January 20, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Death of Rocky Johnson, AEW extends TV deal
Rocky “Soulman” Johnson, the father of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and one of the biggest stars and most agile and acrobatic heavyweight wrestlers of the 70s, passed away on 1/15.
Brian Blair, the head of the Cauliflower Alley Club, and a friend of Johnson’s, said that he had been ill over the last two weeks but no cause of death was stated.
“He had been sick a couple of weeks and thought he caught the flu,” said Blair. “I told him to go to the doctor or the hospital after he had it for a week.”
Johnson didn’t go to the doctor and died in his home in Lutz, FL, an $800,000 home his son bought him last year, while he was resting. At press time the autopsy was not completed and there was no cause of death.
Johnson was reported as being 75, although he may have been three years older.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.