Felix Upton on April 15, 2023
WWE is in the hands of a new majority owner, but Vince McMahon is still around. This brought up a very interesting discussion when Endeavor decided not to replace Vince McMahon, but it turns out that it was not Vince’s idea.
While speaking to Lightshed Partners, AEW CEO Nick Khan was asked about the WWE merger with UFC. He spoke about the process and how clean the whole things was.
Nick Khan also made a note to say that Vince McMahon was asked by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel to stay around WWE. It was not something that Mr. McMahon demanded as part of the deal.
“Look, it was exactly that, it was a fulsome process, there was a robust response. It was a clean process, multiple offers. At the end of the day, I think that for our shareholders, the Endeavor flywheel, international sales and sponsorships marketing, subsidies for live events, live event programming. All of those things mattered where the final conversation between Vince and myself was, ‘okay, we could do all these things ourselves, but it would be ten years,’ and then Endeavor would be ten years better and at point Vince would be 87-years-old. Specifically, Ari asked Vince to stay on as the executive chairman. It was not an ask from Vince.”
Nick Khan made it very clear that Vince McMahon was asked by Ari Emanuel to stay on with WWE. It was not the other way around. Either way, Endeavor could have also been one of the one suitors who wanted to keep Vince McMahon in control, so that’s something to possibly think about as well.
WWE and UFC will continue operating as two separate entities under one roof. They might be traded as one TKO stock soon enough, but Vince McMahon will keep his expertise on the pro wrestling side of things.
What’s your take on WWE’s merger with the UFC? Do you think it will change things dramatically? Sound off in the comments!
Transcription by Ringside News
April 15, 2023 12:00 pm
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