Stephanie McMahon OUT at WWE... resigned today. CNBC: "No deal with Saudis( or anyone) completed"
- Thread starter Saysumthinfunnymike
- Start date
TrueEpic08
Dum Shiny
This is what's probably going on and why I both didn't react to the initial news AND was totally shocked that the announcement came so soon after Vince returned to the board. These kinds of transactions take forever to complete, so I didn't expect anything to be finalized on that front until April-June or so. And if you're confused about the reporting from CNBC, think back to what happened when Elon bought Twitter. There was an initial announcement, then Elon publically backs out due to him finding something he didn't like in Twitter's books, then went through with the sale anyway. Something similar happened with the 21st Century Fox sale as well, if I'm remembering correctly. It'll probably get done, but it's going to take some time to complete.
Another thing: I would not be shocked if a very tiny part of the reason why this is going the way it is is due to the lawsuit that he's facing for breach of fiduciary responsibility. Given that WWE's current market cap is around $6.7 billion, I was actually quite surprised that the Saudi's were going to buy it for $7 billion (they had right of first refusal on a WWE sale and a deal to acquire it at that number in their PPV contract); I expected something closer to $8 billion or higher. So he might be trying to squeeze some more money out of the Saudi's (or whoever ends up with it) so he doesn't provide more ammo for that lawsuit. This is the purest of pure speculation from me, though.
With all that said, I think this might be the beginning of the end for WWE if the Saudi's do get it, especially if Vince stays in control. The business side of the company will stay strong, but Vince lost his touch years ago and I highly doubt anyone the Saudi's would hire would be able to steer the ship like Vince could (I'm honestly not sure any human being on the planet could do that, Vince is a very unique man after all). Eventually that's going to poison the well if it goes on too long. At the very least, it's the end of WWE as we know it.
Toe Jay Simpson
Searchin’
It should be common sense that if a body is getting WWE it’s going to be Disney. No other company can offer what their worth and keep the bridges built open at the same time
Wouldn't Disney ruin the product by making it ultra PG? 
I swear I will stop watching at that point. I can't take another corny/kiddie Cena-type era. I would just stop watching.
But I can just imagine Vince being happy to be in the same company/same breath as Walt Disney
I swear I will stop watching at that point. I can't take another corny/kiddie Cena-type era. I would just stop watching.But I can just imagine Vince being happy to be in the same company/same breath as Walt Disney
Wouldn't Disney ruin the product by making it ultra PG?
But I can just imagine Vince being happy to be in the same company/same breath as Walt Disney
you dont want to see 10 brock lesnars vs thor?
YakSpiller
Veteran
CEO of Morgan Industries
Superstar
Wouldn't Disney ruin the product by making it ultra PG?
But I can just imagine Vince being happy to be in the same company/same breath as Walt Disney
Probably not. They have adult-oriented shows on Disney Plus.
If RAW moves to ESPN, which is cable, I'm sure they'll be fine with whatever the shows are like now.
RAW on ESPN, Smackdown on ABC, and a WWE Network section on Disney Plus or Hulu makes sense.
Jesus H. Christ
I died for your sins
Absolutely not. They got some violent shyt on the Disney Network, and it can be filtered by users. So if you don't want your kids to see it then they won't.Wouldn't Disney ruin the product by making it ultra PG?
But I can just imagine Vince being happy to be in the same company/same breath as Walt Disney
The product will be what you get now.
I’m guessing RAW and Smackdown spread across ABC and ESPN, and the WWE network moves to ESPN+
Hulu also makes sense. This would be a win
Funny how a day after Nick Khan met with ESPN and Disney owners, the Saudi deal was pushed out. WWE’s folks probably pushed that out themselves to drive negotiations. They moving like NBA free agents feeding writers fake team interest
It better be closer to the Punisher
And not close to Bambi.
CEO of Morgan Industries
Superstar
They'd probably have WWE tabs on Hulu and ESPN+, now that you say that. They do that for a bunch of the sports they have on ESPN+ in the Sports section on Hulu.
I don't take FOX seriously in acquiring the company and think it's going to come down to Disney, NBC Comcast (who could keep RAW on USA, put Smackdown on NBC Fridays and pair it with Barmageddon or something like that, and keep the WWE Network on Peacock), or the Saudis, who would then negotiate their own TV deals.