Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson teased big announcements this week for his incarnation of the XFL, and the first one, a TV deal, has been revealed.
The league has reached a five-year agreement with Disney and ESPN to broadcast XFL games. The deal covers all 43 games each season, along with “game day content, tentpole events & more.” ESPN, ABC and FX will all be involved in bringing games to fans.
We're making it official! We've formed a multi-year agreement w/ @WaltDisneyCo & @ESPN, who will have exclusive broadcast rights for all 2023–2027 game day content, tentpole events & more.
Each season's 43 games will be aired & streamed across ABC, ESPN, and FX. #DisneyUpfront22
— XFL (@XFL2023) May 17, 2022
“This is a definitive moment for the XFL and the beginning of an incredible, long-term partnership for the league, building on my longstanding, very successful legacy relationship I’ve had with Disney throughout my career,” Johnson said in a statement. “We’re excited to be working with global visionaries that are aligned with the XFL’s values, are true team players and share our ambitious goals to grow the XFL as a global sports and entertainment business. Through the combined power of Disney, ESPN and the XFL, together we will create a new powerhouse on the sports calendar and bring a dynamic game of football to fans everywhere. Time to ball out.”
Johnson and co-owner (and Johnson’s ex-wife) Dany Garcia are hoping the third time is the charm for the XFL, which has deep pro wrestling connections dating back to its first iteration in 2001. The league at that time was a joint venture between the then-WWF and NBC, and while it flamed out after a single season, Vince McMahon never gave up on the idea of a startup football league.
McMahon gave it another go in 2020, but the XFL had the misfortune of running during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and folded after just five weeks. Johnson, Garcia and their financial backers stepped in and purchased the XFL later that summer, with a 2023 launch planned.
In the interim, the USFL has returned, so the spring football landscape could be a crowded one for the next few years. That said, a TV deal is the first big step toward proving Johnson’s XFL is viable, and the former University of Miami defensive lineman and WWE icon is off to a good start in making the league something that will be around for more than a year this time around.