TKO President Mark Shapiro has nothing but praise for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and the role he continues to play behind the scenes as part of the company’s board of directors.
Speaking with Yahoo Finance, Shapiro opened up about Johnson’s impact on TKO since joining the board in January 2024 and made it clear that The Rock has exceeded expectations internally.
“He’s everything and more. I mean, he really is.”
Shapiro also praised Johnson’s responsiveness and work ethic, saying The Rock stays constantly involved despite juggling countless business and entertainment projects outside WWE.
“And also he gets back to you like that. Not just because he’s on the board, that’s who he is. I’m not sure he sleeps.”
The TKO executive continued listing the many different worlds Johnson operates in simultaneously, from entertainment and sports to business ownership.
“He’s an investor, he’s an entrepreneur, he’s an actor. He’s one of the biggest stars in the history of WWE. He’s an owner in the UFL.”
Shapiro also pointed to Johnson’s personality and connection with audiences as one of the biggest strengths he brings to the company.
“He’s just a magnetic personality, and he’s kind of what you see is what you get.”
According to Shapiro, The Rock’s ability to genuinely connect with fans remains one of the biggest reasons he continues to thrive both inside and outside WWE.
“He truly cares about his audience in a very real, personal, and meaningful way.”
Johnson remains one of the most influential figures attached to WWE and TKO despite only making sporadic appearances on WWE programming over the past year.
The Rock last appeared during WWE Elimination Chamber in 2025, where he played a major role in launching John Cena’s shocking heel turn heading into WrestleMania season.
Outside the wrestling world, Johnson was also recently recognized by Forbes as one of the “Greatest Self-Made Americans,” adding another accomplishment to his already massive resume. Even without being on WWE television regularly, comments from Shapiro show that The Rock continues carrying major influence inside TKO at the executive level as well.
What do you think about The Rock’s role within TKO behind the scenes? Let us know your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.
