Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Joins Board Of TKO, Secures Full Ownership Of Trademarked Name
23.01.2024 - 16:26
/ deadline.com
Endeavor’s publicly traded TKO Group has named Dwayne Johnson to its board of directors, effective today. The WWE superstar has also secured full ownership of the trademarked name The Rock.
TKO is the parent company of WWE and UFC.
The name The Rock is derived from his father, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, who was the first Black champion in WWE history (alongside partner Tony Atlas). Johnson’s grandfather, Peter Maivia, a Samoan-American professional wrestler, was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.
Rock and WWE have inked a merchandising agreement that provides for promotion, licensing, and other services.
“I am thrilled to partner with Dwayne and welcome his immense talent to TKO’s Board. Dwayne 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,” said TKO (and Endeavor) CEO Ariel Emanuel.
“Very few people on the planet understand the convergence of sports, entertainment, media, and business like Rock,” said TKO executive chair Vince McMahon, who sold WWE to Endeavor last year.
The Rock, one of the most decorated WWE superstars ever, a global social media icon and Hollywood star, said, “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