September 18, 2023 Observer Newsletter: WWE-UFC merger finalizes, AEW All In turnstile count
The official closing of the transition of WWE to Endeavor’s TKO Group Holdings went down on 9/12 when the key power players including Ari Emanuel, Mark Shapiro, Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, Dana White, Daniel Cormier, Montez Ford, Bianca Belair, and many others were there to ring the bell for the open of the New York Stock Exchange trading.
If the UFC sale by Lorenzo & Frank Fertitta to Endeavor was an indication, the new WWE product wouldn’t be that much different in front of the scenes to the fans, but very different behind the scenes. There were massive changes with office staff members who had helped build the company and fighters who helped build the company and had been promised jobs for life being let go. There were almost no sacred cows in UFC with the exception of Dana White.
As far as WWE goes, the belief is that a lot of jobs will be lost and the company’s profitability will increase due to that.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.