The XFL Is Back And Eyeing A 2023 Launch
Andrew Patterson The XFL has hired a new president and a number of executive team members ahead of its next relaunch in 2023.
Vince McMahon has had some pretty wacky ideas. It makes you wonder what the stuff that doesn't make it to TV might be like. One of his wilder ideas, especially when it comes to those that have manifested outside of the WWE bubble, is the XFL. A football league with a different ruleset to the NFL that was supposed to offer up an alternative to regular old football.
The XFL Is Back Again
Despite McMahon trying and failing to make something of the XFL on two separate occasions, the cursed football league is preparing to make a comeback yet again. The league, which is now co-owned by The Rock, has hired a new president and eight executives.
RELATED: The Rock Has Toyed With The Idea Of Actually Playing In The XFL
The new president is Russ Brandon who worked with the Buffalo Bills for more than two decades, so brings plenty of experience to the table. More on Brandon and the other eight executives signed to lead the XFL charge can be found via a press release issued earlier this week. The release also reveals the plan is for the XFL to return in 2023.
2001 - 2020 - 2023
McMahon first tried to make something of the XFL in 2001. Despite the hype surrounding its launch, the league folded after just one season. The WWE chairman lost millions on the venture, which is why it came as quite a shock when McMahon revealed he was having another crack at it. Despite putting more thought into the project and toning everything down, the pandemic hit just a few weeks in, forcing McMahon to throw in the towel for a second time.
McMahon sold the XFL shortly after that, and The Rock stepped up. Not alone, though. The XFL is also owned by Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital. While Rock is mentioned in the press release, it doesn't feature any quotes from the former WWE Superstar. Rock is pretty busy with about a thousand other things away from the XFL, so it won't come as much of a surprise if he remains in the background on the project.