As noted before, WWE announced on Friday that Vince McMahon has officially returned to the company and will be resuming his role as the Executive Chairman of their Board of Directors.
Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE held an employee-only meeting on Friday shortly following the news of McMahon’s return. It was reported that this meeting had been originally scheduled to take place at 3:30PM EST but was delayed and took place at around 4PM EST instead. WWE co-CEOs Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan and WWE CFO Frank Riddick reportedly led this meeting.
WWE’s talent reportedly were not invited for this meeting and WWE officials stressed that the company’s day-to-day operations would not be changing across the board from McMahon’s return. WWE employees were informed that McMahon is still the controlling shareholder of the company, the possibility of a sale of the company within the near future, and WWE’s upcoming new media rights deals.
In regards to a potential future sale, WWE employees were informed that there is the potential of a sale not taking place in the end and also the potential of WWE reverting back to being a private company if it were sold.
In regards to a potential future owner of WWE, Front Office Sports reported that their sources stated that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund could be one of the potential bidders to purchase the company. It was reported that this would be part of their current plans to expand more into sports with the most recent being their creation and ownership of the professional golf tour LIV Golf. It was also reported that Saudi Arabia’s PIF currently owns around $620 billion in assets. Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that it would likely cost around $7 billion for a purchase of WWE and reverting the company back to a private one should the Saudi government actually go through with it.
CNBC reported that their sources stated that WWE recently hired banking and financial firm JP Morgan to help assist the company with a potential sale. It was reported that a potential sale of WWE “would likely occur in the next three to six months, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. WWE plans to talk to potential buyers before it makes a decision on TV rights renewal agreements.”