Key details regarding The Rock’s WWE contract revealed

The Rock made his WWE return on Day 1 of this year and was soon announced as one of the board members of the TKO Group Holdings. Rock used this as part of his storyline, evolving himself as the Final Boss and had a great run during the WrestleMania 40 season.

As Rock claimed to be the Final Boss and said that he has all the powers in the company, his contract details have been revealed, including his equity share, rights, royalties, and more.

The Rock’s WWE Contract

Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics recently shared insights from WWE’s annual report, where he revealed the details behind The Rock’s contract. Here is a detailed insight of his contract.

Right to hire Third-Party Services

The Rock’s WWE contract allows him to hire “third-party service providers in connection with developing concepts, scripts, storylines” with approval from WWE. As part of that process, WWE will reimburse Johnson’s Seven Bucks Entertainment for the costs of those service providers.

One such person was named in the contract, but their name was redacted. That very well could be former WWE writer and Seven Bucks executive Brian Gewirtz who is a longtime Johnson collaborator.

Big Money Deal

Rock’s current deal is worth $30 million in TKO equity (“the Johnson Equity Award”) that vests on a schedule through the end of 2025. The vast majority of that award will be doled out by the end of 2024. The full details of the compensation package remain confidential, however the entire package is guaranteed in case of contract termination.

Intellectual Property (IP)

Part of that equity is for Johnson licensing his name, likeness and “certain other intellectual property rights to WWE for use in connection with certain categories of licensed products related to professional wrestling for up to 10 years, subject to certain earlier termination rights.” 

That IP, which includes The Rock and nearly all of his famous catchphrases, cannot be used on things like political ads, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, porn, or pop-up ads without Johnson’s approval.

At the end of 2023, Johnson got nearly $491,000 for royalties and will continue to receive yearly royalties for the sale of products with the aforementioned IP.

The People’s Champ is currently away from television for his Hollywood project “The Smashing Machine” of A24. However he laid the foundation for his rivalry by confronting Cody Rhodes on the Raw after WrestleMania 40.

Dwayne Johnson's WWE talent contract was published as an exhibit to WWE's annual report filed back in February.Parts of it are redacted and the contract has several schedules that are omitted because that information is the type that TKO "treats as private or confidential".…

— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) April 23, 2024

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