Nick Khan on Vince McMahon’s WWE Return, Stephanie McMahon Departure, Sale Rumors, AEW

A recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast featured WWE CEO Nick Khan as the guest. Some of the topics discussed included Khan’s thoughts on the fallout to WWE’s Board of Directors over Vince McMahon’s recent return to the company.

“When you’re on the inside, you see things that may be coming. My thought was that there’s only one boss in the company, and that ain’t me. I think it was always my point of view, Stephanie’s point of view he would come back. The way he played it to me was smart in that he went away for five, six months which people, meaning the audience, seems to like when somebody does that and he came back and took control back of his company as a company shareholder. So it is the public’s company as a publicly traded company. But with that, the controlling share gave him a lot of authority and he used it, and I applaud him for doing so.”

Khan also gave his thoughts dismissing concerns over McMahon taking a big risk hurting WWE’s public image with his recent return to the company.

“Well, no advertiser has fled. Ratings aren’t down. The product seems to continue to build. Why would he resign? Why would he do that?” Khan said in reference to Goodell. “I think it’s just a three-mile radius of LA thing. ‘Hey, step down. And you know, you have to sort of be punished for it.’ It didn’t used to be that way. So I think for somebody like Vince, and [referring to Simmons] you and he are two different people, but you’re both founder CEOs and I think founder CEOs are different from regular CEOs. So to me, WWE is Vince, Vince is WWE, and we’re going to do the best we can to keep building the company.”

Khan also gave his thoughts on McMahon’s initial retirement from WWE.

“You know, when he stepped down, anyone who believed that was permanent didn’t know him. That was never going to happen, but I’m appreciative of the fact that he gave it five, six months, let the dust settle a little bit, then came back in the way that he’s come back.”

On the topic of former co-CEO Stephanie McMahon’s recent departure from WWE, Khan stated:

“I don’t get involved in the family business. That is rule number one …

At this moment in time, I think she felt her work was done for now. Nothing is permanent. Life is long, let’s see.”

On the topic of the recent rumors of WWE being sold to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Khan stated:

“100% fake, 100% made up.

So in this process, [Vince McMahon is] there to oversee it, it’s his controlling share. I’m involved in it. Triple H is involved in it. The board’s obviously involved in it with Triple H being on the board, as I have the good fortune of being in as well. And we’re going to see how it plays out. It should not be a lengthy process.

If you’re looking at it, connecting the dots, it made absolutely no sense. In terms of what the actual process will be, we’re just starting it.”

On the topic of AEW CEO Tony Khan and AEW’s status as a threat to WWE, Khan stated:

“A couple of things, I’ve never met the kid, Tony Khan, seems like a nice kid to me. I don’t know him. I have met his dad [Shad Khan], who I randomly sat next to at some sports business luncheon that Stephanie (McMahon) and I went to a year and a half or so ago. I thought the dad was as impressive as can be. There was a piece on him in the New York Times, self-made billionaire, I believe Pakistani immigrant, could not be more impressed by him. I’m not as big of a NFL fan, but I like the pivots he made, made a mistake in hiring a certain coach, get out of that mistake, figure it out again. Could not be more impressed with that. He made his money in the auto parts business, so he knows that inside and out. I don’t believe he’s involved on the wrestling side of the business, outside of financing it. He has the pockets. I’m sure his kid appreciates it, but I was never threatened by that. I don’t feel threatened by anyone on anything. It’s just not how I do business. I don’t care what anyone else is doing. I care what we’re doing. As long as we can have the best product with the best talent and the best writers, I think we’re going to be in good shape.

Anyone can run a business at a loss, that’s easy, as long as someone continues to finance it.”

Khan clarified afterwards that he does not know if AEW is actually operating at a loss since he has no knowledge of their financial books.

Khan also boasted about WWE’s own financial books being in a very health state.

“I know our books, which are public, highest grossing revenue in 2022. Highest profitability in 2022. Other big factors on why Vince (McMahon) wants to explore a potential alternative.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com, Fightful.com