Dave Meltzer reports in The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that business insiders see NBCU’s deal to bring the WWE Network to Peacock, along with their existing deals for Raw and NXT, could lead to NBCU buying WWE, especially if they get Smackdown when the deal with FOX is up in a few years. Shane McMahon though is now gone from WWE management, and would have no role in a sale.
Meltzer writes that the current market value of WWE is just over $4 billion, but that a $6 billion offer from NBCU could get a deal done. They currently pay $670 million annually to WWE, with Meltzer estimating the possibility of $760 million in the next round of TV deals, though it could go higher to the $952 million range.
A $6 billion price would pay for itself in less than 8 years, and they would then have complete control over WWE, with no rights fee negotiations every few years. Meltzer notes that when the new WWE Network deal is up in 2026, Vince McMahon will be 81 years old if he is still alive, and that $6 billion would be a good price for him to sell.
Sanyo posted on the F4WOnline board, “Nick Khan and Vince have already discussed the sale privately. The discussion is done. This is why Nick Khan came in to sell this company eventually, i said by 2023 its happening.
Nick Khan didnt come in to run a wrestling company with Vince… he came in to make vince a rich man, in turn make himself a rich man and he will move on. Nick Khan is a deals guy…period
Once its sold to Comcast (could be someone else but likely Comcast), Nick Khan will exit to his next gig. An NBCuniversal exec will run the day to day of WWE. Someone like Hunter would take over creative… and the show goes on. Vince departs and pro wrestling changes forever. But WWE is being sold by 2023.”
Meltzer responded, “WWE was trying to set up being sold dating back to around 2015-2016.”
