Actor and Former Football Player Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Purchases the XFL for $15 Million
With the help of an investor group known as RedBird Capital, actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, best known for his successful run as a WWE champion and his roles in movies like Jumanji and The Game Plan, is now the newest owner of the XFL.
The first time the XFL was introduced to the public was in 2000. The first-ever season was played in 2001. It was also the last one as Sports Illustrated described the new league as “sleazy gimmicks and low-rent football.”
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Seventeen years later, in 2018, WWE owner Vince McMahon gain control of the XFL and it made its second debut in 2020. However, the season was cut short due to COVID-19 and the league filed for bankruptcy as a result.
Now the league as a new owner in Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
The actor shared the big news via Twitter on August 3. “With my trailblazing partner Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital, we have acquired the XFL. With gratitude and passion, I’ve built a career with my own two hands and will apply these callouses to our @xfl2020 brand. Excited to create something special for the fans!”
Back in his college days, The Rock played football for the University of Miami. In an effort to go pro, Johnson entered the 1995 NFL draft but wasn’t selected by any of the teams. He later signed with the Canadian Football League but was cut two months later.
From there, Johnson became a WWE star and eventually one of the highest-paid actors in the world. As CBS Sports reported, “Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, RedBird Capital, and Dany Garcia teamed up to purchase the XFL for approximately $15 million just hours before the once-bankrupt league was set for auction.”
Garcia, who is also Johnson’s ex-wife, will also be a stakeholder in the league.
“The acquisition of the XFL with my talented partners, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale, is an investment for me that’s rooted deeply in two things — my passion for the game and my desire to always take care of the fans,” The Rock said in a statement. “With pride and gratitude for all that I’ve built with my own two hands, I plan to apply these callouses to the XFL, and look forward to creating something special for the players, fans, and everyone involved for the love of football.”
He described the moment they bought the league as full circle.
Sara Vallone has been a writer and editor for the last four and a half years. A graduate of Ohio University, she enjoys celebrity news, sports, and articles that enhance people's lives.
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