WWE Chief Executive Officer Nick Khan spoke with Axios earlier today following the news of WWE’s impending purchase by Endeavor. WWE will be merged with UFC to create a new publicly traded sports and entertainment company, which is valued at over $21 billion.
When asked about WWE and UFC pursuing a combined streaming rights deal could be in the works, Khan said, “[T]he good folks at NBCU have been tremendous partners to us. So let’s see what they have to say.” WWE’s streaming deal with NBCUniversal’s Peacock ends in 2026. UFC’s deal with ESPN ends in 2025.
Regarding the linear TV rights deals with NBCUniversal and Fox Corp., which both expire next year, Khan said the companies would be pursuing those deals differently.
“The most important thing is that NBC and Fox, from a WWE point of view, feel respected in the process. So we’re going to enter those conversations with them… [H]opefully it’s robust, and we don’t get out of the ‘right of first window,’ and ‘we strike a deal with each of them’… If we’re not able to do that, we’ll see what the marketplace has to say and ultimately choose the right partner for the WWE audience in our shareholders.”
Khan said of the merger of WWE and UFC that even though they will be under one holding company, they will run separately. Khan left the door open for possible collaborations “if there are fun things to do.”
As for WWE’s at-times controversial relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a country that Endeavor has been reluctant to do business with, Khan says the partnership with WWE will continue.
“[O]ur relationship with The Kingdom is a terrific partnership for which we’re appreciative of, and you know, nothing in terms of anyone else’s prior experience will affect that. We think that we’ve delivered the product in the way that the Kingdom wanted it delivered. We have a multiple-year agreement with them in place. We’re excited to do a show — we’ll be back there May 27 for a big premium live event.“