UFC/WWE Merger

On Sep. 11, UFC and WWE officially merged under Endeavor to form TKO Holdings, the new parent company of both franchises.

With WWE now under other management, ex-chairman Vince McMahon owns 49% of the company, while Endeavor boss Ari Emmanuel owns 51%.

Vincent McMahon Sr. formed what was the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) along with other shareholders in the 1950s.

The WWWF became WWF in the 1980s when Vince McMahon Jr. bought the company from his father, thus beginning the era of one of the most profitable sports entertainment companies.

Under McMahon, WWE acquired other talents, most famously, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and stars like Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam and Paul Heyman. McMahon also acquired all of the rights and film to these programs.

McMahon was also behind his massive concept of Wrestlemania, which has lasted for 40 years and become one of the most profitable sports entertainment events of all time. Wrestlemania 40, which will take place in Philadelphia, became the highest-grossing Wrestlemania ticket sale in company history.

McMahon wasn’t only behind the scenes but was on the front lines, as well, performing as Mr. McMahon in the ring. He had an amazing rivalry with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, which lasted years and was also a Royal Rumble winner.

What was special about the McMahon dynasty was the enthusiasm that followed his kids, Shane and Stephanie McMahon, who were also wrestlers.

Shane McMahon performed as “Shane O-Mac” and won the SmackDown Tag Team Championship alongside The Miz and the European Championship, alongside two other titles.

Steph McMahon arguably had a bigger impact than her older brother, ensuing an on-screen relationship that turned into an off-screen marriage to Triple H and won the WWF Championship once.

After all the McMahon dynasty built from the ground, it’s going to be weird to see how Emmanuel and Endeavor run the WWE side of the company, and how much pull McMahon will truly have.

Endeavor’s plan is to hold UFC and WWE events closer together and to make fans of UFC fans of WWE, and vice versa.

However, professional mixed martial arts and wrestling are two very different sports that cater to two very different demographics, and mixing fanbases between them might be harder than Endeavor execs think.

The biggest difference? One is staged, and one is real.

WWE is a series of scripted shows with talented and real wrestlers, including former Olympians like Chad Gable, football players like Roman Reigns and even UFC fighter Brock Lesnar.

Though these men are in top physical shape and the hits they take are real, matches are staged. WWE plays to kids who don’t know the technical faking behind the company and to those kids who grew up and follow along.

However, UFC markets off pay-per-views with matches that are not staged and are more of a competition than WWE is.

Sep. 15’s Friday Night SmackDown will be the first WWE show under Endeavor. ownership.

Adrianna Gallucci is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.