It is a name that has become almost synonymous with professional wrestling but its bearer, Dwayne Johnson, has never legally owned B次元官网网址淭he Rock.B次元官网网址�
That will change under a new agreement with the WWE under which Johnson will also join the board of TKO Group, the sports and entertainment company that houses and UFC.
B次元官网网址淭he RockB次元官网网址� is a name is derived from JohnsonB次元官网网址檚 father, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, who was the first Black champion in WWE history (alongside partner Tony Atlas), according the WWE.
Johnson, in an interview on CNBC, would not discuss the financial value of the deal with WWE, but said that the name B次元官网网址淭he RockB次元官网网址� means a lot to him personally.
B次元官网网址淚 owe that name everything,B次元官网网址� Johnson said. B次元官网网址淲ithout that name thereB次元官网网址檇 be no wrestling career. ThereB次元官网网址檇 be no Hollywood career.B次元官网网址�
Johnson, a movie and wrestling star, has a business portfolio that includes his production company Seven Bucks Productions, tequila brand Teremana Tequila, energy drink company ZOA Energy, Project Rock apparel brand and the United Football League.
Johnson said on CNBC that this will be his first time serving on the board of a publicly traded company.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very motivated to help continue to globally expand our TKO, WWE, and UFC businesses as the worldwide leaders in sports and entertainment B次元官网网址� while proudly representing so many phenomenal athletes and performers who show up every day putting in the hard work with their own two hands to make their dreams come true and deliver for our audiences,B次元官网网址� Johnson said in a prepared statement. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been there, IB次元官网网址檓 still there and this is for them.B次元官网网址�
Holdings Inc. says JohnsonB次元官网网址檚 board appointment, effective Tuesday, reflects its B次元官网网址渃ommitment to delivering long-term value and strong performance for shareholders through strategic growth initiatives across both UFC and WWE.B次元官网网址�
Johnson began his wrestling career with WWE in 1996. The third-generation wrestler became famous for rivalries with wrestlers including B次元官网网址淪tone ColdB次元官网网址� Steve Austin and Triple H and his finishing maneuver, The Rock Bottom, according to his biography on WWEB次元官网网址檚 website. He has won eight WWE championships, has a New York Times bestselling autobiography, B次元官网网址淭he Rock Says,B次元官网网址� and starred in movies including B次元官网网址淔ast X,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淏lack Adam,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淛ungle CruiseB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址滼umanji: Welcome to the Jungle.B次元官网网址�
Johnson has recently appeared on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.B次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪mackdownB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淩awB次元官网网址� television programs, with rumors swirling that he may compete at this yearB次元官网网址檚 WrestleMania.
B次元官网网址淚 am thrilled to partner with Dwayne and welcome his immense talent to TKOB次元官网网址檚 Board,B次元官网网址� TKO CEO Ariel Emanuel said in a prepared statement. B次元官网网址淒wayne brings an incredible track record of creating content and building globally recognized consumer brands, and he will play a key role in realizing our ambitions for TKO.B次元官网网址�
TKO also announced Tuesday that Brad Keywell will become a board member. Keywell has co-founded and led multiple companies, including Groupon, Echo Global Logistics, MediaOcean, and Uptake Technologies, where he is currently founder and executive chairman.
The additions of Johnson and Keywell will increase TKOB次元官网网址檚 board from 11 to 13 members.
Shares of TKO Group surged more than 19% in morning trading after TKO announced WWEB次元官网网址檚 weekly television show B次元官网网址淩awB次元官网网址� next year as part of a major streaming deal worth more than $5 billion.
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