“Don’t be a jabroni. Eat your ravioli”
Dwayne Johnson (known as “The Rock”) was a wrestling star in the 1990s. The slang “jabroni” (meaning “a foolish person”) was his catchword.
In a 1999 television commercial for Chef Boyardee called “Gettin’ Chefy With It,” Johnson said:
“The Rock says, don’t be a jabroni. Eat your ravioli.”
“Don’t get upsetti. Have some spaghetti” is a similar Italian food rhyme.
Wikipedia: Chef Boyardee
Chef Boyardee is an American brand of canned pasta products sold internationally by Conagra Brands. The company was founded by Italian immigrant Ettore Boiardi in Milton, Pennsylvania, U.S., in 1928.
Wikipedia: Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he was integral to the development and success of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) during the Attitude Era, an industry boom period in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Johnson wrestled for the WWF for eight years prior to pursuing an acting career.
Wiktionary: jabroni
Noun
jabroni (plural jabronis)
1. (professional wrestling slang) A performer whose primary role is to lose to established talent.
Synonym: jobber
2. (by extension) An obnoxious or contemptible person; a loser.
Google Groups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling
The Rock can afford $500 shirts, but eats Chef Boyardee Ravioli?
dc
Jun 15, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
What a jabroni…
Google Groups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling
24 hours left in KOTR contest, enter here~~~~~~
Denise White
Jun 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
“Don’t be a jabroni, eat your ravioli”-the Rock
Newspapers.com
4 March 2000, National Post (Don Mills, ON), “Eat your ravioli, don’t be a jabroni and cheer for The Rock” by Rebecca Eckler, pg. A10, cols. 3-4:
In The Rock’s vernacular, the word “jabroni” is the equivalent of “stupid idiot.” (Also, “jabroni” rhymes with ravioli, so Chef Boy- ardee uses The Rock in his advertising. “Don’t be a jabroni,” goes the slogan, “Eat your Chef Boyardee Ravioli!” OK, maybe it doesn’t rhyme all that well.)
Twitter
Josh Rachford
@joshrachford
countcenci asked: Have you ever said the phrase: “Don’t be a Jabroni and eat your ravioli?” It’s sage advice… http://tumblr.com/xw3la20fx
6:38 PM · Oct 10, 2010
Twitter
SistaMaryClarence
@StMaryClarence
dont b a Jabroni ...eat your Ravioli
4:37 PM · Mar 26, 2011
Twitter
Denny Pascasio
@dennypascasio
THE ROCK SAYS “DON’T BE A JABRONI, EAT YOUR CHEF BOYARDEE RAVIOLI”
12:25 PM · Aug 9, 2011
Twitter
Rick Iloilo
@Elowism
“Don’t be a jabroni, eat your ravioli.”—@TheRock
8:54 PM · Jun 4, 2012
Twitter
Cameron Grimes
@CGrimesWWE
Don’t be a jabroni, Eat your ravioli
8:54 AM · Aug 14, 2013
Twitter
william
@BillRepublic
The Rock says “don’t be a jabroni and eat your Chef Boyardee ravioli”
8:08 PM · Sep 10, 2014 from Delafield, WI
YouTube
Gettin’ Chefy With It - The Rock feat. Chef Boyardee
mercatfat
Jan 10, 2015
WWE Superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson back in his ravioli days.
0:24
“The Rock says, don’t be a jabroni. Eat your ravioli.”
Twitter
stan
@thestanimal
Dont be a jabroni eat your ravioli
@TheRock #1999 @ChefBoyardee #throwback
12:09 AM · Aug 1, 2015
Twitter
TeamBringIt_TeamRock
@TBI_TeamRock
#FlashbackFriday @TheRock 😎 😘says; Don’t be a Jabroni, eat your Ravioli 😉😂 Smells what. .. https://instagram.com/p/BDp8ag3KWXH/
7:13 AM · Apr 1, 2016
Twitter
5 Star Wrestling Sideburns
@EddieSideburns
The Rock has a lot of wise sayings but I can think of only one that is the wisest of all and that is.. “Don’t be a jabroni, eat your ravioli.”
2:29 PM · Jul 19, 2021
Tiwtter
The Signature Spot
@SignatureSpot
A behind-the-scenes view of The Rock filming his 1999 commercial spot for Chef Boyardee titled, ‘Gettin’ Chefy With It.’
“The Rock says, don’t be a jabroni; eat your ravioli.”
@ChefBoyardee@TheRock
5:00 PM · Jan 4, 2023
Twitter
Ultimate Wrestling Trivia
@UltWresTrivia
#tbt The Rock says don’t be a jabroni, eat your ravioli.. remember the Chef Boyardee Commercial from 1999!?
9:35 AM · Jan 12, 2023