Formerly known as ‘The Great One’, ‘The People’s Champion’, and ‘The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment’, there’s a generation who probably don’t know that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was one of the biggest stars of the Attitude Era in the WWF. 

Of course, he’s now the biggest movie star in the world. The Rock was also named as the highest paid actor in 2020. 

He was an athlete first and foremost, winning the 1991 NCAA National Championship with the Hurricanes. He appeared in 39 games with a total of 77 tackles and 4.25 sacks. Johnson went on to win eight WWE titles, as one of the most popular wrestlers of all-time.

Here’s everything you need to know about the best Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson rookie cards, which are featured across a range of different sports. 

The Best Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Rookie Cards

The majority of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson rookie cards focus on his time spent with the WWF/WWE. There is an option released when he was a young defensive lineman. 

3. 1997 Cardinal WWF Rocky Maivia RC #21 (eBay)

Originally released as part of the Cardinal WWF Wrestling Trivia Game in 1997, this early option features The Rock back when he was going by Rocky Maivia. This was during the early stages of his wrestling career. 

(Maivia was supposed to be a face, but struggled to win over the crowds. The moniker is derived from his father and grandfather’s ring names.)

Despite not being a traditional collectible card, it’s one of the earliest to feature ‘The Great One’. It uses a simple design with a thick yellow border. This makes any flaws noticeable, and has helped to drive up values in the long-term. 

Many of the surviving copies have been graded by the likes of PSA and BGS. It’s considered to be an RC due to the year of release.

2. 1998 Comic Images Duocards WWF The Rock Auto Autograph RC #13 (eBay)

By 1998, The Rock was battling the likes of ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin for the WWF Championship. The Comic Images/DuoCards set released that year was the first to feature Dwayne Johnson as his famous alter ego. It should still be seen as a rookie card for that reason. 

(In fact, the reverse on the auto version seen above says his name is ‘The Rock’ Rocky Maivia, highlighting that he was still transitioning to the new gimmick at the time.)  

Unfortunately, he’s tangling with ‘Road Dogg’ in the action shot.

For this set, autographs weren’t inserted in packs. Instead you’d find a generic redemption card that could be sent in for a card randomly selected from the 11 that were signed (manufacturer’s choice).

There’s also an unsigned version that states his name as ‘The Rock’.  

1. 1994 Miami Bumble Bee Dwayne ” The Rock ” Johnson RC (eBay)

Back in 1994, Johnson featured for the University of Miami Hurricanes, although he went undrafted in the NFL when he graduated. He eventually signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League as a linebacker. 

He was assigned to the practice roster but was cut two months into the season. It gave some indication that he wasn’t going to be able to make it despite his notable athleticism. 

This Hurricanes card was released in the local area as part of a promotion with Bumble Bee Seafoods, featuring an action shot of the player set against a dark green background.

Given he never made it to the big time, there aren’t many copies of this oddball card available in the present day. The perforated sides also lead to issues relating to the condition, making higher grades exceptionally expensive on the resale market. 

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Rookie Cards: Buyers Guide 

We’ve put together a guide looking at the current state of the market for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson rookie cards.

Lower grades of the cards seen above should be fairly affordable, while there are more options to keep an eye out for.

For example, a great cheaper graded option would be either of the cards found in the 1998 Comic Images WWF Superstarz collection, even if they lack a signature or a low print run.

• 1998 Comic Images WWF Superstarz The Rock #8 (eBay) 
• 1998 Comic Images WWF Superstarz The Rock #15 (eBay) 

The 1994 football rookie card has to be seen as the optimal choice for anyone hoping to make a profit in the future. 

It’s clearly out of reach for the average collector, while it’s not plentiful by any means. There’s a distinct lack of graded copies on the market at any given time, while even unslabbed versions will sell for four figures. 

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Cards: Buying/Selling Advice 

WWF/WWE cards aren’t especially popular, which is fair considering dwindling audience numbers and a poor product in the present. 

However, if there’s one former star with crossover appeal, it’s The Rock. As such, Dwayne Johnson is a wrestler who we’d recommend keeping tabs on. Especially if you’re looking for viable long-term cardboard investments. 

Then there’s the fact that his 1994 RC is a football card. It’s a card with an interesting background in a sport in which he never managed to make it to the big time. 

He has so many fans, and should be seen as a viable option if you’re thinking about spending money on a card to hold onto for a decade or so.