Kemo
05-09-2023, 07:28 PM
There have been zero talks within WWE of releasing talent once the acquisition by Endeavor goes through, it has been reported.
It has been just over two months since the blockbuster announcement that WWE is to be acquired by Endeavor for the sum of $9.3 billion. The deal is expected to be finalized later this year, and WWE will be merged with UFC as part of a new company. The acquisition has faced some legal challenges from shareholders though they are not expected to prohibit the deal from going through.
Much like when Vince McMahon returned in January of this year, the announcement of the WWE-UFC merger has had WWE Superstars worried. It has been reported that cuts to both WWE and UFC are expected as part of a 'synchronization' process between the two companies.
Despite the fears of mass releases, WWE CEO Nick Khan has said that any cuts as part of this synchronizing process won't affect the on-screen product. During the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that there have been no cuts of talent releases.
"It’s always a possibility, but they haven’t talked about doing cuts with talent. They haven’t really said, they’ve said production, and they’ve said creative there’s gonna be no cuts. There’s gonna be lots of cuts in office people. I don’t anticipate cuts with talent.”
While talent are said to be safe from these cuts, as are creative and production, a lot of cuts will be made. In his interview earlier this year, Nick Khan said that WWE is seeking to make a similar amount of cuts as UFC did when they were acquired by Endeavor in 2016. This would mean cuts of around $50 million, though Khan has said that this is a very conservative number, and WWE may cut much more than that.
There is no word at this time as to when the acquisition is to be completed other than at some point in the second half of 2023.
It has been just over two months since the blockbuster announcement that WWE is to be acquired by Endeavor for the sum of $9.3 billion. The deal is expected to be finalized later this year, and WWE will be merged with UFC as part of a new company. The acquisition has faced some legal challenges from shareholders though they are not expected to prohibit the deal from going through.
Much like when Vince McMahon returned in January of this year, the announcement of the WWE-UFC merger has had WWE Superstars worried. It has been reported that cuts to both WWE and UFC are expected as part of a 'synchronization' process between the two companies.
Despite the fears of mass releases, WWE CEO Nick Khan has said that any cuts as part of this synchronizing process won't affect the on-screen product. During the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that there have been no cuts of talent releases.
"It’s always a possibility, but they haven’t talked about doing cuts with talent. They haven’t really said, they’ve said production, and they’ve said creative there’s gonna be no cuts. There’s gonna be lots of cuts in office people. I don’t anticipate cuts with talent.”
While talent are said to be safe from these cuts, as are creative and production, a lot of cuts will be made. In his interview earlier this year, Nick Khan said that WWE is seeking to make a similar amount of cuts as UFC did when they were acquired by Endeavor in 2016. This would mean cuts of around $50 million, though Khan has said that this is a very conservative number, and WWE may cut much more than that.
There is no word at this time as to when the acquisition is to be completed other than at some point in the second half of 2023.