Tributes Paid to Rocky Johnson, Wrestler and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Father, Who Has Died at 75

Tributes poured in across the professional wrestling and entertainment worlds Wednesday night for Rocky Johnson, a wrestling legend and the father of Hollywood superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who has died aged 75.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced Johnson's death Wednesday on its website and said it was "saddened to learn" of the veteran wrestler's death.

Dwayne Johnson has yet to publicly comment on his father's death.

Rocky Johnson, born Wayde Douglas Bowles, began his wrestling career in the 1964 and competed extensively for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and WWE, then known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). In WWE, Rocky Johnson was one-half of the first black tag team to win the World Tag Team Championships with his partner Tony Atlas.

Rocky Johnson married into the famous Samoan wrestling dynasty, the Anoa'i family, when he wed Dwayne Johnson's mother, Ata Maivia, the daughter of "High Chief" Peter Maivia in 1970. Dwayne Johnson was born in 1972.

Rocky Johnson retired in 1991 and would later have a hand in training his son, third-generation star Dwayne Johnson, to wrestle. Dwayne Johnson, who took up "The Rock" moniker in tribute to his father, became famous in the late 1990s in WWE and eventually transitioned into Hollywood.

Rocky Johnson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his son in 2008.

On Wednesday, the official WWE Twitter account said: "WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson has passed away."

WWE also honored Johnson with a 10-bell salute before Wednesday's edition of WWE NXT on the USA Network Wednesday night:

Upstart wrestling league All Elite Wrestling, which airs on TNT, acknowledged Johnson's death on air Wednesday night. AEW also tweeted: "We are saddened to learn wrestling legend Rocky Johnson has passed away. We extend our heartfelt condolences at this difficult time to his friends and family."

WWE wrestler and executive Triple H, a one-time rival of Dwayne Johnson, tweeted: "A loss for every fan of @WWE, Rocky Johnson was a barrier-breaking performer. Our thoughts are with his family at this time."

Veteran wrestling commentator Jim Ross said: "RIP to the great Rocky Johnson and condolences to his family and friends. 'A helluva hand!'"

WWE's Natalya, a member of the Canadian wrestling dynasty, the Hart family, said: "I am saddened to hear the news of Rocky Johnson passing away. Rocky wrestled for my grandfather Stu for many years in Stampede Wrestling. I am sending so much love to @TheRock and his entire family."

The National Wrestling Alliance, now owned by Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, tweeted: "The National Wrestling Alliance is saddened to hear of the passing of Rocky Johnson.

"His legacy stretches across every promotion. He was a champion everywhere he went including holding the NWA Georgia Championship.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family."

See more tributes below: