The Rock's website in 2000

How many of you are aware of the Internet Archive? It’s a cool website that stores all kinds of relics from the history of the web. On this site is a feature called the Wayback Machine, which you can use to see what a website was like as far back as 1996, provided that it was saved.

Why am I talking to you about this? Well, I decided to use that machine to go back to what the WWF was on the Internet back in the day. For this experience, I picked The Rock’s website, therock.com and chose the date of October 17th 2000. Why? Well, I was born on September 26th 2000, and that was the closest day that was saved. And why The Rock? Well by that time, he was the biggest name in wrestling, so I concluded that his website would be the most interesting one. So, here’s my experience going through the old Internet. What you will read next are my raw reactions.

Alright, here’s the entrance to the Smackdown Hotel, very clever. They are promoting The Rock’s title defense against Kurt Angle at No Mercy, which was 5 days away. I’ll just click on the Rock’s face and see where this takes me. OK so I have to pick between a Fitness Center, Conference Room, Game Room and the Elevators. I’ll pick the Elevators to get us started.

Now we have elevators… and a bin with “Hands Off” written on it. OK what do they do? I’m going to pick the left elevator and see where this goes… nowhere. I guess it’s something that would have worked if I had like, Windows 98 installed, but I don’t… so this is awkward. Right elevator? Still nothing. What about the bin?

Wow wow what is this? The Jabroni Trailer Park? And The Rock cuts a promo on me saying “You are right, you absolutely suck.” Damn even The Rock knows. Anyway, it’s pretty cool that they managed to save the sound from this 2 decades old website. OK look for privacy sake, I won’t show the picture of the guy that was showcased on that particular day. You can look him up if you’re reaaaally curious. Instead, here’s the rules and why this exists. You had to send your stuff to tptrash@therock.com. I doubt that it is still active. Let’s go back a bit.

What happens when I click away from the photo of this guy? Let’s try the top left corner… nothing. I guess the Wayback Machine didn’t save it? Or it’s an old format that doesn’t work on modern computers. Top right corner? Oh I can The Rock to be on the background of my PC. That must have been a bitch to back in the day.

Bottom right corner? The Jabroni archive. If you wanted to read other people talking about how much of a low-life they were for whatever reason. I wonder how these people feel now knowing that their words have been stored for eternity. Wait, what does this Stone Cold picture do? Room 3:16? Aight, you got me intrigued.

OK, that's pretty funny. Props to whoever made this. OK So I can click on the lamp for more images I can set on my desktop. When I click on the background images of the Rock… I’m redirected to the WWE website of 2007, just before Edge’s cash-in for reference point. OK this thing is broken, let’s go back a bit. The 3:16 Archive, full of able pictures of The Rock kicking Stone Cold’s Ass and videos have well. OK I said that the pictures must have been a pain to but videos? This must have taken hours, and without being able to make or receive a call either. What happens when I click on the bird? A new window opens, full of… nothing. Again, it must be broken. Time to leave the Trailer Park.

OK I’m back to the elevators. Let’s go somewhere else, let’s go to the Game Room. Alright, can I play these? Oh… they require Flash… well that’s a bummer. And I feel old too, I grew up on Flash games. Nothing to see here at this point. Let’s try the Conference Room, what could it be? … I guess I’ll never know, I got a 404 Not Found. Somehow, I’m disappointed. So um… final room, the Fitness Center… “Out to lunch come back soon to get your body in shape” Kinda pointless.

Let’s go back to the very start. What happens when I click on Kurt Angle? Oooh the latest news on the Rock. Interesting. There’s also more photos and videos to , from The Rock with Wyclef Jean shooting a music video, The Rock with Dan Marino and The Rock discussing his first movie, amongst many other things. I can also sign for the People’s Newsletter. Damn you could have news about your favorite superstars before everyone else? Cool in an era before Google became the powerhouse we know today.

OK now I’m going to click on the “Know Your Role” sign at the bottom right. OK so it’s a four second clip of compressed Rock saying “Know Your Damn Role and Shut Your Damn Mouth, Jabroni.” Useful. What happens when I click on the big bull logo? The Rock’s Agenda? Another extract from a promo where people chant “Rocky” and oh a Calendar of where the Rock is going to show up. Pretty much a list of Raws, house shows and PPVs… and the Rock being put on a US map. Let’s back up. What happens when I click on the Rock’s face in the reception? A 23 seconds clip of one of his best promo about the Smackdown Hotel. That’s a bit better. Side note, I can also the Smackdown Hotel lobby for my desktop if I ever felt like it. What about the big I? I’m guessing it’s about information.

Yep I was right and jeeeeesus that 3D Model. Who the fuck are you? And what happens when I click on you? Oh so it’s a map of the hotel. That’ll come handy in this exploration phase. What happens when I click the two Big Rock pictures? I’m teleported to 2007 WWE again. Why? What happens when I click the Smackdown Hotel logo above you?

OK what is this hallway? And why have this room if my only option is clicking on the door? Whatever let’s click on it. “You’re probably suffering a little bit from The Rock’s fever.” … what? Whatever let’s continue. There’s a safe in the background. “How are you doing honey?”... this is getting uncomfortable. Alright, ads for The Rock’s T-Shirts 25 Dollars? That’s 40 bucks today. Time to exit the room.

OK let’s use the map. I really want you to pay close attention to how backwards this map is. Look at it. It’s upside down for whatever reason. Despite how odd it looks, let’s use it to go to the rooms I haven’t been to yet, like the Boiler Room. This better be a Mick Foley reference.

Bingo!... Why does it seem that half of the picture is missing? Whatever, let's click on this. Much like with Austin, this pretty much is an archive of everything Rock and Sock related, only much more extensive, which is a real surprise to me. There is soooo much here to . But in 2021, we have the Network now so it’s not really useful.

OK, now the Garage. Pick your car? Well there’s no AE86 so… let’s pick a Ferrari. “You can’t afford that!” Well gee, thanks Rock to remind me of how less wealthy I am. What was I thinking? OK let’s pick some other car… nothing else is working… I’m guessing some dude only saved the screen for the Ferrari. Wait nevermind, the Jaguar works as well.

Right so, the Lobby now. It’s another selection screen. Well I already got a map so it’s pointless for me. The Library then. OK it’s a recap of the Rock’s life and career, which must have been a very interesting read in an era pre-Wikipedia. What’s this big Slammy on the top right? Another clip of a promo, this time about how proud he is of being the People's Champion.

Let’s now go the Candy Ass Cafe… never thought I’d say that one day. “When you’re ready for Pootang, Pootang will be ready for you.”... thanks, I will never eat in this cafe, especially as it is not open yet. The Cafe isn’t open but the Kitchen is so let’s check it out. For whatever reason there’s a 3 second clip where it sounds like The Rock is cutting a promo on me underwater when I click on the box in the center. What happens when I click on the Candied Ass? Another clip. Know Your Rolls? Another clip… which I already listened to. OK look, this room is just full of Rock clips making jokes around food. Not really the best part of the website.

The Gift Shop is pretty self-explanatory here. And I don’t feel like buy a Rock Football Jersey for 40 dollars, or 63 dollars today. The Photo Gallery is also something pretty easy to understand. Though I will say that for images I can off a website from 2000, they are fairly high quality.

The A/V Room? Well again there’s an extract of a Rock promo that plays while there is a gif of him delivering a people’s elbow on Triple H. If I click on the gif, I’m transported to an archive of different Rock moments in videos which are also able. You could also listen to some audio… key word is could because now I can’t anything here. Still, a cool feature, especially for the era.

And with that, this wraps up the tour of The Rock’s website. A pretty cool throwback, despite how broken this was at some portions. If you’re interested, I could do a second part, this time on something like the WWF Shop in 2000 as well.