After weeks of speculation, on April 3rd it was announced that WWE has reached an agreement with UFC’s parent company Endeavor regarding a huge multibillion-dollar merger.
The deal will see the creation of a new publicly listed company that will be 51% owned by Endeavor and 49% owned by WWE. A press release stated that the merger is worth a staggering $21 billion, and Ariel Emanuel will serve as CEO with Vince McMahon as Executive Chairman.
Speaking during an interview with CNBC about the deal, McMahon was asked about his involvement in creative going forward. The billionaire admitted that he would be involved in the future. When questioned, McMahon said the answer was both yes and no, adding “On a higher level, yes. In the weeds, no. Can’t do that.”
Since McMahon returned to WWE in January 2023, both the Executive Chairman and WWE have repeatedly stated that he hasn’t been involved in creative, with Triple H calling the shots.
The news comes just hours after Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Title. In the immediate aftermath of the bout, there was a huge amount of speculation that McMahon was involved in the decision to have Rhodes lose the much-hyped WrestleMania main event. However, this has been denied by sources within WWE.
What Was Vince McMahon’s Message To WWE Employees?
In a message sent to employees, Vince McMahon expressed his excitement at the “historic alliance.”
“I’m excited to announce that WWE has entered into a partnership with Endeavor to create a one-of-a-kind company that will bring together two global sports and entertainment powerhouses: WWE and UFC.
The historic alliance of these two formidable institutions has the potential to unlock vast growth opportunities for both organizations and generate an optimal outcome for our employees, shareholders, fans, and other stakeholders.
We are huge admirers of the work Endeavor has done to grow the UFC brand, and they will be the perfect partner to help supercharge our growth at WWE.”
Vince McMahon initially retired from WWE in July 2022 surrounded by allegations of sexual misconduct.