Vince McMahon, the executive chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), is reportedly seeking USD9bn to sell the fight operation, Bloomberg has reported. A USD9bn valuation would represent a multiple of 23 on the WWE’s operating income.
Parties being linked with a potential acquisition include media companies like Disney, Comcast and Netflix, sports marketing giant the Endeavor Group, and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund.
A sale to Endeavor would put the world’s two biggest fight promotions under one roof. The US company already owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It acquired a 50.1-per-cent stake in the UFC’s parent company Zuffa in 2016 and completed the acquisition in 2021.
McMahon returned to the board in January after having stepped away from the business last year following allegations of sexual misconduct.