“[W]e walk outside and I said, ‘Uncle how do you like my truck?’ He said, ‘Whoooaaa nephew it’s beautiful… I love it!’ I said, ‘Good ’cause it’s yours.’ He was speechless,” The Rock wrote. “Thru tears (manly of course;) we monster hugged ’cause I’ll never forget what he did for me when I had nothing. Merry Christmas Uncle and ofa atu.”
