Vince McMahon Could Sell WWE To UFC's Parent Company As Soon As Tomorrow At A $9 BILLION Valuation

Ethan Miller. Getty Images.

CNBC- Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment is in advanced talks to be sold to Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor Group, the parent company of UFC, according to people familiar with the matter.

A deal could be announced as soon as Monday. UFC and WWE are expected to form a new publicly traded company as part of the agreement, according to the people, who declined to be named due to the confidential nature of the discussions.

Endeavor is slated to own 51% of the new combat sports and entertainment company, while WWE shareholders would get 49%, according to the people. The Endeavor deal gives WWE an enterprise value of $9.3 billion, they said.

Emanuel is expected to act as chief executive of both Endeavor and the new company. McMahon, likewise, is expected to be executive chairman, while Endeavor President Mark Shapiro will also work in the same role at the new company. Dana White will remain as president of UFC, while WWE CEO Nick Khan will serve as president of the wrestling business.

Crazy news just hit social media via CNBC's Alex Sherman as WrestleMania's pre-show kicked off - Ari Emanuel's company Endeavor (which owns the UFC, WME-IMG, Zuffa, etc) is reportedly closing in on a deal to buy 51% of the WWE at a $9.3 billion evaluation.

Side note: am I using evaluation right there? I don't know what I'm talking about with big company sales terms. I do watch Shark Tank and they say that quite a bit, though.

UPDATE: turns out it's actually 'valuation' not 'evalution'. That's what I get for dropping out of community college to sign my Barstool contract.

For the first time in history, the WWE will no longer be a family business. 

Sure - Vince is expected to stay on board in some capacity, and I doubt anything changes for Triple H in creative…but it won't be their company anymore. Pretty wild! I honestly never thought I'd see the day.

I said I never thought I'd see Vince McMahon with a mustache, either, tho - and I was proven wrong twice this week….

I really don't know who or what this will affect yet, to be honest, but I'm just happy Vince didn't sell to the Saudi Arabian government. That would've just been really awkward to support. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'd still watch WrestleMania, but I'd feel less good about it.

There's already plenty of speculation on Twitter about whether or not this will impact the current "Premium Live Event" model on Peacock - possibly sending the big events back to pay-per-view - and I thought the Network shifting over to Peacock was bad, but that would be HORRRRIBLE. Please don't make me pay $79.95 for a WWE PPV in the year of our lord 2023.

Oh, and with the UFC under Endeavor's umbrella already, I wonder if this will open up more crossover between the brands. Imagine that? Dana White and Triple H doing pressers/promotion together? Some kinda mega-event with a UFC card on Saturday/WWE show on Sunday in the same city? More UFC fighters appearing on SmackDown and RAW?! More wrestlers stepping into the octagon trying to fight?!

Alright, maybe that last one isn't a great idea.

It's still wild to me that Stephanie McMahon isn't with the company anymore (while HHH has the most power he's ever had), and I still want to know more about what Succession-like drama went on behind-the-scenes there, but I doubt we'll hear the details about that for years. 

Anyway, WrestleMania Night 2 starts in a little over an hour, giving you plenty of time to read this preview blog to get ready!

Advertisement

Enjoy the show!