January 24, 2024

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Becomes Board Member of TKO Group, Owner Of WWE

"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."

Dwayne Johnson, aka ‘The Rock,’ wrestler-turned-movie-superstar, has joined the board of directors of the company that owns the wrestling organization WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), where he originally started his professional wrestling career.

TKO Group Holdings, Inc., a sports and entertainment company, announced Johnson’s appointment to its board of directors.

TKO appoints Dwayne Johnson to Board of Directors@TheRock @WWE @ufc pic.twitter.com/bhTgADAEb7

— TKO (@TKOGrp) January 23, 2024

The news also comes with the announcement that his moniker, “The Rock,” is now an owned trademark for Johnson. WWE inked a services and merchandising agreement with the “Fast Five” star. The company will help with his promotional, licensing, and other services regarding intellectual property.

In a written statement, Johnson 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.”

“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.”

Johnson is a third-generation professional wrestler following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He made history as the only person to have had a parent and grandparent come before him who participated in the WWE. Now, his daughter, Simone Johnson, who uses the wrestling name Ava Raine, has become the first fourth-generation wrestler.