Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson knows a thing or two when it comes to selling a project or product with his name attached to it.
And over the weekend, the Hollywood leading man and XFL co-owner put his top-notch salesmanship and passion for football on display when he took to the field before the first game of the new 2023 season between the Vegas Vipers and Arlington Renegades.
‘When they told you that the dream was over, but here’s the truth your dream is just beginning,’ the star, 50 – who recently met Adele at the Grammy Awards – said in an ESPN broadcast, while addressing the players from the middle of Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday.
After a roar from fans, The Rock continued on with his speech, which was like something out of one of his blockbuster movies: ‘Because what you’re going to do, you’re going to come out on this field and you’re going to line up and you’re going to show the world what it’s like to be truly hungry with that chip on your shoulder.’
The former WWE champion wrestler, who aspired to play professional football but went undrafted in the 1995 NFL Draft after his college career, then confessed to having a chip on his shoulder.
Impassioned: XFL co-owner Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, 50, gave a passionate speech when he helped kick off the new 2023 season ahead of the game between the Vegas Vipers and Arlington Renegades in Arlington, Texas on Saturday
‘I know because I’ve got that same chip and we’re here because the X of the XFL represents the intersection of dreams and opportunities. You bring the dreams, we brought the opportunity. Now let’s get to the game that we all love and why we’re here today.’
Johnson wound down the speech, adding, ‘So I say this to all the players, to all the coaches, and most of all to all the fans.’
At this point he raised his level of his enthusiasm and eventually the loudness of his voice, ‘We say this with great gratitude and humility, and an insane level of excitement, I declare these words as we kicks off our season: XFL let’s ball out baby,’ which garnered a far far louder roar from the crowd.
Afterwards, the Arlington Renegades used their defense to carry them to the opening season win, beating Vegas 22-20, behind two interception returns for touchdowns, according to Fox.
The original XFL started as a joint venture in 2001 between the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and NBC spearheaded by Vince McMahon and NBC executive Dick Ebersol.
Initially, the league tried to compete with the National Football League (NFL), but in the end it lasted only one single season.
The XFL would ultimately make its return in 2020, with eight teams competing over a 10-game season, only to see the COVID-19 pandemic derail any momentum it could gain, resulting in the season ending after only five weeks of play, and filing for bankruptcy in April of that year.
That’s where Johnson comes into play, using his clout as a recognizable superstar, and teaming with his longtime business partner and ex-wife Dany Garcia to lead a consortium that purchased the XFL for $15 million in August 2020.
Speech: The Hollywood leading man put his salesmanship and passion for football on display during his season opener speech, which got a few roars from the crowd
Dream big: ‘When they told you that the dream was over, but here’s the truth your dream is just beginning,’ the Gridiron Gang star, 50, said in an ESPN broadcast, while addressing the players
Selling it: After a roar from fans, The Rock continued: ‘Because what you’re going to do, you’re going to come out on this field and you’re going to line up and you’re going to show the world what it’s like to be truly hungry with that chip on your shoulder’
Sporty: He sported a white football jersey with the number 54 along with a pair of shades
Working the crowd: Johnson teamed up with his longtime business partner and ex-wife Dany Garcia to lead a consortium that purchased the XFL for $15 million in August 2020
Let the games begin: ‘We say this with great gratitude and humility, and an insane level of excitement, I declare these words as we kicks off our season: XFL let’s ball out baby!’
Along with Arlington and Vegas, there are six other teams including DC Defenders, Seattle Sea Dragons, St. Louis BattleHawks, Houston Roughnecks, Orlando Guardians and San Antonio Brahmas.
With the season kicking off the week after theSuper Bowl, the XFL has incorporated some different rules compared to the NFL, including a 35 second play clock and in the event of a tie, overtime will be decided by a three-round shootout of two-point conversions similar to a penalty shootout in soccer or ice hockey.
The Rock played college football at the University of Miami and was a member of the 1991 national championship team, but he largely spent his four years in backup roles behind elite players.
After going undrafted by the NFL in 1995, Johnson signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). But he ended up being cut from the team during his first season.
By falling short on the gridiron, Johnson became The Rock of professional wrestling, which then led him to a career as an action star in movies, and now one of the biggest stars in the business.
Passion for football: Johnson (pictured in 1994) had dreams of playing professional football after his college career at the University Of Miami (1991-1995), but went undrafted in the 1995 NFL Draft; he signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), but ended up being cut from the team during his first season.
