WWE is the ultimate destination for pro wrestling fans all over the world. It started as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation in 1953 as part of the Northern Wrestling Alliance (NWA). The promotion eventually left NWA to become the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1963. The promotion returned to the NWA to be renamed the World Wrestling Federation. In 2002, the promotion became known as World Wrestling Entertainment and was owned and operated by former CEO Vince McMahon.
On April 3, 2023, it was announced that WWE will be sold to the owner of UFC, Endeavor Group Holdings. The merger was supposed to combine the MMA giants and the sports entertainment juggernauts to form a global sports and entertainment company.
Today, @Endeavor announced it has signed an agreement to form a $21+ billion global live sports and entertainment company made up of @UFC and @WWE. https://t.co/lPrkBmKJXm pic.twitter.com/ZBk95c5exU
— Endeavor (@Endeavor) April 3, 2023
Following his retirement from WWE in 2022, due to multiple allegations, Vince McMahon returned in January 2023 to become the Executive Chairman. He reportedly returned to oversee the sale and will remain as the Executive Chairman. The Endeavor Group will own the majority shares as the new venture will be spearheaded by its CEO, Ari Emanuel.
WWE-Endeavour deal and the structure
The deal went through for $21 billion, as announced by Vince McMahon. The deal, which has been in place for a while, will see the merger of UFC and WWE, with the two promotions forming TKO Group Holdings. The deal valued UFC at $12.1 billion and WWE at $9.3 billion.
The deal also saw the sports entertainment juggernaut at a share price of $103. It is considered to be one of the most valuable deals in the history of combat sports and will pit the two companies, who have primarily been against each other, into a force to be reckoned with.
BREAKING: Endeavor is finalizing a deal to buy WWE, according to @sherman4949.
Endeavor will then combine WWE and the UFC into one publicly traded company.
Shares of WWE are up 33% this year, and the deal gives WWE an enterprise value of more than $9 billion. pic.twitter.com/kjSt3v9qtf
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) April 2, 2023
The Endeavor deal for WWE will also see some changes in roles within the companies. Ari Emanuel will serve as the CEO of both promotions. Meanwhile, Mark Shapiro, President of the American Holding Company, will serve as the Executive Chairman of the MMA giants while Vince McMahon will serve as the Executive Chairman of the sports entertainment behemoths.
Alongside all this, Dana White will remain the President of UFC, practically in charge of the day-to-day proceedings of the company, while Nick Khan will serve as the CEO of WWE. Triple H will be in charge of the creative side of the company as the Chief Content Officer. “The Game” has been running the proceedings of the company since McMahon retired last year.