UFC and WWE announce merger creating $21B company April 3 (UPI) -- The UFC and WWE will merge, creating a new $21B sports and entertainment company. it was announced today. Endeavor, UFC's parent company will continue to be run by its CEO Ari Emanuel, who will also run the combined company. Endeavor will have a 51% controlling interest in while WWE's shareholders will own 49% of the new company. "This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed," said Emanuel in a joint press release. "For decades, Vince and his team have demonstrated an incredible track record of innovation and shareholder value creation, and we are confident that Endeavor can deliver significant additional value for shareholders by bringing UFC and WWE together." The new executive team will be comprised of Vince McMahon, WWE's owner who will become executive chairman of the combined company and Endeavor President and COO Mark Shapiro will retain his roles. UFC president Dana White will remain president and WWE CEO Nick Khan's new title will be president of the wrestling business. "Together, we will be a $21-plus billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity," McMahon said in a statement announcing the merger. "The new company will be well-positioned to maximize the value of our combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster our strong stable of brands." In an Instagram post, White extolled the virtues of both brands. "This company has been on fire for the last seven years and now that we will be adding WWE to the portfolio I'm excited to take this to another level." https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_N...527908/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
The only sports entity that has any business joining forces with the WWE is the Harlem Globetrotters.
Big fight fan. I think it's a little weird for any pro sports league to be so closely affiliated with a sports entertainment entity but it's probably good business. Ari Emanuel is fucking brilliant. If this was Dana White's idea then I'd think it was a bad one but the people at Endeavor only let Dana make bad decisions with tens of millions of dollars not tens of billions.
It's a good career for fighters to transition into or do part time for big money. It's a very old idea because Frank Shamrock was a huge star in both organizations a couple of decades ago. I don't follow wrestling but I listen to Ariel Helwani a lot and he is a big fan of pro wrestling so I kind of hear what's going on in it while listening to the best journalist in MMA.
I was trying to refer to Ken but yeah Frank is Ken's brother and both were UFC champions but only Ken was a WWE star.