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TKO Signs Major New Deal Involving WWE; Details Revealed

By Gaurav Singh • Published May 13, 2026 08:28 EDT
WWE TKO
WWE stars asked to take pay cut (Image via - X/@WWE, X/@TKOGrp)

The TKO group has announced a brand new deal, which involves the WWE along with multiple other sports promotions under their umbrella.

After the former WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon decided to sell the WWE in 2023, it was announced that the TKO group would be the new owners. The major deal also involved UFC being under the same ownership as the Stamford-based promotion. Since taking over the WWE ownership, TKO has faced a lot of criticism for allegedly intervening in the company’s creative process as well.

The TKO group also faced massive backlash after recently releasing more than 20 wrestlers, and also after the New Day left the company under their watch. Amid all the backlash and criticism, the group has come up with a massive announcement.

The official X social media handle of the TKO group officially announced that they have come to an agreement with Arizona Sports & Entertainment Alliance, and will be bringing all the big events from the companies under their umbrella, such as WWE, UFC, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing, to the state of Arizona:

We’re bringing the biggest events in sports and entertainment to Arizona. TKO and the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Alliance have announced a landmark agreement to bring marquee UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing events to the state,” as announced.

WWE Hall of Famer believes that the wrestling business is on a downfall due to TKO

Speaking on the DukeLovesRasslin podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer, D-Von Dudley addressed the criticism towards TKO for ticket prices and talent releases. D-Von stated that TKO’s corporate style will be the downfall of the wrestling business:

I hate that, you know, TKO is getting the blame for pretty much everything, whether it’s ticket prices or the releases. But, you know, they’re corporate. And I’ve always said corporate will never work in the wrestling business. It’ll be the downfall of the wrestling business.”

D-Von Dudley further explained why the wrestling business can’t be handled in a corporate style:

“And you can’t—you can’t do wrestling like it’s corporate. You just can’t because there’s so much involved. There are so many different things that are involved in that. So you really can’t do it like that,” stated D-Von.

Fans will have to wait and see if the TKO group has more big plans for the WWE in the future.

Also read: TKO’s Real Backstage Stance On WWE CCO Triple H, According To Veteran

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