Jordan Strauss / Associated Press
For the first time since Ballers went off the air in 2017, The Rock returned to television with a script on Tuesday night with the premiere episode of Young Rock.
The Rock, who also co-created and produced the show, offers a glimpse into his life in the four main phases of the show. The pilot begins in the year 2032 with the former WWE champion contemplating a candidacy for the presidency of the United States.
Clearly, it is meant to be a meta moment, as The Rock sparked the race for the country’s highest position at some point in the future. The show also takes place in 1982, 1987 and 1990, when Brahma Bull was growing in several states in the country.
Fans were quick to praise the new series:
The series is expected to offer a deeper look at The Rock’s life before it becomes one of the biggest stars in wrestling history and a titan in the entertainment industry. The big was opened about the struggles he and his family had when he was young, including being arrested several times and resorting to bodybuilding as a way to help deal with the situation when his family was evicted from his home when he was 14.
WWE fans are sure to recognize some of the characters that appear throughout the series. Andre the Giant (played by Matthew Willig), The Iron Sheik (Brett Azar) and Junkyard Dog (Nate Jackson) are recurring characters.
Based on the initial reaction of fans on social media, The Rock’s debut on the television network got off to a strong start.