"Ballers" became real life on Monday as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson bought the XFL, according to Sportico.
The former WWE superstar, who played Spencer Strasmore, a financial manager for NFL players on the popular HBO show, teamed up with Gerry Cardinale’s private equity investment firm RedBird Capital to buy the league for $15 million.
BREAKING NEWS: @TheRock is the new part-owner of the XFL.
— Sportico (@Sportico) August 3, 2020
Read more: https://t.co/2KzxOEUTVz pic.twitter.com/x3u2Q8q9Ik
From Sportico:
"Johnson, an actor and producer who played college football at the University of Miami, teamed up with Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital to buy the league just hours before a planned auction was scheduled to begin.
They paid $15 million, splitting it evenly. Johnson’s business partner, Dany Garcia, who is also his ex-wife, will be an equal stakeholder with him."
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While "Ballers" ended in 2019 after five seasons, everyone is ready for Johnson to give them Season 6 with the XFL.
Ballers is real life now.
— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) August 3, 2020
The Rock bought the XFL.
Gotta be able to weave this into his Ballers script. https://t.co/y6Qu9VXdJv
— Vic Lombardiᴰʳ (@VicLombardi) August 3, 2020
A real life episode of “Ballers.” Cool. https://t.co/8i2jI10dnP
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) August 3, 2020
So... “Ballers” was actually a documentary? @TheRock @JayGlazer https://t.co/geGSjIbnOO
— Greg Tompsett (@GregTompsett) August 3, 2020
Ballers season 6 @TheRock ??? pic.twitter.com/mWO84yr28Z
— BOTA Sports (@BOTAsports) August 3, 2020
This season of Ballers is already off the rails https://t.co/KbvXeTOaC8
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) August 3, 2020
Johnson already had a connection to the XFL, as he cut promos for the original league.
This is going to be fun.