Stripped With $60,000,000 XFL Setback, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Shows Gratitude to $142,000,000,000 Worth NFL

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has grown to become a global icon. From his breakthrough as a WWE star which earned him his nickname, to his superstar status in Hollywood, The Rock has seen everything on his path to success. But his humble beginnings took root in the game of Football, as Johnson’s journey to stardom would start from the Gridiron. The Rock never let go of that passion for the sport, and took over the XFL in 2020 as a path for aspiring players to reach the NFL. 

Dwayne Johnson grew up with aspirations of being a football player, and making it to the NFL. But his dreams would go unfulfilled as the 250lb Defensive Tackle would go undrafted in the NFL. More than 3 decades since his draft night heartbreak, Johnson has made his way to the heart of the sport, as he expressed his gratitude to the NFL, often called the mecca of football. 

Dwayne Johnson shows major gratitude towards NFL 

2023 was a year of redemption for Dwayne Johnson. When the Hollywood star bought the XFL in 2020, the league was in the midst of an unprecedented crisis due to the pandemic. But after 3 years, America’s premier Spring Football league made a return to television in 2023, a major landmark for Johnson and the XFL. But a major part of the return of the league, was the unfiltered support from the NFL to help promote the Spring league. 

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Johnson took to Twitter to express his gratitude towards the NFL for their support. In fact, through the support of the $142 Billion league, over 75-100 top athletes at the XFL are now part of NFL camps in the buildup to training camp and the pre-season. While The Rock may not have been able to make his own football dreams come true, he has provided dozens of players the chance to prove themselves on the gridiron through the XFL, and this is just a testament to the XFL’s greatness. 

Everything is not as rosy as it seems in the XFL

While the XFL’s first season in its new setup was a raging success, not everything is as perfect for the league as it may seem. The XFL has broken many viewership and participation records, surpassing the numerous Spring leagues that have sprung up in the past. Even so, the league still failed to break even on their major investments into the league, losing millions of dollars in the process. 

In fact, the XFL reportedly suffered losses of up to $60 Million in its first season. The losses have led to the league making some difficult decisions after ending their season. But even after all these issues, Johnson isn’t going to step away from the responsibility of turning the potential of the XFL into a true offseason must-watch for football fans. As Johnson himself said, the XFL is the ‘league of opportunity’, and The Rock is going to take every step possible to make his dream work. 

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