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YOUNG ROCK EPISODE 3 RECAP

"Hawaii, 1982: When wrestlers start dropping out of Lia’s Battle Royal, she suspects a rival promoter may be to blame. As Rocky’s wrestling career skyrockets, Ata takes a leap of faith to pursue a musical dream."

“The Straight Line with Randall Park'' opens the show with Dwayne Johnson going over campaign issues. Johnson believes the number one issue in America is job security and this transitions into Johnson reminiscing about his Dad getting paid well by Vince McMahon.

Hawaii 1982 

Dewey, Ata and Rocky are watching WWF programming from their posh hotel room, a move up from the scuzzy motel they were staying in during episode 1. Rocky insists he’ll be the top babyface in the WWF soon. 

 They meet up with Dewey’s Grandma Lia Maivia for breakfast and she is promoting a local card in Honolulu and tells Ata she needs help going through the departed Peter Maivia’s belongings. Andre the Giant, Junkyard Dog, King Kong Bundy, Greg Valentine, Iron Sheik and “Macho Man” Randy Savage are on the card. Lia finds out Bundy’s mother has taken ill and he can’t make the event. The wrestlers all meet later at the gym where Andre shows the boys an action figure prototype that Vince McMahon has had made of him. All the wrestlers are impressed and Johnson is slightly jealous of Andre. 

Afa, Sika and Ata are watching old home movies from when they were kids of Ata and Peter singing together. Afa and Sika suggest she start singing again and audition for “Star Search.  Lia is meeting with Iron Sheik going over what words he can’t say in front of audiences. She learns King Kong Bundy lied about why he couldn’t make her show as he’s working for a rival promotion in town. 

The family and wrestlers are having a beach barbecue before the matches and Lia is still upset about Bundy. Junkyard Dog flakes on the event and they realize he is also going to work for the rival promoter. Dewey is trying to sell Soulman merchandise to fellow beach goers but only sells one to Lia.  Rocky and Lia decide to go talk to JYD believing he may also be working the other show.

They meet JYD at his hotel before he leaves for his match for the other company. He says he loves Lia but he’s been offered more money and creative freedom with the other promoter. He needs the money because he knows he’ll never be Vince McMahon’s top guy. Rocky disagrees, believing it will be him one day but JYD says Andre is the top guy until Vince finds someone else and it won’t be either of them. 

Lia talks to Vince McMahon on the phone and he says he has to pull most of her talent for a show at Madison Square Garden. She tells her assistant things in the business are changing. Lia talks with Ata about missing Peter and she wishes she could talk to him about her current challenges. 

 Dewey thinks everything is fine because the hotel rooms and restaurants are improving. Rocky is upset Vince didn’t need him for the MSG show. Dewey tries to order tequila and a vodka martini but settles for a Shirley Temple with extra cherries. After encouragement from her mother and brothers, Ata decides to start signing again and says she’s going to the mainland to audition for Star Search. She joins the band in the restaurant singing I’m Coming Out by Diana Ross.

Rocky is signing autographs at the gym and has drawn a pretty good crowd. The rival promoter shows up making big promises about action figures and more money if he wrestles for him. Johnson is obviously at a crossroads between wanting more and family loyalty.

We cut to a Dwayne Johnson 2032 campaign ad. The Rock is walking in a factory saying when he sees working Americans they remind him of his family’s struggles. His slogan is “One Family Called America”. He’s Dwayne Johnson and he approves this message.

 YOUNG ROCK airs on NBC Tuesday nights at 8 PM or On Demand.

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