Dwayne Johnson, also known as ‘The Rock’, has secured the rights to 25 names and catchphrases as part of a deal with WWE’s parent company. Some of the names and catchphrases include ‘Rock Nation’ and ‘Candy Ass’. Dwayne Johnson Secures Ownership Rights to 25 Names and Catchphrases, Including ‘Rock Nation’ and ‘Candy Ass,’ Under Deal With WWE’s Parent
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the famous actor and entertainment mogul, has acquired the rights to a set of nicknames, and catchphrases that he made popular during his time as a WWE wrestler in the 90s and early 2000s. Some of these memorable phrases include “Candy Ass,” “Jabroni,” and “If you smell what The Rock is cooking.” The transfer of the intellectual property rights to these names and phrases occurred as part of a larger deal that allowed Johnson to join the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings. TKO Group Holdings is a company that was formed by Endeavor, which merged WWE and the UFC. With this acquisition of intellectual property rights, Johnson will have more control over the use of his famous phrases and nicknames in various contexts, including future business ventures and merchandise.
The rights were secured as part of his agreement to join the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings, the company formed by the merger of WWE and UFC. Here’s the impressive list of what he now controls:
“The Rock”, “Rocky Maivia”, “Team Corporate”, “Rock Nation”, “The Nation”, “Roody Poo”,
“Candy Ass”, “Jabroni”, “If you smell what The Rock is cooking”, “The Samoan Sensation”,
“The Blue Chipper”, “The Brahma Bull”, “The People’s Champion”, “The Great One”,
“Know Your Role and Shut Your Mouth”, “Team Bring It”, “The Rock Just Bring It”,
“The People’s Elbow”, “Rock Bottom”, “Finally, The Rock has come back to …”,
“It doesn’t matter what…”, “Blue Hell”, “The millions… (and millions)”,
“Rockpocalypse”, “Project Rock”
As per the terms of the TKO agreement, Dwayne Johnson, popularly known as “The Rock” in the WWE universe, has been granted complete ownership rights over all the associated logos and service marks that were used during his tenure as a WWE performer. Additionally, the agreement also includes the ownership of all his other recognizable attributes, such as his nicknames, caricatures, voice, signature, gestures, routines, costumes, accessories, and even crowns that were used in his performances. In essence, all the elements that were integral to his persona as the famous wrestler have now been officially transferred to him.
The recent agreement signed by Dwayne Johnson, commonly known as “The Rock,” states that the “Rock IP” does not include any photographic, audio, or audiovisual footage of Dwayne Johnson that is part of the copyrighted works of WWE. Moreover, it also does not include any photographs, audio, and/or audiovisual footage of Dwayne Johnson created by WWE in connection with his services under the terms of the Services Agreement.
According to the SEC filing for Johnson’s appointment to the TKO board, he received $30 million in TKO stock as part of a promotional services contract. The stock will vest in installments through the end of 2025. Additionally, Johnson received $491,000 in royalty payments from WWE in 2023, and he will continue to receive such annual royalties from WWE. As per the filing, he is entitled to receive royalties in connection with the sale of licensed products that utilize the Assigned IP and his name, likeness, and other intellectual property rights in accordance with the Services Agreement.
