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In one of the most significant sports mergers in recent years, the parent company of UFC, Endeavor, has purchased WWE for over $9 billion. The most surprising aspect of this sale was the lack of build or anticipation. It happened suddenly, and there were surprisingly few delays for a deal of such magnitude.
New Management Structure Of WWE
It seems like all parties to this deal were pleased with the outcome, and it’ll be fascinating to see what plans Dana White has for the UFC as he looks to bring the two organizations together and create some landmark crossover events. Vince McMahon will remain chairman of the WWE. Although he will no longer be the top shareholder or sole key decision maker, he is still believed to control the sporting colossus’s daily operations.
With a multi-billion-dollar organization like the UFC bringing in such significant revenue and WWE having such an established brand name, it’ll be interesting to see where both companies head following the merger. Vince McMahon will feel like he has hit the jackpot with this deal, and Dana White will feel the same.
It may be slightly out of your reach to make a multi-billion-dollar sporting acquisition to feel like you have hit the jackpot. However, you can sample some Ignition hot drops to get a taste of what hitting the jackpot feels like yourself. It’s a sensational gamble for UFC and Endeavor as they aim to expand during a period, and maybe we could see more WWE events taking place in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas, like many of the biggest UFC shows.
Crossover Fights
Combat sports and WWE are two vast and historic institutions that are no strangers to big names crossing the boundaries from both directions and trying their hand. Brock Lesnar is the most significant example of a WWE star that transitioned from WWE to UFC and competed at a high level of the sport.
We have also seen boxing superstars like Floyd Mayweather appear in WWE shows. Ultimately, it helps bolster the brand name and visibility of all parties involved, so it is a no-brainer. Although Dana White has quickly shut down any recent suggestion of this, the actions of Conor McGregor, the biggest name in the UFC, suggest otherwise. Dana has been known to keep his business decisions close to his chest and switch opinions occasionally.
The most prominent crossover event of all time was the gigantic megamoney exhibition bout between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. The Irishman recently expressed excitement about the UFC and WWE merger on social media. So it seems we could one day see him in the WWE too.
While the idea of “Notorious” Conor McGregor joining the WWE has been discussed for quite some time, it is much more likely to happen. McGregor has even taken it upon himself to call out several WWE wrestlers over the last few weeks.
You’d think that this is the direction Dana wants to push the Stamford, Connecticut-based organization in the long run. Although Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel will also be a key decision-maker, you’d expect Dana to drive this ship. He will be looking to implement significant changes to simultaneously have two big sports entertainment money spinners operating on full cylinders.
The Future Of WWE
Given the nature of this acquisition, it seems like UFC has kept the core, successful structure of the WWE in place. However, it can spell trouble whenever an acquisition occurs if the proprietor removes large sections of the co-existing successful hierarchy and comes in with their grand plans.
While Dana will undoubtedly have a vision to make WWE an even bigger profit spinner, given he has kept vital individuals within their roles at the higher end of the WWE shows that he is committed to maintaining a structure that works while bringing in some of his own ideas.
It’s doubtful that there will be any significant changes to the annual events that generate global interest, such as Wrestlemania. Any massive shake-ups would cause concern for the organization, so the fact that Dana, Ari, and Vince are reported to be forming a collective creative triumvirate at the zenith of the gigantic dynasty to ensure that both of them keep making the sort of profits that they have for the last decade.
Final Thoughts
Given that this new era has ushered itself in reasonably quietly and through the back channels, it doesn’t look as though there will be any seismic changes for now. Many analysts in both WWE and UFC believe it will be business as usual for both corporations.
This action plan might change if Conor McGregor announces an appearance in the WWE. Although, allegedly, talks of him lining up his next fight with Michael Chandler are underway.
However, with a business of his own to sell and one eye on the WWE, knowing what Conor will do next is more uncertain than what Dana plans to do with WWE. One thing that is guaranteed is that it will be exciting for all involved, and the future is looking bright for both organizations.
