Vince McMahon Prohibited PBR From Being Part Of TKO’s WWE & UFC Merger

TKO Group Holdings held their second-quarter 2024 earnings call today, sharing many positive updates. They have a plan to introduce a festival atmosphere to future events, and they are experiencing a revenue boom. However, it is important to note that Endeavor did not include all of their owned entities in this report.

Endeavor owns Professional Bull Riders (PBR) in addition to UFC and WWE. Vince McMahon wanted no association with PBR when setting up the WWE merger, so the company was kept separate.

During today’s earnings call, it was confirmed that PBR was never considered for inclusion in TKO when it was created, as Vince McMahon insisted the merger include only UFC and WWE. This decision is why the deal focused solely on UFC and WWE.

PBR is a profitable entity, hosting The World Finals, the most lucrative bull riding event in the sport. The event includes a $1 million bonus for the PBR World Champion. In 2024, the event will offer a record-setting $3.13 million in prize money, over $400,000 more than the 2023 PBR World Finals. This shows that the company is highly profitable, with significant prize money on the line. However, PBR operates in dirt-filled arenas, separate from WWE and UFC’s operations.

The merger between WWE and UFC has been beneficial for all parties involved, despite the initial layoffs due to redundancies in the workforce. WWE has since moved into its new headquarters and is thriving in a booming period of the company’s history. Meanwhile, bull riding continues to generate significant revenue for Endeavor, albeit independently.

What’s your take on Endeavor keeping bull riding separate from the UFC and WWE deal? Do you think that was the best decision? Share your thoughts in the comments section!