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By Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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It was announced in January 2024 that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson had officially joined the TKO Board of Directors and entered into a services agreement with WWE. As part of this historic move, Johnson was awarded "The Rock" trademark and other related intellectual property, which he immediately licensed back to the company in a ten-year deal.
A recent annual report filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revealed the staggering financial scale of this partnership. The documents show that The Rock has received $21.7 million in TKO shares as part of his return. This total includes an award of $17.7 million in 2024 and an additional $4 million in 2025. This was part of an original $30 million RSU award tied to his active involvement with the organization.
Beyond the stock awards, the SEC filing also detailed the annual royalties and travel expenses covered by the company. Johnson received $900,000 in royalties per year in 2024 and 2025. Additionally, the company covered his travel expenses for his various appearances and behind-the-scenes work. These expenses totaled $2.6 million in 2024, followed by $600,000 in 2025.
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The Rock was a central figure throughout the build to WrestleMania 40 in 2024, where he turned heel to align with Roman Reigns. The duo main evented night one in a 44-minute tag team match against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The Great One also appeared during the main event of night two, where he was fended off by a surprise return from The Undertaker.
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His most recent physical involvement occurred at the Elimination Chamber event in March 2025. During that show, The Rock appeared alongside Travis Scott to bring about a shocking heel turn for John Cena. The moment saw Cena align with The Final Boss to brutally attack the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes after Cena had won the chamber match.
However, following that event, Johnson focused primarily on his acting career and did not wrestle at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, a move that drew criticism from some sections of the audience. As the road to WrestleMania 42 continues, the status of The Final Boss remains a major talking point.
While he has been a polarizing figure since his return, reports from Wrestling Observer Live suggest that internal discussions are ongoing regarding a potential appearance at Allegiant Stadium this April. With ticket sales for the two-night event in Las Vegas being a point of concern for WWE leadership, there is pressure to bring back major legends to help drive interest for the spring spectacle.
While The Rock has not been confirmed for a match, his recent comments on the Pat McAfee Show indicated that he is always "watching and waiting" for the right moment to return.
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