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'I'm in pain': Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson pens heartfelt farewell to father

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has posted a heartfelt and emotional farewell to his father after the trailblazing wrestler died on Thursday.

The wrestling world has been mourning the death of WWE legend Rocky Johnson.

The Hall of Famer died aged 75 and now Johnson has taken to Instagram detailing the pain he has felt since his father’s death.

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“I love you. You broke color [sic] barriers, became a ring legend and trail blazed your way thru [sic] this world,” Johnson wrote.

I was the boy sitting in the seats, watching and adoring you, my hero from afar. The boy you raised to always be proud of our cultures and proud of who and what I am. The boy you raised with the toughest of love.”

“Dad, I wish I had one more shot to tell you, I love you, before you crossed over to the other side. But you were ripped away from me so fast without warning,” Johnson continued.

“Gone in an instant and no coming back. I’m in pain. But we both know it’s just pain and it’ll pass.

“Now I’ll carry your mana and work ethic with me, as it’s time to move on because I have my family to feed and work to accomplish.
”Finally, I want you to rest your trailblazing soul, Soulman. Pain free, regret free, satisfied and at ease.

“You lived a very full, very hard, barrier breaking life and left it all in the ring. I love you dad and I’ll always be your proud and grateful son.

“Go rest high.”

Rocky Johnson’s incredible legacy

Johnson made his fighting debut in 1966 and competed in the National Wrestling Alliance throughout the 1970s, while earning multiple regional singles and tag team titles.

He joined the WWE in 1983 and won the World Tag Team Championship alongside Tony Atlas that same year — which made them the first African Americans to win the title in the sport.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund (pictured left) interviews Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson (pictured right). (AAP)
"Mean" Gene Okerlund (pictured left) interviews Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson (pictured right). (AAP)

He had several notable rivalries with Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Don Muraco and Adrian Adonis.

Johnson, born Wayde Douglas Bowles, officially retired in 1991 but helped train several notable fighters including his son, who competed in the WWE before his massive acting career took off.

“The Rock would become one of the biggest stars in the history of sports-entertainment and carried on his father’s legacy with pride,” the WWE said in a statement announcing Johnson’s death.

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