Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is making a power move from muscle shirts to business suits by joining the board of directors for TKO Group Holdings, the entity formed from the recent WWE and UFC merger. The Hollywood heavyweight, a former WWE wrestler, secures full ownership of his iconic stage name, “The Rock,” in this deal. TKO Group also announced an exclusive partnership with Netflix, making the streaming giant the sole home of “WWE Raw” starting in January 2025.

Johnson’s appointment to the board is effective immediately, and as part of the agreement, he will receive $30 million in stock awards to promote the brand, with vesting scheduled over 2024 and 2025. TKO praised Johnson’s expertise in revenue cultivation and media rights, citing his success with ventures like ZOA Energy drink and Seven Bucks Production.

Expressing excitement about the collaboration, Johnson stated that his life has come full circle, and he is eager to contribute to the global expansion of TKO, WWE, and UFC as leaders in sports and entertainment. He emphasized his pride in representing hard working athletes and performers who strive to fulfill their dreams and entertain audiences.

Vince McMahon, executive chairman of TKO’s board, acknowledged Johnson’s unparalleled understanding of the convergence of sports, entertainment, media, and business, expressing pride in having him on the board.

Netflix’s acquisition of exclusive rights to “WWE Raw” is a significant development in the streaming landscape. The show, currently on Comcast’s USA cable network, will begin streaming live on Netflix in January 2025. This transformative deal aligns WWE’s unmissable content with Netflix’s extensive global reach, ensuring significant and predictable economics for years to come, according to Mark Shapiro, TKO President.