WWE

2023 - 4 - 2

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Endeavor and W.W.E. Said to Be Close to Deal Combining Fighting ... (The New York Times)

A union of Endeavor's U.F.C. combat league and World Wrestling Entertainment would increase the combined company's leverage in negotiations with content ...

The W.W.E. The U.F.C. The company is holding its WrestleMania event at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles this weekend, drawing long-running wrestling stars, including John Cena and Rey Mysterio. programming available on the Fox broadcasting network and NBCUniversal’s U.S.A. streams its matches on ESPN+, the streaming service operated by Disney’s sports division. The deal would be a coda to a tumultuous chapter in the career of W.W.E.’s executive chairman, Vince McMahon, who in January was reinstated in that role after announcing his retirement last year amid allegations of misconduct. league composing 51 percent of the business and W.W.E. currently streams WrestleMania, one of its signature events, on Peacock, the streaming service owned by Comcast. The combination would establish a behemoth in combat entertainment, both real and scripted. McMahon took over the company from his father and built it into a television and live-event juggernaut that draws millions of fans annually. Streaming services like YouTube TV are also paying top dollar for the rights to marquee sporting events, including N.F.L. at more than $9 billion, and U.F.C.

Endeavor Group Approaching Deal to Acquire WWE (Report) (Variety)

Endeavor Group Holdings is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

“The only way for WWE to fully capitalize on this opportunity is for me to return as Executive Chairman and support the management team in the negotiations for our media rights and to combine that with a review of strategic alternatives.” [WWE](https://variety.com/t/wwe/)) is nearing a deal to be acquired by [Endeavor Group](https://variety.com/t/endeavor-group/) Holdings Inc. Endeavor, the entertainment agency powerhouse led by Ari Emanuel, has a blueprint for incorporating the WWE into its assets. McMahon had exited his WWE leadership role last year amid investigations into sexual misconduct allegations, leaving his daughter, Stephanie McMahon, to take on offices as chairman and co-CEO alongside Nick Khan, who previously served as the company’s president. WWE shares have climbed 33% this year as speculation surrounding an acquisition has mounted. The two-day pay-per-view and streaming extravaganza concludes Sunday evening, with more than 80,000 fans in attendance in Los Angeles.

Endeavor nears deal to buy Vince McMahon's WWE (Reuters)

Endeavor Group Holdings Inc , the parent of the popular UFC mixed martial arts franchise, is in advanced talks to acquire World Wrestling Entertainment Inc ...

His daughter, Stephanie McMahon, resigned as the company's co-CEO and chair less than a week after her father [returned to the board](/lifestyle/sports/wwe-co-ceo-chairwoman-stephanie-mcmahon-steps-down-2023-01-11/). [Deals](/markets/deals/) In January, WWE said it would explore strategic options that could include a sale, shortly after Vince McMahon's return to the company. [Asian Markets](/markets/asia/) Emanuel has worked to transform Endeavor into a sports and entertainment powerhouse, making more than 20 acquisitions. Endeavor shareholders will own 51% of the combined company, while WWE shareholders would get 49%, the sources said.

WWE near deal to be sold to UFC parent Endeavor, sources say (CNBC)

WWE, which is controlled by Vince McMahon, has spent the past several months looking for a buyer.

[McMahon's father](https://www.wwe.com/superstars/vincemcmahon) founded WWE in its original incarnation during the middle of the 20th century, and McMahon is the controlling shareholder in the company. The elder McMahon recently locked in a [retired from the company](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/22/vince-mcmahon-retires-as-chief-of-wwe-amid-probes-into-alleged-misconduct.html) in July following a string of revelations that he paid several women millions of dollars over the years to keep them quiet about alleged affairs and misconduct. The company has spent the past several months looking for a buyer. McMahon has a brash public persona, making him an apparently good match for Emanuel and White, who are also known for their Last year, the MMA league helped Endeavor's sports business make $1.3 billion in revenue. Emanuel is expected to act as chief executive of both Endeavor and the new company. McMahon, likewise, is expected to be executive chairman, while Endeavor President Mark Shapiro will also work in the same role at the new company. Endeavor's market cap stood at about $10.53 billion as of Friday's close. The Endeavor deal gives WWE an enterprise value of $9.3 billion, they said. The development comes during the same weekend WWE hosts its flagship live event, WrestleMania, in California. A deal could be announced as soon as Monday.

WWE Merging with UFC in Sale to Endeavor (Hollywood Reporter)

The UFC owner is in talks to acquire the wrestling company after the January return of Vince McMahon to the sports entertainment powerhouse.

“He believes that he can unlock value for WWE in the same way he did for UFC, which he acquired ahead of their last renewal cycle, by negotiating rights deals and layering on significant sponsorship dollars.” Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel “has not been shy about his interest in WWE since the minute Vince McMahon retired from the company,” LightShed analysts Brandon Ross, Richard Greenfield and Mark Kelley wrote in a Jan. The board investigation into McMahon focused on allegations that he had sexual relationships with employees at the company and subsequently paid the women millions of dollars in severance packages, along with non-disclosure agreements. WWE superstars have also regularly moved over to film and TV, with some, like Dwayne Johnson (stage name “The Rock”) and John Cena finding mainstream appeal. In 2022, he retired from the company amid a misconduct investigation by the board of directors. [UFC](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/ufc/) to create a new standalone public company, with the Ari Emanuel-led firm holding a majority stake. The companies are in advanced talks, and a deal may be announced this week. Endeavor, the owner of mixed martial arts promoter UFC, talent mega-agency WME and other businesses like IMG and Professional Bull Riders, is a natural fit for the WWE. McMahon was succeeded as CEO by his daughter Stephanie McMahon, and Nick Khan, CAA’s former co-head of TV who joined the WWE as president in 2020. The company said in November that the investigation had concluded. [WWE](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/wwe/), and 70 years after his father entered the professional wrestling business, the McMahon family appears ready to give up control of their empire, closing in on a multibillion deal to sell the WWE to [Endeavor](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/endeavor/), The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Assuming the deal is completed, the expectation is that the WWE would be merged with Endeavor’s

WWE Close to Being Sold to Endeavor, Owners of UFC, Reports Say (Sportico.com)

Endeavor plans to combine WWE with UFC as a new publicly traded company, CNBC reported Sunday, in a deal that values WWE at $9.3 billion.

After building robust live events businesses, both UFC and WWE have cashed in on streaming brands’ demands for sports rights in recent years. WWE pulled in $1.29 billion in revenue last year. After resigning in June, former CEO Vince McMahon returned to the company in January as the board’s executive chairman while the company planned “to undertake a review of its strategic alternatives with the goal being to maximize value for all WWE shareholders.” Its stock has risen by roughly a third since then, with a market cap of $6.79 billion. While Endeavor doesn’t specifically break out UFC’s numbers, the whole segment reported $1.33 billion in revenue in 2022, up from $1.11 in 2021. The McMahon family’s ties to wrestling date back to the 1950s, when the Capitol Wrestling Corporation was produced. Initial reports indicate the deal values WWE at roughly $9.3 billion and UFC at roughly $12 billion.

UFC Owner Endeavor Nears Deal to Purchase WWE (Front Office Sports)

WWE and UFC would be combined into one publicly traded company controlled by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. · WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon is expected will ...

Still, a source with knowledge of the process told FOS that Endeavor had been the favorite for several weeks. UFC President Dana White has remained in charge after Endeavor purchased a controlling interest in the leading MMA promotion for $4 billion in 2018. The deal values WWE at $9.3 billion, according to CNBC. The plan is to combine WWE with UFC into one publicly traded company controlled by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. [Endeavor](https://frontofficesports.com/as-wwe-stock-soars-sale-speculation-gains-steam/) would own 51% of the combined WWE-UFC entity, with the rest going to WWE shareholders. [reported](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/02/wwe-ufc-endeavor-deal.html) on Sunday.

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