How The Rock Helped Get Jonathan Coachman Over On His First Night In WWE

Jonathan Coachman made his mark in WWE before branching out into the golf world and Sports Center. He had some help early on from The Rock, because The People’s Champion wanted to make sure that Coachman looked as good as possible.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Jonathan Coachman revealed the inner workings behind his WWE debut. That first night included a segment with The Rock, and they wanted to make sure that The Coach had the best first day at work he possibly could.

The Rock also went out of his way to make sure that The Coach wasn’t totally buried on that first day with WWE. This is something he didn’t have to do, but he made The Coach’s name instantly recognizable in the WWE Universe.

“People say he’s the nicest guy. Personally, yes. Professionally, he’s a savage. He’s the most absolute ‘I’m gonna protect my character, I’m gonna do what’s best for business, I’m gonna make that money’ and that’s who The Rock is and I respect it.”

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“So, they came in and say ‘Coach, we’re gonna do something different. At the time he was at the ‘It doesn’t matter who you are!’ He got everybody, it didn’t matter. So they go, ‘We’re gonna reverse it. So, you’re just going to be asking your question and nobody’s ever seen you before. Then The Rock’s gonna stop you and say, ‘Who are you?!’ I’m gonna be a little bit reserved because we don’t want you to look stupid.’ Cause only an idiot would say ‘It doesn’t matter who I am’ you know what I mean?”

“They said ‘we don’t want you to look stupid. So, you’re gonna be trepidations, I’m gonna go ‘I’m Jonathan Coachman, but people call me The Coach.’ The Rock will go Coach?! The Coach of what?! The Coach of a little girls’ softball team. The Coach of this The Coach of that. Then he goes into his promo again and he goes ‘Why do they call you the Coach?’ Now I’m comfortable and I start to tell him and ‘IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOUR NAME IS!’ He didn’t have to do that.

“He didn’t have to do that. He wanted to put me over and after one night we were walking outside the building and the fans are out there, and you know how it is, they’re screaming for whoever and booing for whoever, and all of a sudden I’m hearing my name. For the first time in my life I’m hearing someone scream my name ‘Coach, Coach, Coach!’ So, that was awesome.”

The Rock knew how to fight for his spot in WWE, but he also realized that others needed to get put over in the process. That first night with The Rock is one The Coach will never forget. It was also just the first of many on-screen interactions he would have with The Great One.

Transcription by Ringside News