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Sometimes it feels like the world of wrestling can move a million miles an hour. With so many storylines and so much talent, it can feel impossible to keep track of. This has been true recently, even with the behind-the-scenes aspects of wrestling, as there have been some major changes and deals that are likely to change the world of wrestling forever.
Understanding what these changes mean and why they matter is important whether you are a wrestling fan or not because these impacts are going to reach from your favorite Canadian betting sites to the biggest networks in sports television. The landscape of wrestling is changing; let’s look at what is happening and what it means.
Legalized Betting
Sports betting has become all the rage in recent years as it continues to be legalized across the country. Now, it appears that the WWE is looking to go all-in on betting, as they are reportedly in the process of working with regulators to approve betting on major WWE events. Betting on scripted events is a legal gray area, but the WWE is in the process of ironing this out to enable bettors to wager on their events. If this can be worked out, viewership will likely surge, and fans will be able to place bets on all the biggest wrestling events.
Massive Sale
The biggest news in the world of wrestling is the purchase of the WWE. The deal has been struck by Vince McMahon to sell the WWE at a valuation of $9.3 billion. What is interesting about this deal isn’t just that the WWE was sold; it is who it was sold to. Endeavor, the parent company of the UFC, made this purchase and, by the end of 2023, will have a 51% stake in the WWE. This will merge the WWE and the UFC into a single parent company that now dominates the combat sports market. It is an exciting change that opens the door to a world of possibilities for professional wrestling.
Streaming Changes
One of the biggest changes is where WWE will be streamed. There has been no official word as of right now, but what is clear is that the WWE’s broadcast deals with Fox and NBC Universal are set to expire in 2024. The UFC’s ESPN streaming deal will expire in 2026. The two brands might join forces and negotiate a joint deal with new streamers for a huge paycheck. While we don’t know who the new streamer would be, there are many deep-pocketed companies like Amazon or Disney that would love to get in on the combat sports craze and own the streaming rights for both the UFC and WWE.
New Untapped Wrestling Talent
The world of wrestling might get a lot bigger with these changes. Endeavor is a huge business that doesn’t just own the UFC but also is a sports and acting agency. They represent athletes across sports as well as numerous Hollywood superstars. This might mean that there are set to be a lot more surprise appearances from famous athletes and actors/actresses in WWE events. There will no longer be static from Dana White about UFC fighters appearing in WWE shows, so these combat athletes can easily moonlight in wrestling showdowns. Endeavor now has a lot of talent in one place, and this could benefit wrestling fans.
Get to Know the Name Ari Emanuel
If there’s one person that is the face of these changes, it is Ari Emanuel. Ari Emanuel is the founder of Endeavor and one of the biggest names in Hollywood after launching the Endeavor agency. He has now firmly established himself in sports as well, with his ownership of both the UFC and WWE. Emanuel is known as a power broker and dealmaker, someone with excellent business savvy. He has the talent and the connections to do a lot for wrestling, and he will certainly leverage his huge network and Hollywood friendships to help make the WWE an even bigger spectacle than it already is.
Leaders Remain in Charge
For fans of the WWE worried that this purchase will spell the end of the road for the McMahon family that created this dynasty, don’t worry. Emanuel has already said that Vince McMahon will remain in control of the WWE. He has also said that Dana White will remain in control of the UFC. Emanuel will take the approach of letting the people who’ve built these businesses retain their control. Emanuel has said that both promotions will have autonomy and day-to-day control over their brands. He says if there is disagreement, he will trust the opinion of White or McMahon over his own. So fans of both sports can be excited that their leaders will remain at the driving wheel.
