Is WWE now part of UFC? Who are new owners of the wrestling franchise?
The WWE owned by Vince McMahon is to be acquired by the parent company of the UFC, The Endeavor Group
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Dana White and Vince McMahon's companies speculated to crossover (Image Sources - Wrestling News/ TheSun)
The WWE also known as World Wrestling Entertainment has gained an immense level of popularity over the decades. WWE, owned by Vince McMahon has been of the highest-rated television shows in the United States. A show where eccentric personalities put up a scripted but engaging wrestling performance. In an almost similar vein, the UFC a.k.a Ultimate Fighting Championship has distinctive fighters from all around the world stationed in a closed cage for a mixed martial arts fight. Both companies are worth over a billion dollars.
Recently, sources say that Vince McMahon’s company World Wrestling Entertainment is in talks to be sold to the parent company of the UFC, Endeavor Group, owned by American businessman and CEO, Ari Emanuel. This deal would combine the UFC and WWE into one publicly traded company and Emanuel is set to operate as chief executive of both Endeavor and the new public trade. McMahon is to be the executive chairman, and the president of Endeavor, Mark Shapiro will work along the same lines, and Dana White remains president of the UFC. The Endeavor Group is speculated to own WWE alongside UFC which opens up possibilities for an alliance.
According to a recent report published by CNBC, “Endeavor is slated to own 51% of the new combat sports and entertainment company, while WWE shareholders would get 49%, according to the people. The Endeavor deal gives WWE an enterprise value of $9.3 billion.” Acquiring the UFC was a huge success for Endeavor as it has been disclosed that the UFC generated $1.3 billion in revenue for the parent company. Upon taking this decision, obtaining the WWE would seem to be the right decision by The Endeavor Group.
Related: Vince McMahon vs. Dana White Net Worth – Who is richer?
Will UFC and WWE do crossover events?
As the recent reports suggest, The Endeavor Group is set to acquire Vince McMahon‘s billion-dollar company, WWE a.k.a World Wrestling Entertainment. This deal is set to happen after the recent WrestleMania 39 event at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The potential cross-over possibilities have fans excited as it would provide an electrifying stage of events.
The WWE and UFC crossing paths isn’t anything new as there have been instances where WWE wrestlers and UFC fighters have crossed over into each other’s domains. Back in 2008, former WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar signed with the UFC and found major success and gained immense popularity throughout his career. Similarly, Ronda Rousey, an MMA fighter signed with the UFC had made a triumphant entry into the WWE ring. Despite being individual cases and not the entirety of the company itself, these precedents have set a standard for alignment for both companies.
CNBC reporting Endeavor – parent company of UFC – is going to purchase the WWE (or 51% of it). Big question is what this turns Endeavor into long term, but it will have a potentially massive effect on WWE and UFC.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) April 2, 2023
Inside Endeavor, WWE and UFC will form a new publicly-traded… pic.twitter.com/kPTNNCCygn
Accumulating similar audiences, a crossover between both media conglomerates will have fans excited. The chances of WWE stars entering the octagon and vice versa would bring a lot of excitement for combat sports and also attract a large number of new faces.
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Prateek Athanur
(2944 Articles Published)