Endeavor to merge WWE, UFC

[Bob Jersey]

https://sportssd.iheart.com/content/2023-04-03-endeavor-officially-announces-wwe-purchase-ufc-merger/ (link)

B

[Kevin M.]

All the steroids under one roof 

On Mon, Apr 3, 2023 at 6:57 AM 'Bob Jersey' via TVorNotTV <tvor...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

https://sportssd.iheart.com/content/2023-04-03-endeavor-officially-announces-wwe-purchase-ufc-merger/ (link)

B

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tvornottv+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/db8537cf-ded4-4dec-a0a8-1423ba73b9b1n%40googlegroups.com.

--

Kevin M. (RPCV)

[M-D November]

The timing is certainly interesting. The deal, for which rumors had been floating around this weekend, was announced this morning, the day after Wrestlemania, which - for storylines, anyway - is largely considered to be like a 'season finale'; the "Raw" after 'Mania is typically treated as a reset - new storylines start, NXT call-ups make their debut, and the build to the next 'Mania starts all over again. It'll be interesting to see how news of the deal breaking affects locker room/backstage morale and, ultimately, what we see on TV.

One potential upside is that the deal appears to allow WWE to continue operating much as it has been, similar to how UFC functions under Endeavor; Nick Khan remains President, and (presumably) Paul "HHH" Levesque remains in charge of talent & creative. What remains to be seen is how the sale will affect WWE's clearances with NBCUni & Fox, particularly w/r/t "premium live events" (nee PPV, like 'Mania) airing on Peacock for no upcharge vs. UFC's $80-90 upcharge ON TOP OF an ESPN+ subscription. (If Endeavor follows the UFC model, they're going to lose a big chunk of WWE's PPV audience; that audience has had access for $9.99/mo (when WWE Network was its own OTT service), then $5.99/mo with ads under Peacock - you can't then say the same level of access is going to cost upwards of $100/mo - especially in this economy.

One definite upside of the Endeavor sale is that it means the rumors of WWE selling to the Saudis were just that.  Had that deal come to pass, a number of high-profile talents (including the new Undisputed Tag Team Champions, Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens) would likely have walked away from the company, and it would have prevented others (Bryan Danielson?) from returning at some point.

M-D

Have a nice day!

[Tom Wolper]

I’m looking for a good business analysis of this story. The details are so strange, with McMahon being forced into retirement following sexual harassment and financial misdeeds. Then he forced 3 members off of the board and brought in 3 allies who reinstated him. The sports business media at the time said it was to prepare WWE for a sale, implying that McMahon would get the deal together and cash out. But in the Endeavor takeover he’s running WWE again. Doesn’t anybody have an ethical problem with this?

The current reporting comes from press releases and friendly interviews and makes it sound like the harassment and payoffs were no big deal.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/59e04dc9-806b-4c76-889b-da29d5f7803en%40googlegroups.com.

[M-D November]

I haven't seen an objective report on the sale itself, but the dirt sheets are reporting that McMahon exerted more AUTHORITAH on Monday night than he has since he was ousted last summer (effectively producing Monday Night Raw, a task Levesque has handled very well), and morale backstage has taken an absolute nosedive.  The talent, in particular, had a lot of faith in HHH (he's one of them, he gets the business without being stuck in its old carny ways, he can read the room and deliver for the fans way better than McMahon), and if he's being minimized or pushed out in favor of McMahon taking creative back, it's likely that several performers will ask for their release. It's also potentially terrible news for the NXT developmental brand, which McMahon had tried to reshape to fit his image of the industry, and HHH & Shawn Michaels have been slowly working to fix since September.

The only parties who stand to benefit from McMahon having any day-to-day control of the newly acquired WWE are their competitors - and there ARE competitors now:

AEW (Tony Khan & his dad's money)

Impact Wrestling (Anthem?)

The NWA (Billy "Smashing Pumpkins" Corgan

New Japan Pro Wrestling (which has strategic partnerships with AEW & Impact)

[Tom Wolper]

McMahon has repeatedly proven himself toxic, first through steroids and then through abandoning former wrestlers with severe health problems, and now sexual harassment of employees. This was a chance for Endeavor to announce a new, less problematic, leadership and they chose the toxic guy instead.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/820b4a8b-d7aa-4961-b42a-6c9515b82c19n%40googlegroups.com.