WWE and UFC fans received a major shock in the month of April this year. Several reports started to appear in the media, revealing that the WWE and UFC were going to join hands. A lot of WWE and UFC fans have hard feelings towards each other as well, which made these reports pretty hard to believe. However, the credibility of the sources indicated that something related to a merger between the WWE and UFC was definitely going on.
Fast forwarding the situation to 12 September 2023 will allow us to learn that the reports were absolutely spot on. Recently, the top authorities of the UFC and WWE appeared at the New York Stock Exchange to officialize the new organization, ‘TKO Group Holdings’ formed by their merger. However, ESPN, reported that the UFC boss Dana White will have to accept a major change in his position.
Which new role will Dana White be taking on after the UFC-WWE merger?
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A number of reports also stated that the WWE and UFC authorities cordially went through the bell-ringing ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. This also marked the entry of their collectively formed company, ‘TKO Group Holdings’ into the NYSE market. The UFC’s official broadcasting partner, ESPN, put up a number of facts related to the outcomes of the officialization of this coveted merger.
Meet TKO Group Holdings, Inc. a premium sports, entertainment, and media company made up of @ufc and @WWE.
Join us in celebrating its listing of $TKO 🔔 pic.twitter.com/ZWEmyWGUCq
— NYSE 🏛 (@NYSE) September 12, 2023
However, most UFC fans might be drawn to learn about the change in position that the promotion’s former President, Dana White, has been subjected to. ‘ESPN’ employee Marc Raimondi reported, “Dana White, the former UFC president, will now have the title of UFC CEO”.
While most fans might have varying opinions about how the UFC might do with White as the CEO now, only time holds the actual answer to this million-dollar question. The ‘ESPN’ report also detailed a number of points about the power structure in TKO Group holdings.
Is Vince McMahon also a part of the newly formed TKO Group Holdings?
It’s quite apparent that Vince McMahon will automatically be a part of TKO GH since the WWE is completely involved in it. Looking at the rise in the UFC President, Dana White’s position, a number of followers also might expect that the former WWE boss, McMahon, will also gain a higher position than he used to have.
Detailing the current ownership percentages of TKO Group holdings, Raimondi penned, “Endeavor will own 51% of the new company and WWE shareholders will own 49% of it. TKO has a valuation of $21.4 billion”.
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However, he also proved that the fans who expected the former WWE chairman, Vince McMahon, at a higher position were correct. The ESPN report read, “Former WWE controlling shareholder and chairman Vince McMahon will act as executive chairman of TKO, with Nick Khan, who also sits on the board, as WWE president”. McMahon’s current position in TKO Group Holdings cements him as the ‘second-in-command’ person, just under the CEO, Ari Emanuel.
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Hence, it’s quite apparent that despite becoming the UFC CEO, White will now technically work under Vince McMahon as well. How do you think the UFC might be affected by this newly formed power structure of TKO Group holdings?