Skip to main content
Inside The Ropes
  • News

    WWE News

    AEW logo for their Dynamite TV show

    AEW News

    Japan News

    Wrestling News

  • Features
    Scott Steiner and his 'pet' tiger

    10 Iconic Pro Wrestling “Super Pets”

    Triple H entrance

    5 Changes We Want To See Triple H Make To WWE

    10 Former WWE Superstars We'd Like To See Return Under The Triple H Regime

    10 Former WWE Superstars We’d Like To See Return Under The Triple H Regime

    AEW Battle of the Belts

    How To Improve AEW Battle Of The Belts

  • Interviews
    20 Questions Killer Kelly

    20 Questions With Killer Kelly

    Rick Boogs

    Interview With Rick Boogs

    JONAH

    Interview With JONAH

    Rosemary Interview

    Interview With Rosemary

  • Podcasts
    Wrestling Roast #71 – Where Is MJF?

    Listen
    Power Slam Podcast #251 – Post SummerSlam RAW, Pat McAfee & More

    Listen
    What’s Going Down #85 – SummerSlam, Ric Flair & More

    Listen
    Wrestling Roast #70 – Tractors, Returns & Retirements

    Listen
  • Quizzes
    Play Word Rumble

    Play Word Rumble

    WWE logo

    Can You Name Every WWE Pay-per-view?

    WWE Survivor Series sole survivors quiz

    Can You Name All The WWE Survivor Series Sole Survivors?

    WWE Smackdown logo

    Can You Name Every Wrestler That Competed On The First SmackDown?

  • Live Tours
  • Shop
    Magazine
    Clothing
    Accessories
    Collectibles
  • Trending
  • Follow us:
    • Facebook Facebook
    • Twitter Twitter
    • Instagram Instagram
  • Watch us:
    • YouTube YouTube
    • Twitch Twitch
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
  • Play Word Rumble
WWE News

Will WWE Be Sold Now Vince McMahon Has Retired?

By James Holder. Published 27th July 2022.
Vince McMahon and Nick Khan

Following Vince McMahon’s retirement it has been suggested that WWE could be sold, but could it actually happen?

On July 22nd Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE. The news caught the wrestling world by surprise and sparked speculation that the company could be sold.

Now that McMahon has stepped down, he has been replaced by co-CEO’s Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie will also serve as Chairwoman.

Interestingly, in WWE’s annual report in 2021 the company listed McMahon’s potential departure as a risk factor and warned against the consequences of him leaving.

“The unexpected loss of the services of Vincent K. McMahon could adversely affect our ability to create popular characters and creative storylines or could otherwise adversely affect our operating results,”

“The loss of Mr. McMahon due to unexpected retirement, disability, death or other unexpected termination for any reason could have a material adverse effect on our ability to create popular characters and creative storylines or could otherwise adversely affect our operating results.”

This led many to believe that McMahon’s exit could be bad for shareholders. However, on Monday, July 25th, WWE’s stock price closed at it’s highest price since September 2019.

A report from CNBC noted that the rise was “driven by heightened investor sentiment that a sale is coming.”

Related

“Not Even For F**king Saudi Money” – nWo Original Shoots Down One More Match

WWE’s Nick Khan has previously stated that with regard to a hypothetical sale, that NBCUniversal could be the front runner. After all, the company owns the rights to Monday Night Raw, and Peacock which also comes under the same banner, owns exclusive streaming rights for the company.

The report from CNBC adds:

“There aren’t many entertainment companies with global scale that come up for sale with an easily digestible price tag for many potential suitors. WWE isn’t engaged in sale talks, according to a person familiar with the matter. But McMahon’s retirement may open the flood gates on offers that could be too good for the company to turn down. WWE, whose shares have climbed about 40% this year contrary to broader stock declines, has a market valuation of about $5 billion.”

While Citi analyst Jason Bazinet said in a note to clients, “We suspect the Street will interpret Mr. McMahon’s retirement as a precursor to an eventual sale of WWE. We’re not sure that is a reasonable conclusion since WWE will still be a controlled company with 100% of the Class B shares held by the McMahon family.”

WWE disclosed via a SEC filing on July 25th that they’ve made “a preliminary determination” regarding payments made by McMahon. The payments made between 2006 and 2022 totalling $14.6, should have been recorded as business expenses.

As a result, WWE will be reissuing financial statements for 2019, 2020, and 2021, as well as Q1 of 2022. They aim to republish these statements by Tuesday, 9 August, though “there is no assurance that it will be able to meet this deadline”.

McMahon is already under investigation regarding allegations that he paid a former employee $3 million in “hush money” after the pair had an affair. More allegations have since been made public, including claims that McMahon paid four women more than $12 million across 16 years as part of similar agreements.

  • Facebook
    Share
  • Twitter
    Tweet
  • WhatsApp
    Send
  • Share

Popular Stories

  1. Dexter Lumis Removed From Raw By Police
  2. Former WWE Superstar Details Wanting To Sleep With Paul Heyman
  3. “That’s Gonna Get Heat” – Ric Flair Makes Shocking New Admission
  4. WWE Hall of Famer Recalls Altercation With Stephanie McMahon After Smoking Weed With Snoop Dogg
  5. “Tony’s Struggling” – Dave Meltzer On Growing Gap Between AEW & WWE
  6. Mark Henry Reveals Why He Can’t Wrestle In AEW
  7. Bianca Belair Bravely Discusses Her Struggles With Mental Health
  8. Backstage Update On Kenny Omega & CM Punk Injuries
  9. Former WWE Diva Opens Up About Heat With Batista
  10. Chris Jericho Shows Off Injuries Following AEW Dynamite Main Event
Inside The Ropes
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
  • Write For Us
  • Facebook Facebook
  • Twitter Twitter
  • Instagram Instagram
  • YouTube YouTube
  • Twitch Twitch
© 2022 ITR Digital Media Limited. Read about our privacy policy.