Details of Dwayne Johnson’s WWE Contract and Upcoming Projects Revealed
Summary
– The Rock’s WWE contract includes provisions to hire third-party service providers to develop wrestling content, with WWE reimbursing the costs.
– The contract, valued at $30 million in TKO equity, outlines specific usage rights for Johnson’s intellectual property in WWE merchandise.
– After his WrestleMania 40 appearance, The Rock sets sights on a cinematic showdown with Cody Rhodes amid a busy filming schedule.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s recent WWE talent contract, signed as he joined the TKO Board in January, has brought forward some intriguing stipulations, as Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston reported. The contract, detailed in a February 2024 SEC filing, provides Johnson with substantial creative and financial perks, reinforcing his continued influence in the wrestling and entertainment industries.
Under the terms of the agreement, Johnson can engage third-party service providers to help develop concepts, scripts, and storylines for WWE, with the costs covered by WWE. This arrangement likely includes collaborations with long-time partners such as Brian Gewirtz, a former WWE writer and executive at Johnson’s Seven Bucks Entertainment. However, specific names were redacted in the public document.
The deal also grants Johnson $30 million in TKO equity, which vests over a schedule culminating at the end of 2025, with a significant portion available by the end of 2024. This equity is partly in exchange for licensing his name, likeness, and certain intellectual property rights for WWE’s use in various merchandising categories over the next decade, albeit with provisions restricting use in political ads and substances such as alcohol and tobacco without Johnson’s approval.
The contract also ensures Johnson continues to earn royalties from selling products featuring his IP, including his persona “The Rock” and his well-known catchphrases. By the end of 2023, Johnson had already earned nearly $491,000 in royalties.
Following his participation at WrestleMania 40, Johnson’s wrestling schedule remains tentative as he prepares for a potential match against Cody Rhodes. However, his immediate focus shifts to the film industry, with key roles in A24’s “The Smashing Machine” and the upcoming live-action adaptation of Disney’s “Moana.”
