The UFC-WWE merger could change both businesses financials
BY: JACOB POLITTE
Managing Editor
For over 50 years, the McMahon family ruled pro wrestling with an iron fist. Despite the challenges that they have faced… where WWE went, so did the rest of the industry through all of its low and high points. Vince McMahon’s brief exile in the summer and fall of 2022 over misconduct allegations did little to hamper the product or the company. If anything, it only made the company’s image and television improve; without McMahon seizing control over every single aspect of his company, it proved it was able to survive just fine without him.
WWE itself is in a boom period now. Business is at an all time high, merchandise sales are through the roof and for the first time in what feels like decades, the crowds are very into the product that they’re seeing on TV.
It makes sense that with everything happening, that Vince McMahon would do the unthinkable and sell the company he spent decades building. He had other more personal motivations, but discussing those are for another piece some other time. Truthfully, regardless of that, there may never have been a better time to sell. After a 3-month hunt for a buyer, eventually they found one. Endeavor also owns the UFC, and decided to buy WWE in April and merge the two companies into one unholy combat sports juggernaut. That merger was completed on Sept. 12, and the effects were felt immediately after with many office employees and even some on-screen WWE talent losing their jobs.
WWE was acquired for $9 billion, an impressive number that would have been unthinkable even 5 years ago. Combined with UFC’s net worth, TKO Group Holdings (the name of the merged company), has an estimated worth of around $20 billion dollars.
With that being said, UFC and Endeavor have had problems in the past when it comes to appropriately paying their fighters, with several fighters both in and out of the company speaking out on the issue. And with WWE largely ceding financial control to Endeavor, it’s worth noting that several WWE performers’ contracts are coming up within the next year, and many of the performers negotiating new contracts are being reported to have been low-balled on new offers. One legendary wrestler, Adam Copeland, has even seemingly left the promotion over it, signing with a major competitor.
The fact of the matter is this. This is a $20 billion company. There is no reason to low-ball any performer, whether they’re a fake fighter or a real fighter. Now that they’re under the same umbrella, any sort of significant disparity between the two sends a bad message. But the goal should not be to underpay anyone. Fighters should be paid better, and wrestlers should not be paid less just because of the pre-determined nature of their own fights.
