Former WWE star Dwayne ‘The Rock Johnson’ has purchased the XFL but what is the XFL and how is it different from the NFL?
The XFL is a professional American football league, established in 2001. It was set up by WWE CEO Vince McMahon and NBC executive Dick Ebersol in joint venture between the then WWF and NBC. It folded after a single season and McMahon himself termed the venture a “colossal failure”.
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That however, didn’t stop him from relaunching the league in 2020; although he had spoken about reviving the XFL all the way back in the 2017 ESPN 30 for 30 documentary This Was the XFL. McMahon admitted that changes would need to be made and he did so; making it more grounded in traditional ways yet different enough to set it apart from the NFL.
McMahon’s second attempt to fill a football void in the months following the Super Bowl altered several traditional rules. this was done in hopes of doing better than previous winter and spring leagues. Here is a rundown of all the differences between the XFL and the NFL.
What is the XFL and how is it different from the NFL?
Marketed as a faster and safer alternative to the NFL, the XFL has a continuous clock that won’t stop for incomplete passes or plays that go out of bounds except in the final two minutes of each half. It has a 25-second play clock that begins after the ball is spotted for the next play. The NFL has a 40-second play clock.
The XFL has 2 timeouts per half, one less than the NFL. It also has a 10 minute halftime which is also 2 minutes shorter.
There are no extra points after touchdowns. The teams can instead try for one, two or three points by running a play from the 2-, 5- or 10-yard line, respectively. Two forward passes can also be thrown on each play. This can be done as long as the first throw is behind the line of scrimmage.
Some other rules include One-foot-inbounds catches and encouraging kick and punt returns by limiting the rush of players downfield and bringing punts that roll out of bounds inside the 20-yard line out to the 35.
Another attempt to shorten the game is not allowing coaches to challenge an official’s ruling. All plays are subject to review by the replay official. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, overtime will be similar to penalty-kick shootouts in soccer.
Dwayne ‘The Rock Johnson’ purchases the XFL
Vince McMahon’s attempts to revive the XFL ended in failure once again. Alpha Entertainment, a private company founded by WWE (WWE) chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, filed for bankruptcy after ceasing operations as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The first edition failed due to their extravagance and over reliance on several sports’ entertainment gimmicks. Their second coming however, was supposed to be their grand return set in more traditional ways. Unfortunately, they would come crashing down once again. This time however, it was down to bad timing.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, has purchased the bankrupt XFL football league for $15 million. The purchase was made along with Dany Garcia, his business partner and ex-wife; and the investment firm RedBird Capital Partners. pending bankruptcy court approval.
With my trail blazing partner @DanyGarciaCo & Red Bird Capital, we have acquired the XFL.
With gratitude & passion I’ve built a career with my own two hands and will apply these callouses to our @xfl2020 brand.
Excited to create something special for the fans! #XFL #fullcircle pic.twitter.com/LprJ6HjglD— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) August 3, 2020
“The acquisition of the XFL with my talented partners, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale, is an investment for me that’s rooted deeply in two things – my passion for the game and my desire to always take care of the fans,” Johnson said in a press release. “With pride and gratitude for all that I’ve built with my own two hands, I plan to apply these callouses to the XFL, and look forward to creating something special for the players, fans, and everyone involved for the love of football.”
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