In a conversational exchange with Patrick Bet David recently, Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock”, spoke about his early contract renegotiations with WWE, revealing that he requested million from the organization’s CEO, Vince McMahon.
The Rock shared that this figure was double what fellow wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was earning at the time.
Here are key excerpts from the interview:
His ties with Vince McMahon: “Vince and my relationship flourished due to my readiness to toil for every dollar. Our relationship was all about hard work, the willingness to fully commit to the work. My profound respect for the pro wrestling business, something that’s deeply significant to Vince, was a cornerstone of our bond . I’ve seen the wrestling business from up close – my grandfather wrestled for Vince’s father in the ’70s, my dad for Vince in the ’80s. So, my perspective was one of deep reverence and respect. Once I became The Rock and things started looking upward, Vince and I conversed about ‘what’s next?’. I suggested taking the wrestling crown somewhere it’s never been.”
About his initial WWE contract: “My first contract with WWE, signed with Vince, was a five-year agreement offering 0,000 per year. Considering I had to foot the bill for everything from accommodation, food, to commuting, the sum wasn’t grand. But it was still a good start, given I came from a place where I had just seven bucks to my name.”
Details of his first renegotiation: “Three years into the contract, as The Rock gained momentum, we decided to renegotiate. Unlike other wrestlers who employed agents, I chose to keep it direct. Vince revealed that the top earning member was ‘Stone Cold Steve Austin’, making a million dollars. Based on my projection of out-earning Austin, I proposed for a two million guarantee. Vince then introduced me to the inner workings of the wrestling business, asking me to learn about the costs, overheads etc. A couple of weeks later, I went back to Vince, thanked him for the experience and agreed to match Austin’s million dollar deal. Vince predicted that I would profit about million within a year, owing partly to the booming wrestling scene around 1999-2000.”