The WWE/Endeavor merger is expected to be finalized this week with this week’s WWE show’s being the last under the sole ownership of Vince McMahon.
Vince McMahon was himself the son of a wrestling promoter, and in the 1970s he began working as a ringside announcer for his father’s business, Capitol Wrestling Corporation (later known as the World Wrestling Federation [WWF; 1979–2002] and World Wrestling Entertainment [WWE; 2002– ]). In 1982 he bought the company for $1 million dollars and McMahon went on to transform the sport, from “pro wrassling” to “sports entertainment” displaying the brash ambition and innate promotional ability that would become his trademark. He created a unique blend of sports and entertainment, incorporating rock music, celebrities, and outrageously scripted matches, and in the process he molded wrestlers into child-friendly stars. Outside the ring he lured performers away from rival companies and broke the long-standing regionalism of wrestling organizations as he took his eastern-based business national. Although McMahon made many enemies, his bold changes revolutionized the sport and moved it into the mainstream. WWF cable shows and live events were hits, and by the mid-1980s the company was the leading wrestling group.
Now in 2023 Endeavor is set to acquire WWE at a valuation of $9.3 billion. The deal will see Endeavor create a new, publicly traded company that will run both UFC and WWE.
Endeavor/UFC would take a 51% ownership stake with WWE shareholders retaining 49% of the new company.
WWE executive chairman and long-time owner Vince McMahon, the largest current shareholder of WWE, will remain chairman of the WWE portion of the new company sitting only behind Endeavor founder and CEO Ari Emanuel.
WWE CEO Nick Khan is expected to remain president of wrestling operations, while Dana White will continue to over UFC as its president.
The WWE/Endeavor merger is expected to make significant changes on the day-to-day operations of WWE mainly on the business side which fans will not see.
On the creative side as we previously reported (read below) Endeavor will want to cross-brand WWE/UFC stars and big names to make more main stream attractions.
Big names such as Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor are expected to make appearances on both WWE and UFC especially on big events.
Endeavor will also have a hand in the direction WWE creative heads in especially when it comes to mature content and children’s content.
Vince McMahon will still have final say on the WWE side and certain hand picked WWE Superstars such as Roman Reigns, The Bloodline, Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley and The Judgment Day are all under Vince McMahon’s protection.
These superstars get their creative direction directly from Vince McMahon and when title switch hands regarding these Superstars is Vince McMahon’s call.
It’s a new era in WWE and this new frontier will lead the WWE Universe into another saga. Stay tuned to SW for the latest updates.
