It is a name that has become almost synonymous with professional wrestling but its bearer, Dwayne Johnson, has never legally owned 害羞草研究所淭he Rock.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淭he Rock害羞草研究所� is a name is derived from Johnson害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所淭he Rock害羞草研究所� means a lot to him personally.
害羞草研究所淚 owe that name everything,害羞草研究所� Johnson said. 害羞草研究所淲ithout that name there害羞草研究所檇 be no wrestling career. There害羞草研究所檇 be no Hollywood career.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very motivated to help continue to globally expand our TKO, WWE, and UFC businesses as the worldwide leaders in sports and entertainment 害羞草研究所� 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,害羞草研究所� Johnson said in a prepared statement. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been there, I害羞草研究所檓 still there and this is for them.害羞草研究所�
Holdings Inc. says Johnson害羞草研究所檚 board appointment, effective Tuesday, reflects its 害羞草研究所渃ommitment to delivering long-term value and strong performance for shareholders through strategic growth initiatives across both UFC and WWE.害羞草研究所�
Johnson began his wrestling career with WWE in 1996. The third-generation wrestler became famous for rivalries with wrestlers including 害羞草研究所淪tone Cold害羞草研究所� Steve Austin and Triple H and his finishing maneuver, The Rock Bottom, according to his biography on WWE害羞草研究所檚 website. He has won eight WWE championships, has a New York Times bestselling autobiography, 害羞草研究所淭he Rock Says,害羞草研究所� and starred in movies including 害羞草研究所淔ast X,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淏lack Adam,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淛ungle Cruise害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所滼umanji: Welcome to the Jungle.害羞草研究所�
Johnson has recently appeared on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淪mackdown害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淩aw害羞草研究所� television programs, with rumors swirling that he may compete at this year害羞草研究所檚 WrestleMania.
害羞草研究所淚 am thrilled to partner with Dwayne and welcome his immense talent to TKO害羞草研究所檚 Board,害羞草研究所� TKO CEO Ariel Emanuel said in a prepared statement. 害羞草研究所淒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.害羞草研究所�
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 TKO害羞草研究所檚 board from 11 to 13 members.
Shares of TKO Group surged more than 19% in morning trading after TKO announced WWE害羞草研究所檚 weekly television show 害羞草研究所淩aw害羞草研究所� next year as part of a major streaming deal worth more than $5 billion.
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