WWE Officially Sold; Live Fallout, Reactions & Latest News

Following on from our discussion regarding potential partners for Cody Rhodes during tonight’s historic episode of WWE Raw, Martin has written in with his views on how the angle might go about.

“Someone who also has some history with the bloodline could team up with Cody and eventually lead to Cody pinning Reigns and then there could be another title match issued for down the road.”

I could see this happening, Roman and The Bloodline have beaten a lot of people over the past almost 1000 days. One name I didn’t mention in the early post is the possibility that Cody will team with his greatest rival since returning to the WWE in the form of Seth Rollins.

Seth has a victory over Roman Reigns (via DQ) at the 2022 Royal Rumble that was never actioned, what if Cody calls on his rival to help get even and that leads to a possible three way match between Reigns, Rhodes and Rollins at WWE’s Backlash PLE in Puerto Rico?

Let me know what you think and if you want your comments featured like Martin or Bruce, use the get involved feature at the top of the screen!

Social media has entered a frenzy following the leaked information revealing that on tonight’s episode of Raw, Cody Rhodes will be teaming with a mystery partner to take on Solo Sikola & Roma Reigns.

Here are our thoughts on some of your guesses so far!

“Wouldn’t it be interesting if Cody’s tag team partner tonight was his brother could we see a Goldust return this evening” –  Bruce, via ‘Get involved’

Goldust would be a major shock, although he isn’t the big name star that his brother is, his contract status with AEW would make it a moment to remember. However, unless Tony Khan is getting something in return I don’t see this one happening tonight.

“Matt Cardona will be joined by Cody Rhodes’s tag team” – @Kentayvon121

Matt Cardona is another of the most common names creeping up following this news. A Fightful report earlier in the day had a segment confirmed showing Cody Rhodes ‘making a call’, so the partner will need to be someone worth teasing and with a link to Cody of which Cardona fits. Cardona recently said the time is not right for him to return to the WWE, which if previous wrestlers are anything to go off means it will be him tonight but it would be a massive position to put him into, a main event with Roman Reigns. I would like this one, it give it like a 50% chance of happening.

“It’s obviously Randy Orton” – @Ym672Bel

Randy Orton is the most sensible pick, in the manner that he is an established name, has been out for almost a year and massive history with Cody and The Bloodline. However, although reports have circulated that he was in Los Angeles for WrestleMania weekend, reports also stated he would prefer a WrestleMania return over a Raw return and that he is not yet in a position to compete in ring yet as he continues to recover from his back issues. If all the information reported over the last week is true, it simply cannot be Randy Orton.

Who do you think it is? Use the ‘Get Involved’ feature at the top of the page and let us know!

Sheamus added another banger to his recent string of bangers, after bangers, after bangers, when he clashed with Drew McIntyre and WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther at WrestleMania 39.

In a match that many are calling match of the night, Gunther successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship in a brutal match that pushed competitors to their very limit.

‘The Celtic Warrior’ has now taken to Twitter show off the brutal aftermath of the clash, showing off his bruised and battered chest alongside best friend Drew McIntyre.

Aftermath.. still wanna smash his stupid face in 🇮🇪⚔️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚔️🇦🇹 #BangerMania💥 pic.twitter.com/ai7ZZXyg1T

— Sheamus (@WWESheamus) April 3, 2023

The news surrounding tonight’s historic episode of Monday Night Raw continues to unfold as Fightful Select is now reporting that Bad Bunny is set for Raw.

This likely ties in with WRKD Wrestling’s report that the LWO [Formerly Legado Del Fantasmo] will be joined by a special guest with Bad Bunny likely that guest as WWE look to build to the Backlash PLE in Puerto Rico next month.

During WrestleMania 39 Bad Bunny prevented Dominik Mysterio and Judgement Day cheating during Dominik’s clash with his father WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio.

Do you think the LWO’s special guest will be Bad Bunny or do you think WWE has something else up their sleeve? Let us know using the ‘Get Involved’ feature at the top of the page.

WWE has taken to Twitter to keep the WrestleMania 39 hype going!

WWE is currently live updating a thread containing previously unseen photos from behind-the-scenes at WrestleMania 39.

The thread includes an incredible close up of Finn Balor’s Demon body paint, Beth Pheonix backstage with Edge and Bianca Belair preparing for her incredible entrance.

Behind the scenes at #WrestleMania Sunday ❤️‍🔥

A thread… pic.twitter.com/HXtfbjZAVN

— WWE UK (@WWEUK) April 3, 2023

You can check the twitter thread out in full, here.

UFC President Dana White has commented on the news that WWE and UFC have now merged following the sale of WWE to UFC parent company Endeavour.

Zuffa LLC sold a controlling share of the UFC for $4 billion back in 2016 and since then UFC has seen a massive rise in revenue and viewership numbers internationally.

White would praise UFC’s growth under Endeavour over the past six years before going on to state that the acquisition of the WWE will help ensure there is no limit to what this company can ensure.

“This company has been on fire for the last seven years and now that we will be adding WWE to the portfolio, I am excited to take this to another level.

Vince is a savage in the wrestling space, Ari is a beast at what he does, and then add what we at UFC bring to the table and there is no limit to what this company can accomplish in the next five years. “

You can read more about the WWE x UFC merger, here.

WrestleMania 39 is being dubbed by the WWE as ‘the most successful WrestleMania of all-time’ after breaking multiple records in less than 24 hours.

Triple H took to Twitter to share come of the incredible records broken by WrestleMania 39, including:

• The largest audience in WrestleMania history.
• Record sponsorship revenue of $20m, double the WrestleMania 38 earnings.
• Record gate earnings with $21.6m.
• All time record for merchandise sales, up 20% from WrestleMania 38.
• Most social WrestleMania ever with 500m + views.

What did you think of WrestleMania 39? Let us know using the ‘Get Involved’ function at the top of the page.

We asked you over on Twitter if you were; excited, concerned or not bothered about the WWE sale.

The overwhelming response is that fans are ‘concerned’ particularly surrounding Vince McMahon’s ‘higher’ role in the WWE creative process.

Here are some of the most popular responses:

“Very concerning now that Vince is back at creative” – @Nin10doGod

“Little bit concerned, especially the fact that Vince is back in creative and how it influenced WM. At the same time excited for tonight’s RAW after Mania, we might have a hint where is WWE heading.” – @PoetAnderson182

“I’m concerned by PLEs potentially being ridiculously overpriced” – @oajmatt16

Are you concerned by the WWE sale? Let us now using the ‘Get Involved’ feature at the top of the page.

The WWE sale is set to make a handful of people a very pretty penny and at the top of that list is the current WWE President Nick Khan.

Khan, alongside Paul Levesque and WWE Chief Financial Officer Frank Riddick III, is set to earn a mammoth bonus following the successful sale of the WWE.

Item 5.02 of WWE’s sale filing notes that  Nick Khan is set to earn a monster $15,000,000 as a WWE sales bonus, with Paul Levesque and Frank Riddick III both set to earn an equally mammoth $5,000,000.

“For Messrs. Khan and Levesque, the amount of their Bonuses is equal to $15,000,000 and $5,000,000, respectively, with 100% of such amount payable as soon as practicable following the closing date of a Qualifying Sale Transaction, subject to their continuous employment through the closing date(except as otherwise noted below).

For Mr. Riddick, the amount of his Bonus is equal to $5,000,000, with 60% of such amount payable as soon as practicable following the closing date of a Qualifying Sale Transaction and 40% of such amount payable as soon as practicable following the six-month anniversary of the closing date of a Qualifying Sale Transaction, subject to his continuous employment through each such date (except as otherwise noted below).”

You can read more about the WWE sale, here.

NJPW Announcer Chris Charlton has taken to Twitter to compare former WWE owner Vince McMahon to iconic Marvel character J Jonah Jameson, following the billionaires appearance on CNBC.

Charlton, best known for his in-depth play by play commentary for NJPW, would reference J Jonah Jameson’s iconic meme/catchphrase while quote tweeting a photo of Vince McMahon on CNBC complete with his new ‘creepy’ moustache.

But all Vince really wanted was pictures of Spider-Man, dammit. https://t.co/XjlsnssqhG

— chris charlton (@reasonjp) April 3, 2023

Former WWE star Aiden English has reacted to today’s breaking news, regarding WWE’s Endeavour takeover, by jokingly calling for the company to bring back one of it’s most infamous spin offs… the ICOPRO!

Back in 1991, Vince McMahon launched the World Bodybuilding Federation just before scandal erupted regarding steroids in the WWF.

The WBF hosted PPV events in Atlantic City attempting to merge bodybuilding with sports entertainment and naturally…it did not succeed.

1992 following Vince McMahon’s abrupt ban of steroids in the WBF, WWF would launch a new bodybuilding supplement ‘ICOPRO’.

Over 30 years late, following the sale of the WWE to Endeavor, former Tag Team Champion Aiden English has called, in jest, for WWE’s new owners to bring back the iconic supplement!

…bring back ICO PRO

— Matthew Rehwoldt (@DramaKingMatt) April 3, 2023

Is the WBF and ICOPRO Vince McMahon’s greatest failed project? Let us know using the ‘Get Involved’ function at the top of the page.

We have asked you guys over on Twitter what your initial reactions are to news of the WWE sale.

Throughout this afternoon we will be showcasing some of those answers, do you agree or disagree with these comments? Let us know using the ‘Get Involved’ feature at the top of the page.

“It’s not Saudi. So that’s a relief of some sort I guess. Guessing within the next year the WWE we knew before today will look insanely different. Be incredible to see where the business is in 12 months now” – @Ryan_Gooner97

Writing on Twitter, one user has expressed relief that the Saudi Arabian Investment fund is not taking of the WWE and that they expect WWE will look ‘insanely’ different within 12 months.

Relief regarding the SAIF’s lack of involvement in this feature is a common answer of on Twitter with people less concerned now with the WWE sale than they were at the start of 2023 with the SAIF were reported as the most likely buyers.

Vince McMahon has formally commented on the WWE’s sale and future aims in this new merger with Endeavor.

“Given the incredible work that Ari and Endeavor have done to grow the UFC brand – nearly doubling its revenue over the past seven years – and the immense success we’ve already had in partnering with their team on a number of ventures, I believe that this is without a doubt the best outcome for our shareholders and other stakeholders.”

Although Vince McMahon is excited for the long term benefits Ari and Andeavor will bring to the WWE financially, in the immediate pre-market WWE’s stock prices were down 6% with Endeavor’s prices remaining unchanged.