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And he was only kept off the scoresheet by the dogged determination of Jussi Jaaskelainen, a brace of off the line clearances and the crossbar.
It was a slow start to the game, but was lit up by Rooney's shear genius.
The 17-year-old shrugged off his red-card blues and grabbed a dull game by the scruff of the neck with a mesmerizing performance that left the Goodison crowd open mouthed with wonder. His first contribution came in the 20th minute when, hovering on the halfway line, he picked up the ball and ran headlong into the visitors defence.
Caught like rabbits in headlights they were powerless to stop him as his pace and control fashioned a chance from nothing, but he took one touch too many and his crossed was easily cleared.
Then in the 32nd minute Gary Naysmith played a neat through ball and Rooney again took the opportunity to terrify Ivan Campo and Gudni Bergsson. Again they weren't up to the task and Rooney beat Campo with pace and Bergsson with a skilful turn, only for his shot to be saved.
Bolton were then scared every time the young superstar had the ball, but for the first quarter of an hour they had been in control.
Per Frandsen had their best efforts with a run into the near post and a shot that was cleared off the line in the ninth minute.
But this was the Wayne Rooney experience and in the last minute of the half he twice beat three men only to stumble at the final hurdle.
In the second half it was the kid from Toxteth who ran the show and again he forced his way into the box beating them with ease and composure.
He had shots cleared off the line and in the 61st minute thought he had finally broke the deadlock with a rising shot only to see it bounce off the crossbar.
As Rooney ran out of steam towards the end of the game so did Everton and Bolton managed to hang on for the draw.