Top headlines :

Home lifestyle Rocky Johnson's First Wife Una Johnson - Get All the Facts Here

Rocky Johnson's First Wife Una Johnson - Get All the Facts Here

Matthew Published On Fri Jan 17 2020   Modified On Sat May 28 2022
Rocky Johnson's First Wife Una Johnson - Get All the Facts Here

Here's all that you need to know about Una Johnson, Rocky Johnson's first wife!

WWE legend Rocky 'Soulman' Johnson recently passed away at 75. The Hall of Fame star died on January 15, 2020, in the Lutz, Florida, a home that his son Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson bought for him.

Rocky Johnson and his son Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.

Rocky Johnson and his son Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
Source: Entertainment Weekly

The original inhabitant of Amherst, Nova Scotia, Rocky, was born Wayde Douglas Bowles on August 24, 1944, to mother Lillian (née Gay) and father, James Henry Bowles. Moving to Toronto at the age of 16, Rocky began his wrestling career. Starting as a boxer, Johnson was always interested in wrestling.

Rocky's professional wrestling career began when he joined the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 1964. Soon after his debut in the NWA, he changed his name from Wayde Douglas Bowles to Rocky Johnson. Not only did he win multiple tag team championships, but he also defeated Jerry Lawler and won his crown at one point.

Rocky Johnson started his wrestling career from National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).

Rocky Johnson started his wrestling career in National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Source: Pacific EPeak

Moving up in his career, Rocky entered World Wrestling Entertainment in 1982. His alliance with 'Mr. USA' Tony Atlas won him his first WWE Tag Team Championship on November 15, 1983. The duo, known as 'The Soul Patrol,' became the first-ever black tag team to retain the title.

Watch: Rocky Johnson: 2008 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee

When it comes to his personal life, Rocky wasn't the best. Married four times during his lifetime, he fathered three children from his wives. The first ever to win his heart and enter his life was Una Johnson. The lesser-known ex-wife of the former WWE legend remains a mystery to many. However, Rocky wrote about Una elaborately in his book titled 'Soulman: The Rocky Johnson Story.' Who exactly is Una Johnson? Let's discuss.

Who is Uan Johnson?

Una Johnson, as we've mentioned before, was the first wife of Rocky Johson. Despite being married to such a legendary celebrity, Una faded into the background in the limelight her husband. Unfortunately, so did her marriage with the Soulman.

Rocky Johnson's first wife was Una Johnson.

Rocky Johnson's first wife was Una Johnson.
Source: Ringside News

Uan saw Rocky through a lot of thick and thin during the start of his career. But the distance between the pair grew more substantial because of Rocky's profession as he was always traveling around. Rocky eventually ended up with Ata Johnson, his second wife, mother of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, while he was still married to Una.

Not much information about Una is available, as Rocky's ex-wife hasn't publicized much about herself yet.

First Sparks at a Dance

Rocky Johnson first met Una Johnson, previously Una Sparks, at a dance in Toronto. The girl from Cherrybrook, Nova Scotia, an African-Canadian community about 15 miles from Halifax, had moved to Toronto to be with her family.

Also See: Ric Flair Couldn't Be More Delighted About Daughter Charlotte Flair’s Engagement

One fortunate night, while Rocky was still in training for his career, he went to a dance in Toronto, the same one Una was at. The twosome hit it right off the bat, and by the end of the night, Rocky managed to score Una's number. They began dating soon afterward.

Married Six Months Later

Living in Toronto got to Rocky, and he felt quite lonely. But that all seemed to change when he met Una. Both were so in love with each other that after a mere six months of first meetings and dating, they decided to make it official and get married.

After just six months of dating, Rocky Johnson and Una Johnson tied the knot.

After just six months of dating, Rocky Johnson and Una Johnson tied the knot.
Source: The Chronicle Herald

Rocky Johnson wrote in his autobiography,

I was tired of living alone, and we truly were in love.

The union, however, would run its course 12 years later because of Una's beliefs against what Rocky did for a living.

The Ultimatum That Ended Their Marriage

Una Johnson was a Jehovah's Witness. And as her religious belief restricted blood sports, Una didn't consent to Rocky's profession. Thus when Rocky came back from Calgary, Una gave him an ultimatum, either let go of the sport or herself.

Rocky Johnson's first marriage with Una Johnson ended because of Una's religion.

Rocky Johnson's first marriage with Una Johnson ended because of Una's religion.
Source: Extra

Rocky's career was about its peak and was ever-growing. Rocky's fame showed no signs of coming to an abrupt halt, and since he didn't want to go back to driving trucks for a living, the couple separated amicably. The divorce was tricky, though, and didn't happen for 12 long years.

Also See: Charlotte Flair was Divorced Twice - Who is Her Current Husband?

Jehovah's witness only allowed divorce in extreme situations like nonsupport, severe physical abuse, or one spouse trying to force a witness to break god's commencements. None of these criteria resembled the couple's reason for their separation. When the divorce was finalized on December 18, 1978, Rocky was already living in Florida with Ata Johnson and his son Dwayne. He applied for the license to marry Ata three days later, on December 21, 1978.

Rocky Johnson never revealed if Una ever knew about his relationship with Ata and his son Dwayne. 

For more celebrity lifestyle, head on over to Idol Persona.