Despite Being So Close to His Heart, Dwayne Johnson Explains Why $15M Worth XFL Is No “Exception” When Compared to His Other Business Ventures

Just days after reports of losses worth $60 million were attached to the XFL, co-owner Dwayne Johnson seems to have found the mojo to get things back on track. No, he’s not prepping for some otherworldly magic. As per the 51-year-old, it’s something traditional. Johnson spoke about taking a page out of his past and going by the rules he has followed to date. If you want to know what they are, read ahead.

Dwayne Johnson reveals XFL’s superpower

The Great One sat with Forbes’ JB Young for a chat recently. He answered questions about the XFL and the future of the league. When asked what his superpower is, that is going to propel the league into years two, three, and onwards, Johnson came up with a one-word answer. 

Storytelling. Yes, believe it or not, that is The Rock’s magic spell for the XFL. “For me, the superpower is storytelling,” he said.

Dwayne Johnson plans to show his players and their journey, which he says makes them relatable to him and the fans. “…showing the world how these players matter. And even though they may not be big stars, they may not be making 50 million dollars, they matter,” he continued.

Apart from that, he’s going to treat XFL like he treats his other ventures– by allowing it to grow with time. “I play the long game in business and everything I venture into. XFL is no exception,” he wrote on Instagram. “We’re in it for the long haul. Step by step building the league of opportunity. Like with any venture, success takes time,” the 51-year-old added.

The league, which is still at its nascent stage, was bought by Johnson, his former wife Dany Garcia, and private investment firm RedBird Capital. They jointly shelled out $15 million for the defunct minor American football league to acquire ownership from Vince McMahon in August 2020.

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It allowed Johnson to partially fulfill his football dreams which were dashed in his 20s. Meanwhile, not just Johnson, another co-owner sounded upbeat about the league and made a massive prediction about it.

XFL looking at bigger picture, wants to topple this league

The previous two seasons of XFL were duds. Like the old adage ‘third time lucky’, a change in guard augured well for the league in its third season. And not just getting to complete a season for the first time, XFL has announced seasons beyond its third one. It’s always good to find owners who look at the positives while being aware of the chinks.

Speaking to Forbes, Gerry Cardinale, co-owner of RedBird Capital, said they are looking to topple Major League Soccer by 2027. He said while the MLS took three decades to be where it is today, the XFL can do so within the next few years.

“It’s not a flip of the switch and all of a sudden you’re successful,” he said. “It took MLS 30 years to get to their current average team and implied league valuation. I believe we can do it in five years,” Cardinale added.

However, fans would have to wait for the future to know if the prediction materializes. For now, tell us what you think about Dwayne Johnson’s approach to the XFL in the comments.

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