UFC Set To Buy WWE

[justseyi]

 

Yesterday, coincidentally(?) the second day of WrestleMania, WWE’s largest event, CNBC claimed that Endeavor Group, the parent company of UFC, is close to a blockbuster deal to buy WWE and may announce an agreement shortly.

With an agreement, three prominent media figures—Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, UFC President Dana White, and WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon—would join forces and work for the same organization. Even Erik Spoelstra wouldn’t be able to contain all that ego in one workplace.

A deal would also spawn a combat sports entertainment behemoth. WWE would have an enterprise value of $9.3 billion in the acquisition, CNBC reported, a significant premium over its current market value of $6.79 billion. And UFC, the largest global mixed martial arts organization, would be valued at more than $12 billion.

So, how would this all shake out?

The plan is to combine WWE and UFC into one publicly traded firm.

• Emanuel, a Hollywood power broker, would remain CEO of Endeavor and also lead the new company.
• Dana White would stay president of UFC and WWE CEO Nick Khan will become president of the wrestling unit.

But McMahon emerges from this upcoming agreement looking like a savant on par with Logan Roy. With Endeavor acquiring 51% of the new business, Vince will profit from the modest wrestling promotion he acquired from his father in 1982 for $1 million and turned into a major force in the entertainment industry. For months, McMahon had been peddling WWE around. When he requested $9 billion for his business, people took notice. But when Endeavor descended from the top rope, he gave him everything he wanted and more.

There is controversy surrounding these big personalities

McMahon had temporarily retired in July following a scandal over hush money payments sent to women who accused him of sexual harassment and misconduct. White, meanwhile, was filmed slapping his wife on New Year’s Eve 2022 during an argument (he apologized for his behavior).

Bottom line: Many corporate mergers come labeled with imagined “synergies,” but a UFC–WWE tie-up might truly be a 1+1=3 scenario. WWE could piggyback off of UFC’s success in bringing in sponsorship revenue, and it’s also exploring legalizing betting on its matches in several states.

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