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Dwayne Johnson is ‘The Rock’ — gets legal rights to his synonymous nickname

Actor gets rights as part of a struck a deal to join the board of WWE/UFC organization
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FILE - Actor and former WWE Superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson participates in a Wrestlemania XXVII press conference at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square on Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2011 in New York. It is a name that has become almost synonymous with professional wrestling but its bearer, Dwayne Johnson, has never legally owned “The Rock.” That will change under a new agreement with the WWE under whichJohnson will also join the board of TKO Group, the sports and entertainment company that houses WWE and UFC.(AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

It is a name that has become almost synonymous with professional wrestling but its bearer, Dwayne Johnson, has never legally owned “The Rock.”

That will change under a new agreement with the WWE under which Johnson will also join the board of TKO Group, the sports and entertainment company that houses WWE and UFC.

“The Rock” is a name is derived from Johnson’s father, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, who was the first Black champion in WWE history (alongside partner Tony Atlas), according the WWE.

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