WWE has formally been bought by Endeavor in a massive deal that will witness WWE and UFC amalgamate into a publicly traded company costing about $21 billion. Endeavour came out as a favourite to purchase when the betting odds were released at the start of the year, with the Ari Emanuel-led group listed at +900.
The chances of WWE going private under Endeavor eventually went many to believe it could be an attractive buyer for McMahon, who last year was thrown out from WWE due to an investigation from its Board of Directors. In place of that, WWE will continue being a publicly traded company together with UFC to form a sports entertainment powerhouse.
McMahon will remain executive chairman of the board, while Emanuel will lead the company as CEO and Mark Shapiro will be President and COO “of both Endeavor and the new company,” according to the terms of the acquisition. Dana White and Nick Khan will maintain their roles as President of UFC and President of WWE.
These past six months, WWE has captivated fans through the Triple H Era. The new and imagined WWE turned to massive increases in ratings and more carefully acclaimed WWE programming. With Vince McMahon not long ago reinstated as Chairman of the Board, and now an employee of WWE, his full-time return to creative seems everything but a formality. McMahon was supposedly supervising backstage during WrestleMania weekend.
Vince McMahon Retires | July 22, 2022
At one time Vince McMahon’s tweets transmitted utter shock through social media platforms in a year with no shortage of them.
“At 77, time for me to retire. Thank you, WWE Universe. Then. Now. Forever. Together,” said the tweet.
To date, it was the most startling story of the year. But when 2022 went on to give out one blockbuster story after another, the title of “most shocking story of the year” turned bastardized. Vince McMahon’s retirement/resignation came at the time of sexual misconduct charges that resulted at an end to the supposedly not-destructible period of Vince McMahon.
Vince McMahon WWE Return Rumors | December 13, 2022
Vince McMahon showed interest in a WWE return less than five months after being compelled to resign. According to the report from Joe Palazzolo of the Wall Street Journal, Vince McMahon thought he got “bad advice” from those who suggested he back off.
McMahon’s comeback was more of a characteristic of the 77-year-old magnate than the radio silence from his camp all through the Triple H Era. While some thought McMahon left for good, it turns out he was planning his next move. McMahon was on his already on his way back to WWE alongwith someone else. Vince was flanked by former co-Presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson.
Vince McMahon Returns | January 5, 2023
Post issuing a letter to the WWE Board of Directors looking for reinstatement, Vince McMahon was awarded his wish. Three board seats were kept in favour of McMahon, Barrios and Wilson. Three additional board seats were vacated taking into account Stephanie McMahon. As per the company line, McMahon’s return was mere as an executive, in a limited capacity, to enable a WWE sale and/or television rights negotiation.
The Board had earlier unanimously voted against Vince McMahon coming back to the Board of Directors on December 27 due to new rumours and scandals involving McMahon that were yet to be made public. An eventual vote unanimously elected to bring back McMahon.
“WWE is entering a critical juncture in its history with the upcoming media rights negotiations coinciding with increased industry-wide demand for quality content and live events and with more companies seeking to own the intellectual property on their platforms,” said McMahon in a press release.
“The only way for WWE to fully capitalize on this opportunity is for me to return as Executive Chairman and support the management team in the negotiations for our media rights and to combine that with a review of strategic alternatives. My return will allow WWE, as well as any transaction counterparties, to engage in these processes knowing they will have the support of the controlling shareholder.”
