Last September, WWE and UFC merged to form TKO Group Holdings. The company is valued at over $20 billion. Vince McMahon is the Executive Chairman of TKO, and Ariel Emanuel is the CEO.
On Tuesday, Dwayne Johnson was appointed to the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings. Johnson also signed a services and merchandising agreement with WWE. The Hollywood megastar will provide promotional, licensing, and other services to WWE under the agreement. He also gained full ownership of “The Rock” name, which was previously trademarked by WWE.
The 51-year-old issued the following statement:
“My grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, and my dad, Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson, would’ve never thought this day would come, Which is why I’m very humbled to have a seat at the table that has decades of history and family legacy for me. A table that my family helped to build. Being on the TKO Board of Directors, and taking full ownership of my name, ‘The Rock’, is not only unprecedented but incredibly inspiring as my crazy life is coming full circle. At my core, I’m a builder who builds for and serves the people, and Ari [Emanuel] is building something truly game-changing. I’m very motivated to help continue to globally expand our TKO, WWE, and UFC businesses as the worldwide leaders in sports and entertainment — 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. I’ve been there, I’m still there and this is for them.”
Dwayne Johnson