Dwayne Johnson, former professional wrestler and Hollywood actor, has joined the board of directors at TKO Group Holdings and gained full ownership over the name “The Rock” as part of the deal.
Dwayne Johnson’s got a whiff of what’s brewing at UFC and WWE. He’s no stranger to either.
Now, he’s taking a seat at the table. He’s joined the board at TKO Group Holdings. This comes after years of maintaining good relations with both WWE and UFC.
Not just that, he’s been a long-standing client of Endeavor. Who’s that, you ask? Well, they’re the parent company of TKO Group Holdings.
But wait, there’s more.
The deal to join the board comes with a cherry on top. Johnson now owns the name “The Rock”. Yup, the name he used during his rise to fame as a WWE superstar.
“My grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, and my dad, Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson, would’ve never thought this day would come,” Johnson said. He’s humbled. He’s honored. He’s sitting at a table that his family helped build.
He’s on the TKO Board of Directors. He owns the name “The Rock”. It’s a full circle moment for him.
Johnson’s a builder at heart. He builds for the people. He’s ready to help Ari [Emanuel] build something game-changing. He’s motivated to expand TKO, WWE, and UFC globally.
He’s been there. He’s still there. This is for the athletes and performers who work hard every day to make their dreams come true.
The board’s growing. With Johnson and Brad Kaywell — a co-founder at Groupon and Uptake Technologies — joining, the board’s now 13 members strong.
Johnson’s not just an actor. He’s an entrepreneur. He’s built Seven Bucks productions — a studio he founded with his ex-wife Dani Garcia. He’s also an owner in the United Football League.
But the biggest part of the deal? Johnson now owns “The Rock” name. Previously, WWE held the rights.
The name comes from his father, Rocky Johnson. The first Black champion in WWE.
With the name, Johnson’s also entered into a service and merchandizing agreement with WWE. There are rumors he’ll perform at WrestleMania. The company’s biggest event of the year.
So, what’s next for “The Rock”? Only time will tell.