Timeline of WWE Takeover & Vince McMahon’s Ownership
WWE is now owned by Endeavor but what happened and when in the lead-up to this seismic moment?
February 21st 1980 – Vince and Linda McMahon incorporate Titan Sports Inc., the future parent company of the World Wrestling Federation. Around this time, they also applied to trademark the initials WWF despite McMahon’s father still owning the company.
June 6th 1982 – Vincent Kennedy McMahon strikes a deal to buy the Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. – the parent company of WWF – from McMahon’s father Vincent J. McMahon, leading to 40 years of the younger McMahon at the helm.
October 19th 1999 – In the summer of 1999, Titan Sports Inc. became World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. and in October the company was floated on the New York Stock Exchange with stock issued then valued at $172.5 million.
Vince McMahon steps down from WWE in 2022
June 17th 2022 – Vince McMahon steps down as Chairman and CEO as a result of an investigation regarding “hush money” payments made to former company employees amid sexual misconduct allegations. Stephanie McMahon becomes the interim Chairwoman of the company.
July 22nd 2022 – Vince McMahon announces his retirement from the company issuing a shock message on social media to announce it – “At 77, time for me to retire. Thank you, WWE Universe. Then. Now. Forever. Together.” Stephanie McMahon became the permanent WWE Chairwoman and co-CEO alongside Nick Khan. Triple H assumed creative responsibilities as Chief Content Officer.
January 10th 2023 – The retirement of Vince McMahon ends as he is officially made Executive Chairman of the company by the same Board of Directors that had tried to stop him from returning in any capacity. Stephanie McMahon resigned from her roles and left the company while Nick Khan became the sole CEO. In this month, JP Morgan was appointed to handle a possible sale of WWE.
April 3rd 2023 – On the day after WrestleMania 39, WWE and Endeavor announce a deal that will see the sports entertainment giant merged with UFC under a new umbrella company. Endeavor will hold a 51% stake in the new company – later named TKO Groups Holdings, Inc. – with WWE shareholders holding a 49% stake. The deal values WWE at $9.3 billion. Vince McMahon is to become Executive Chairman of TKO Group and will have veto powers in that position. McMahon will own 34% of the new company and will retain a 16% voting interest.
September 12th 2023 – WWE and Endeavor announce that the takeover is complete and as a result WWE is no longer majority owned by a McMahon for the first time in the company’s 60 year history. Job losses are expected as a result of the move and it remains to be seen how, if at all, McMahon’s consolidated power in the boardroom plays out on WWE television.