Ep 1. Working The Gimic

Young Rock season 1 episode 1, entitled "Working The Gimmick," tells the story of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's youth in 1982, when he was only 10 years old. The episode opens in 2032, as Johnson, now a successful businessman, is running for President of the United States. He is doing an interview with Randall Park, who asks him about his upbringing, and the rest of the episode is a series of flashbacks to key moments in his childhood.

The episode starts with Dwayne's father, Rocky Johnson (Joseph Lee Anderson), getting ready for a wrestling match. Dwayne (Adrian Groulx) and his mother Ata (Stacey Leilua) accompany him to the arena, where they watch him perform. Dwayne is in awe of his father's athleticism and showmanship, and dreams of becoming a wrestler himself one day. He even tries to get into the ring himself, but is quickly kicked out by security.

Back at home, Dwayne is a typical 10-year-old boy. He spends his days playing with his friends, getting into mischief, and causing trouble for his parents. He also idolizes his grandfather, Peter Maivia (Joseph Lee Anderson), a legendary wrestler in his own right. Dwayne constantly asks him for stories about his wrestling days and tries to mimic his moves.

One day, Dwayne overhears his father talking about a "gimmick" he wants to try in his wrestling matches. The gimmick is that he will be managed by a "powerful woman," and that woman will be Ata. Dwayne is excited about the idea and wants to help his parents make it a reality. He suggests that they create a new persona for Ata, one that is strong and independent. They settle on the name "Sweet Ebony Diamond" and Ata begins practicing her new character.

Meanwhile, Dwayne's school life is not going so well. He is constantly bullied by a boy named Kenny, who also happens to be the son of his father's rival wrestler, The Iron Sheik (Brett Azar). Dwayne tries to fight back, but Kenny is bigger and stronger than he is. He also has a posse of other boys who do his bidding.

Determined to stand up to Kenny, Dwayne asks his father for advice. Rocky tells him to use his brain instead of his fists and come up with a plan. Dwayne takes this advice to heart and decides to use the "Sweet Ebony Diamond" gimmick to his advantage.

Ata and Rocky are hesitant to involve Dwayne in their wrestling world, but he persuades them by showing them the flyer for his school's upcoming talent show. Dwayne wants to perform a wrestling routine with his friends, and he thinks that if they can impress Kenny and his posse, they will earn their respect and stop being bullied.

The rest of the episode centers around the preparations for the talent show. Dwayne and his friends come up with a routine that incorporates the "Sweet Ebony Diamond" gimmick, complete with Ata as their manager. They practice every day, and Dwayne learns some new wrestling moves from his grandfather.

On the day of the show, Dwayne and his friends put on a spectacular performance. They impress the entire school, including Kenny and his posse. Dwayne even manages to take down Kenny using a move he learned from his grandfather. From that day on, Dwayne is a hero in his school, and Kenny and his posse stop bullying him.

The episode ends back in 2032, with Johnson finishing his interview with Randall Park. He reflects on the lessons he learned as a child, including the power of a good gimmick and the importance of family. He credits his upbringing with shaping him into the man he is today, and declares that he is ready to run for President. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, as Johnson receives a surprise visitor who may or may not be a friend.