The Rock is many things to many people: movie star, pro wrestling legend, television star, real big huge guy, cool dad, marketable celebrity, highest-paid dude on the planet, and fella who feels he needs to go to space to use Siri. Oh, and maybe he’s going to be the President of the United States soon. I mean, the guy can punch an earthquake in the face or whatever, so he’s as good a choice as any.
Last week, the man that some people know as Dwayne Johnson revealed on Instagram that he was “evolving” his iconic Brahma bull tattoo, which looked pretty cool in 1999, but is maybe slightly behind the times now. (Especially compared to his other, amazing quarter-sleeve of work on his left arm.) Some fans noticed the work already peeking up from his shoulder in older Instagram posts, suggesting that despite the video announcing he was getting work done, the process had already begun. Pretty sneaky, Rock.
Indeed, the big ol’ tattoo (which ended up being a complete cover-up, despite world famous tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado’s site claiming he doesn’t do cover-ups, but you always just do what the Rock tells you to do) took several sessions, and we can finally see the finished product. It is pretty incredible, and probably not at all what most people were expecting.
Yeah, that is an evolution, all right. The cartoon bull has now become a stylized, quasi-photorealistic bull skull, which depicts the journey Rock has gone through. The Instagram caption with the explanation:
After 3 sessions and 22hrs of tattooing with world renowned @NikkoHurtado, the story’s almost done.. Every detail is a reflection of my own personal history.
From the cracks and heavy damage in the bone representing life’s hard lessons I’ve learned over the years. Just like scars and wrinkles – I’m so grateful to have ’em because they’re earned.
To the horns, not pointing up or out to the side, but pointing straight ahead representing relentless energy and forward progress.
The core and anchor of this image is in the eye. Look closely and you’ll find the life, energy, power and you’ll feel the MANA (spirit). The eye tells the story of a disruptive positive energy always ready to dent the universe.
Depending on the light and angle, sometimes the energy’s subtle and sometimes it’s glaring. But it’s always alive and ready to disrupt the universe and love and protect my family and all things I love with intense passion and gratitude.
Cheers to living, learning, evolving and growing. And to the positive disrupters ready to dent the universe.
We should all be so lucky as to find a tattoo artist this good. Kudos to the Rock for being a fan of rad body art. Maybe next he’ll go the Scott Steiner route and get his chest done. MORE TATTOOS FOR EVERYONE. And please be careful when denting the universe.
