Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson's plans to resuscitate the XFL have been put on hold.
Emily Caron and Scott Soshnick of Sportico reported Wednesday the XFL has temporarily postponed its plans to return in 2022. Johnson and partner Dany Garcia have instead entered into “exploratory talks” with the Canadian Football League (CFL) regarding a possible partnership.
Though the specifics of a potential deal are unknown, XFL president and CEO Jeffrey Pollack hinted at commonalities between the two organizations:
“It’s clear through our early conversations that we share a passion for football, an expansive sense of possibility, and a deep desire to create more opportunity for players and fans across North America and around the world,” Pollack said in a statement, via Sportico. “Blending the CFL’s rich heritage with our fresh thinking, and the unique reach and experience of our ownership, could be transformative for the game.”
Johnson and Garcia spearheaded the group that purchased the XFL from WWE mogul Vince McMahon's Alpha Entertainment company. The XFL then launched a trailer — featuring The Rock — announcing the league's impending return in 2022:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ai5RJDYUzw
However, the future plans are somewhat unclear, especially in light of recent CFL negotiations.
The CFL was another league hit hard by COVID-19 over the course of the last year, canceling its 2020 season. Although the CFL currently has plans to conduct a 2021 season, it remains to be seen whether there will be significant limitations or cutbacks on attendance.
Perhaps financial losses sustained in both leagues could open doors to a new partnership. It certainly appears XFL and CFL leadership are pursuing various avenues.
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