Samoa

UFC Owner Endeavor to Merge With WWE

APR 3 2023·Updated APR 4 2023

Story

Image credit: The Athletic

The Facts

Endeavor Group, owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), announced Monday it will merge with World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE), ending a months-long process headed by WWE co-founder and executive chairman Vince McMahon.
Reuters
McMahon will remain executive chairman of the new company, but Endeavor will own 51% of the business, meaning for the first time since the organization’s founding in 1953, the McMahon family will not control WWE.
The Athletic
The deal, expected to close in the second half of 2023, values WWE at $9.3B and UFC at $12.1B, with shares of both companies falling Monday morning.
CNBC
In an interview, McMahon said, "It's the right time to do the right thing.” He called the decision the "next evolution of WWE.” It’s estimated there are more than 700M UFC fans and 1.2B WWE fans worldwide.
The Associated Press
Mark Shapiro — current president and CEO of Endeavor — will take on the same position at the new sports company, and Dana White will remain president of the UFC. Meanwhile, WWE CEO Nick Khan will hold an identical position to White in the wrestling branch.
The Hollywood Reporter
McMahon, previously the majority shareholder in WWE, announced his intention to sell the company in January when he returned from a five-month leave of absence following a $17M investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.
Style

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This deal is a win-win and marks a triumphant return by McMahon, who rescued WWE from slightly rocky ground and made it part of the most significant sports-entertainment organization in the world. There’s no telling how far the WWE-Endeavor partnership may go.

Bloody Elbow

Narrative B

While the outcome of this merger remains to be seen, it's likely a poor decision: It opens the door to WWE changing drastically from its origins, offering fans a watered-down version of its product that reflects the new company behind it, rather than its authentic purpose. To its fanbase, this simply won't feel right.