Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson buys the XFL for $15M

[Mook]

Well, The Rock and partners.



FINALLY, THE ROCK HAS COME BACK TO ... PRO FOOTBALL!?

The WWE legend just teamed up with an investment group to snatch up Vince McMahon's XFL league for $15 million, the league confirms in a statement.

The league had filed for bankruptcy after being resurrected for the 2020 season -- and was supposed to be auctioned off to highest bidder on Monday.

But, Dwayne Johnson and his partners -- Dany Garcia (Rock's business partner and ex-wife) and partners at RedBird Capital (led by Gerry Cardinale) -- swooped in and bought it up this weekend before it hit the auction block.

The deal must now be approved in bankruptcy court on Friday -- and if everything goes smoothly, it could close by August 21.

The Rock (along with Dany) and RedBird are reportedly 50/50 partners in the deal.

Remember, the XFL got off to a pretty decent start in 2020 -- but COVID essentially served as a death sentence to the league, forcing it to shut down in March.

The league filed for chapter 11 in April -- listing $10 to $50 million in debts.

The Rock issued a statement saying, "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.""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.

The plan is to relaunch the league -- but so far, no timetable has been set.

The Rock Buys XFL In $15 Million Deal, 'Creating Something Special'

FINALLY, THE ROCK HAS COME BACK TO ... PRO FOOTBALL!?

www.tmz.com

Click to read more...

 

[FirstWorldProblems]

This dude literally does everything, talk about being hungry.

 

[blakbearddelite]

I don't know much about XFL, but hasn't it always struggled? I'm not sure why they were so hot to buy it. Maybe I need to research XFL a little more to understand why someone would want it.

 

[Chet Donnelly]

Would love the see the XFL pan out! Heard the NFL is allowing political statements on helmets and may put SJW slogans in the endzones? (not sure if true, just heard)

If thats true though I can see the NFL becoming lame.

 

[Kensington]

I don't know much about XFL, but hasn't it always struggled? I'm not sure why they were so hot to buy it. Maybe I need to research XFL a little more to understand why someone would want it.

There's really no minor/developmental league that the NFL can pull from (besides college). Tons of people have tried over the years, not just the XFL, and they've all failed.

Trump even funded one back in the 80's I believe? There was an ESPN 30 for 30 on it called "Small Potatoes", really interesting documentary if you can find it.

 

[Flyn]

This is something that could have been scripted into Ballers. Reality imitates art.

 

[NOMIEZVR4]

the latest iteration of XFL was fun. I watched a few games and really enjoyed it. Excited for this

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

Is it just me or does that seem cheap? 15mil isn’t a ton of money (el oh el)

if they could make it a legit league that isn’t over sensational over produced garbage I’d watch it. NFL or some sort of professional league has been around for 100 years now. There’s got to be some room in the market for another league of a different flavor that’s able to make some money.

 

[Mook]

Get Jim Ross to commentate on all games and I'm in.

 

[Kensington]

Is it just me or does that seem cheap? 15mil isn’t a ton of money (el oh el)

if they could make it a legit league that isn’t over sensational over produced garbage I’d watch it. NFL or some sort of professional league has been around for 100 years now. There’s got to be some room in the market for another league of a different flavor that’s able to make some money.

All the failed alternate leagues sort of beg to differ. I actually enjoyed watching the latest XFL, as it was designed exactly as you describe. The talent was pretty awful, but honestly it was a decent watch. Problem was, no one really watched and no one really came to games, and Vince McMahon lost A TON of money, $15M is a drop in the bucket. Even McMahon called it a colossal failure. I don't know what it would take to make a successful league. The "good" players are going to stay in the NFL, because the pay gap is VERY wide.

 

[FirstWorldProblems]

I just googled it...XFL really did not pay their players anything lol. How desperate do you need to be to take hits to the head (while risking much more severe injury) for $55k a year

 

[Kensington]

I mean, they are playing for the chance to make 10x that (honestly, any guy coming from XFL is only going to be making league minimum). And the ONE guy that had an outside shot, just got cut I believe.

Also have to remember the differences between new XFL and old XFL. Old XFL glorified the violence of the game, often encouraging it, while also encouraging grandiose celebrations. Whereas new XFL was the complete polar opposite, which is why I was so confused when they retained the XFL name.

 

[Flyn]

The $15 mil. is peanuts. Vince McMahon sold it for next to nothing because it would take ten times that much to get the league up and functioning again.