WWE and UFC have successfully completed a monumental £17.3 billion merger and unveiled a new identity, TKO.
In this merger, UFC’s majority owner, Endeavour Group Holdings, assumes control with a 51% stake in the newly formed public trading entity, TKO Group Holdings, while WWE’s shareholders hold the remaining 49%.
Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavour, is at the helm of this transformative venture. Emanuel expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The creation of TKO marks an exciting new chapter for UFC and WWE as leaders in global sports and entertainment. With UFC and WWE under one roof, we will provide unrivaled experiences for more than a billion passionate fans worldwide.”
Notable leadership changes accompany this merger, with Dana White assuming the role of UFC’s new CEO, while Vince McMahon is appointed as TKO’s executive chairman.
TKO, in its official statement announcing the merger’s completion, declared, “TKO brings together UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and WWE, an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment, to create a new premium sports and entertainment company serving more than one billion young and diverse fans, reaching viewers in 180 countries, and producing more than 350 annual live events.”
McMahon, who returned to the WWE board in January after retiring in 2022 amid misconduct allegations, commented on this milestone: “This is the culmination of a decades-long partnership between Endeavor and WWE across strategic initiatives including talent representation and media rights. Given our collaborative, trusted relationship and Endeavor’s incredible track record of success growing UFC, we believe WWE is optimally positioned for future growth and success as part of TKO. Our focus remains on delivering for our fans across the globe as we take the business to the next level alongside UFC and Endeavor.”
WWE boasts a global presence and a dedicated fanbase, with impressive social media statistics, including over 16 billion social media video views in the final quarter of 2022. The company boasts nearly 94 million YouTube subscribers and an extensive following on TikTok, surpassing 20 million followers. Notably, five of its female wrestlers rank among the world’s top 15 most-followed female athletes on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, led by former UFC fighter Ronda Rousey, who commands a following of 36.1 million.
