On April 3rd, it was announced that WWE had been purchased by Endeavor and would be merging with UFC.
Talk of a sale has been rampant ever since Vince McMahon announced in early January that he’d be returning to the Board of Directors to help facilitate a sale despite having retired in July amidst an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and hush money payments.
A press release revealed the news, stating that UFC and WWE would be merging into a new $21+ billion entity. Endeavor head Ari Emanuel will serve as CEO while Vince McMahon will be Executive Chairman of the Board of the new company. UFC President Dana White will continue in his role, and former WWE CEO Nick Khan will now serve as president of WWE.
While McMahon has confirmed that he will be involved in creative operations at a “higher level,” Triple H retains ultimate creative control as Chief Content Officer.
Triple H Says WWE Will Be “Business As Usual” Following UFC Merger
According to a new report from PWInsider Elite, WWE held a meeting for its staff and talent following the news that they’d been acquired by Endeavor. Nick Khan and WWE CFO Frank Riddick reportedly led the meeting in person while Triple H attended by phone. Chief Human Resources Officer Suzette Ramirez-Carr also took part in the meeting.
The report states that Nick Khan opened the meeting by reading an email from Vince McMahon, who was not present. It was made clear that the Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve the transaction with Endeavor over the weekend.
Riddick stated that the deal has been signed, and that it is expected to officially close by the end of 2023 if not before. The company is currently preparing its SEC and regulatory filings.
The report then details Triple H’s involvement in the meeting, stating that he thanked all of the employees in attendance for their dedication and passion that led to this merger being possible. He also praised Endeavor, saying that when the company acquired UFC, very little changed in terms of day-to-day operations and the same was expected for WWE as they are not expected to get involved in creative operations.
The Chief Content Officer said he couldn’t be more excited about the acquisition, saying it’s an incredibly positive move for everyone involved. He insisted that it would be “business as usual” going forward.
Nick Khan thanked Triple H for his involvement in the meeting and also thanked Executive Producer Kevin Dunn, who was not present. According to Khan, the company is putting together a transition team to aid with Endeavor taking over.
In closing, Khan reportedly made a joke about Vince McMahon’s heavily-discussed new mustache. PWInsider notes that it was seen as a “rah rah” spiel, framing the change as a positive one all around.
News of WWE’s acquisition broke just one day following WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, CA. The blockbuster event saw Roman Reigns retain his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship when he defeated Cody Rhodes in the main event, a move that’s been heavily criticized by fans. However, Triple H insists the story will continue.