This has been an exciting month for WWE and its fans. After what is said to be the biggest deal in sports entertainment history, the UFC and WWE merged to form a brand new entity called TKO. Moving forward, both entities will function individually but could have crossover events. If this wasn’t enough as icing on the cake, Dwayne The Rock Johnson returned after four years to a massive pop on SmackDown. Things were going great with Vince McMahon back in the driver’s seat. However, all that glitters is not gold.
Following the merger, several events occurred backstage in the company, with many employees losing their jobs. Despite the billion-dollar merger, neither employees nor veteran superstars were safe. This is a quick round-up of all that transpired in the WWE post-merger.
Is Vince McMahon getting fired?
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Unfortunately, the merger celebration was cut short as 100 employees were fired from the WWE just days after the big news. Following this, 17 superstars from the main roster were also released from the company. A meeting was held at the WWE HQ between Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, Triple H, Kevin Dunn, Brad Blum, and Ari Emanuel.
This was to discuss the state of affairs at the WWE. However, things went South as soon as Vince McMahon was introduced. Many claim the company made huge profits during Mr. McMahon’s absence since the summer of 2022 and his return was not that positively received by the talents.
Now, news is coming out that Vince McMahon could be fired from the WWE. This could be over the recent layoffs and delegated to handling TKO, with Triple H looking over the WWE. With reports from PWInsider claiming that he’s playing up his heel demeanor in the WWE for a massive exit from the WWE. No confirmations yet. There is also trouble brewing for McMahon due to the investigation over his misconduct allegations which could lead to TKO distancing itself from McMahon and possibly relieve him of his role.
The unexpected release of Dolph Ziggler and 18 other talents
Following the layoff of around 100 employees in a single day, several WWE stars, recruiters, and trainers also saw the axe. The complete list of names include:
- Mustafa Ali
- Dolph Ziggler
- Tenille Dashwood
- Riddick Moss
- Aliyah
- Elias
- Top Dolla
- Shelton Benjamin
- Quincy Elliott
- Dana Brooke
- Mace and Mansoor of Maximum Male Models
- Dabba Kato
- Yulisa Leon
- Shanky
WWE Performance Center recruiter Bryson Montana, Daniel McArthur, Kevin Ventura-Cortez, and Alexis Gray were also released.
Some of the stars mentioned above took to social media to announce their release. Some took the time to reveal things previously unknown to the fans. This was a disheartening day for WWE fans, with the likes of The Rock sharing his thoughts on the matter. Many stars had ongoing feuds with some upcoming title matches that needed to be canceled.
TKO’s first big move is a $1.4 billion deal
From day one, TKO is proving to be a massive entity in the sports entertainment industry. Days after its launch, the brand has signed on a five-year domestic media rights partnership with NBC’s USA Network worth $1.4 billion. This deal is strictly for the WWE program, as the USA Network will be airing SmackDown from October 2024.
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With the UFC valued at $12.1 billion and the WWE at $9.3 billion, the total valuation of TKO is at $21.4 billion. This is not a small valuation, and with the $1.4 billion deal, Triple H and Nick Khan can expect some massive bonuses coming their way. With SmackDown moving to the same network as RAW, the primary question that remains is, will Monday Night RAW still air on Mondays?
The future of Monday Night RAW
As mentioned before, from October 2024, the USA Network will be broadcasting SmackDown. However, according to the Hollywood Reporter, no news is known about RAW or NXT. There is confirmation that both will not air on the USA Network. The Hollywood Reporter also stated that the market is open and active for the WWE programming. Even streaming services are ready to make an offer. Monday Night RAW is iconic, and shifting RAW out of Monday could result in a drop in ratings. There is a highly unlikely chance this would happen.
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According to reports, RAW will stay on the USA Network until next year, following which it will find a new home. There could be an offer from Amazon or Disney as well for a Monday night slot. Nothing is known at the moment about the future of RAW.
Watch This Story: After $214 Billion Merger, WWE Is Reportedly Shelling Out Big Money to Feature Cristiano Ronaldo at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia.
