Behind-The-Scenes Details On Endeavor's Negotiations To Buy WWE Revealed

In a major announcement on Monday, April 3, it was revealed that WWE had been sold to Endeavor. The pro wrestling company will merge with UFC later this year under a new parent company valued at $21 billion.

WWE had been up for sale since Vince McMahon forced his way back into the organisation in January 2023 as the 77-year-old looked to sell the company he purchased from his father in 1982. 

According to Puck, Endeavor outlined their proposal to buy WWE in mid-March during a meeting with Vince McMahon and Nick Khan before they gave a more emotional pitch one week later at WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. Negotiations over a deal then continued, with Endeavor facing tough competition until the very end from at least one rival bidder in Formula One owners Liberty Media. A term sheet was then signed on April 1, with President & COO of Endeavor Mark Shapiro telling Puck: "Until Saturday, I didn't even know we had this deal."

The deal happened to be finalised while Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel was at WrestleMania 39 with Vince McMahon and Nick Khan in SoFi Stadium's executive suite, with the particulars of the deal being thrashed out at Endeavor and WWE's offices. Shapiro was scheduled to attend WrestleMania but he remained in New York City to complete the deal. 

Then in the early hours of Monday morning, Emanuel, McMahon, and Khan went to Endeavor's headquarters in Beverly Hills ahead of a morning of calls with reporters and analysts. 

Find out why Vince McMahon sold WWE to Endeavor here.