Dwayne Johnson reveals the time he was sent home with just $7 to his name

“THE Rock” was told he wasn’t good enough, sent home with $7 to his name and fell into a deep depression. He reveals why it was the best thing that happened to him.

DWAYNE “The Rock” Johnson has reminded us all of that good old saying, “everything happens for a reason”.

In a series of recent Instagram posts, the former gridiron player has revealed his dark past when being cut from his Canadian football club left him miserable and depressed.

“Not an easy concept to process, but the idea that sometimes our biggest and most important dreams that DON’T COME TRUE are often times the BEST THING that never happened,” he said in a video post, on the set of shooting his latest film Jungle Cruise.

“Before I get called to set, I look up and see a CFL (Canadian Football League) game on my TV,” Johnson said. “I do a double take and realise that’s the same field I played on when I played in the CFL.”

He then did a triple take only to realise the man he was seeing on TV was Wally Buono, the very man who coached and mentored him, but ultimately had to cut him from the team.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (c) on the University of Miami football team. Photos by Miami/Collegiate Images/Getty Images.

“I appreciate that man so much and I appreciate playing on that very field … I wanted to make it so badly, but guys sometimes in life something you want so badly, sometimes they’re the best dreams that never happen, so for me playing in the NFL was the best thing that never happened.”

Johnson was a football player at the University of Miami. He entered the Canadian Football League and joined the Calgary Stampeders after graduating with the hopes of one day making it to the big time on day, the NFL.

Johnson said playing ball, he was always the “hardest worker in the room” and did everything he could to make the CFL, and hopefully to the NFL where he dreamt of having an All Pro/Super Bowl Champion football career.

“Instead, I was cut from the team, told I wasn’t good enough — and sent home with $7 bucks to my name,” Johnson said in his post.

The Rock’s Calgary Stampeders head shot. Even he questioned it (see his tweet below). Photo: Twitter

And him now — with $200 million to his name. Still owning that “Rock” smile. Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Spike.

“After years of blood, sweat, guts and tears, my dream was over. Fell into depression, didn’t know what to do or where to turn.

“Eventually, I picked myself back up again, said f**k this and refocused and committed myself to a different path.”

Forbes declared that Johnson earned $124 million between July 2017 to July 2018 — the largest ever recorded salary for acting in the 20 years the publication has tracked celebrity earnings.

And as the saying goes, the rest is history.

“I’ve been there, so I encourage you to keep working hard and remember that sometimes our dreams that don’t come true, can ultimately become the best thing that never happened.”

Yesterday, Johnson posted a photo of himself standing in the tunnel he hoped to run through one day as a professional NFL player.

“Good to stand in one of the most famous stadium tunnels in the world that leads to gridiron dreams,” he said in the caption. “Stood in this tunnel and had a good sobering laugh with myself … I thought hell, had I been a little bit better of a player … made 5 more tackles and a sack per game and my life would’ve been drastically different.

“Just wasn’t meant to be and more importantly, I just wasn’t playing the right game. Raising a grateful glass of tequila to dreams that don’t come true.”

The Rock never skips “leg day”. Picture: @therock/Instagram

After getting cut from the team, Johnson ended up moving back to his parents’ house in Florida. He was later to become one of the world’s most famous pro wrestler’s and eventually, one of the world’s biggest movie stars.

He made more money this year than any other actor, ever, topping this year’s Forbes list and setting a new record at $124 million.

So remember, in the words of the great Dwanye “The Rock” Johnson: “Dreams ain’t just for dreamers. Especially the ones that don’t come true.”

6’5 280lbs of hungry nightmare (or thirsty dream pending one’s perspective). Also not sure why I thought shaving my goatee but keep my beard was a good choice 🤦🏽‍♂️ Someone throw chunky smiles over here another waffle. #RookieHeadShot #CFL #Calgary https://t.co/TS71rNZtRM

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) August 17, 2018

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