Endeavor, the parent company of UFC, is in the final stages of purchasing WWE and plans to combine the two into a publicly traded company with an enterprise value of $9.3 billion.
UFC’s parent company, Endeavor Group, is in the final stages of acquiring WWE from Vince McMahon. The deal is expected to create one publicly traded company that would bring together two of the biggest pay-per-view giants. According to reports, an official announcement is expected soon, possibly as early as Monday. The move comes as WWE has been searching for a buyer for several months.
Under the terms of the deal, Endeavor would acquire a 51% stake in WWE, while the shareholders of WWE would control the remaining 49%. The deal would reportedly give WWE an enterprise value of $9.3 billion. Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel is set to oversee the newly-formed company, while Vince McMahon and Endeavor President Mark Shapiro will become executive chairmen. Current WWE CEO Nick Khan will serve as the president of the pro wrestling side of the business, while Dana White will continue as the UFC president.
McMahon, who was at the center of a sexual harassment and hush-money scandal last year, retired from WWE in July but returned in January as the company’s majority voting stockholder. He was able to force his way back onto the board of directors as executive chairman to oversee the sale of the company. This deal will restructure the company executives, and WWE will become part of a larger entity that includes UFC.
While an official announcement is yet to be made, this acquisition would be a significant development in the world of pay-per-view sports. Both the UFC and WWE have massive followings, and the merger would create a dominant force in the industry. It remains to be seen what impact this deal will have on the respective brands and their fans, but it could set the stage for some exciting developments in the coming months.