The UFC and WWE merger became official on Tuesday morning with the launch of TKO Group Holdings.
During a recent appearance on “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” WWE President Nick Khan discussed the possibility of holding an ‘All-Star TKO weekend’, which would include SmackDown on Friday, UFC on Saturday, and a WWE pay-per-view event on Sunday. He said,
“The conversations are just beginning now. Everybody wanted to make sure that we got all the regulatory approvals in place. Department of Justice approval, SEC approval, a couple of international approvals that we needed and obviously, we got all of those. The conversations are happening now. Yes, what everyone envisions is, can you set up an all-star TKO weekend where SmackDown goes on Friday, UFC on Saturday with pay-per-view, and WWE goes with a premium live event on Sunday. Can you do that from the same city? Certainly, a lot of cost efficiencies there in terms of production, but a lot of revenue efficiencies in terms of upside there as well. Certainly, the fighters and WWE superstars stay separate. Could you have a Ronda Rousey or Brock Lesnar come along who can cross from one to the other? Sure, but that’s a once-in-a-decade type of thing. In terms of production, [UFC Exec VP/Operations & Production] Craig Borsari and [WWE Line Producer] Kevin Dunn, they’ve had a number of conversations on those efficiencies, how it might look, how it might work. Hopefully, we have some news on that in a couple of months.”
Khan also said that TKO Group is considering the possibility of keeping the brands separate to prevent one from hurting the business of another. He said,
“Ideally, what we like, especially if you look at the international expansion of WWE’s premium live events and UFC’s already expansion, you could see a lot of events of ‘WWE is going at 3pm eastern from an international location, UFC is going at 8 eastern domestically,’ or the opposite of that. We like that too because you have two gates, two merchandise, in theory, if you get a government subsidy for the international or domestic show, you have that and boom, both events are right there. By planning in advance, I don’t believe we’ll trip over each other in any way.”
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The UFC and WWE Merger: What You Need to Know
In a surprising turn of events, the UFC and WWE officially merged on Tuesday morning with the launch of TKO Group Holdings. This unexpected collaboration has sparked a lot of excitement and speculation among fans of both sports. WWE President Nick Khan recently discussed the possibility of holding an ‘All-Star TKO weekend’, which would feature SmackDown on Friday, a UFC event on Saturday, and a WWE pay-per-view event on Sunday.
The merger between the UFC and WWE has been met with mixed reactions from fans and experts alike. While some are excited about the potential for crossover events and dream matchups, others are concerned about the impact this merger could have on the integrity of both sports.
One of the main concerns is whether the brands will remain separate or if they will be combined into one entity. Khan addressed this issue, stating that TKO Group is considering keeping the brands separate to prevent one from hurting the business of another. This approach would allow each brand to maintain its unique identity and fan base while still benefiting from the collaboration.
Another aspect that has been discussed is the possibility of fighters and WWE superstars crossing over between the two organizations. Khan mentioned that while it is possible for a Ronda Rousey or Brock Lesnar type of crossover to occur, it would be a rare occurrence. The focus seems to be on maintaining the separate identities of the fighters and superstars while exploring potential production efficiencies and revenue opportunities.
The idea of an ‘All-Star TKO weekend’ has generated a lot of buzz among fans. The concept of having three consecutive days of top-tier combat sports entertainment in the same city is certainly enticing. Not only would this setup provide cost efficiencies in terms of production, but it could also lead to significant revenue opportunities for both organizations.
However, it is important to note that these plans are still in the early stages, and nothing has been confirmed yet. Khan mentioned that conversations are just beginning, and it may be a couple of months before any concrete news is announced. Fans will have to wait patiently for updates on the progress of this exciting collaboration.
In the meantime, fans can stay up to date with all the latest wrestling news on eWrestlingNews.com. The website provides comprehensive coverage of both the UFC and WWE, ensuring that fans don’t miss out on any important developments. Additionally, fans can follow eWrestlingNews on Twitter and Facebook for real-time updates and engaging content.
The UFC and WWE merger has undoubtedly sparked a lot of curiosity and excitement within the combat sports community. While there are still many details to be worked out, the potential for crossover events and collaborations between these two powerhouse organizations is certainly intriguing. Only time will tell how this merger will impact the future of both the UFC and WWE, but one thing is for sure – fans are eagerly awaiting more news and updates on this groundbreaking collaboration.