WWE and UFC | Entertainment Art Network

WWE and UFC Officially Merge! The Two Top Fighting Championship

Author: Ben Zhang, Tyler Xiang, Michael Shi

Date: Oct 19, 2023

Introduction

WWE and UFC are two of the world's most famous fighting shows, the influence of both of them is worldwide. According to Macrotrends, till January 10, 2023, WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) is valued at a staggering $9.3 billion, and UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is valued at 12.1 billion dollars till 2023 (Endeavor Group, the parent company of UFC)

The Merge

Two of the biggest live event and broadcast promoters in the combat space, the UFC and WWE, have officially merged into one company, TKO. The share trading began on September 12 on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “TKO.” Endeavor (the parent company of UFC) owns 51 percent of the new company, while current WWE shareholders own 49 percent.

Endeavor, the UFC's parent company, announced in April that it would be acquiring WWE's pro-wrestling brand and that the UFC's MMA company will be combined into one publicly traded company. The deal values the UFC at $12.1 billion and WWE at $9.3 billion, making the valuation of the new entity $21.4 billion. It is now one of the biggest players in all of sports and entertainment.

World Wrestling Entertainment

WWE, short for World Wrestling Entertainment is mostly known as the fake fight or theme acting, the wrestlers are all well-trained to perform the best acting skills to the audience. The business started in 1980, and through these 43 years WWE has created lots of superstars, some of the wrestlers even transferred their careers to Hollywood. From these points, we know WWE is a stage that requires high skill from many different sides.

WWE's blend of athleticism, storytelling, and entertainment has made it a cultural phenomenon, attracting fans of all ages around the world. The company continues to evolve, embracing new technologies and expanding its presence in the entertainment industry.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship, is a prominent and widely recognized mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company. Established in 1993, the UFC has played a pivotal role in popularizing and legitimizing mixed martial arts as a mainstream sport. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA promotion in the world as of 2023.

Over the years, the UFC has become a major player in the sports and entertainment industry, attracting a diverse and passionate fan base. It has helped break down barriers for MMA, turning it into one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide.

Top 5 WWE superstars:

1. Hulk Hogan:

He did put pro wrestling on the map, nothing less. His name will always be remembered for his unmatched contributions to the WWF. If Vince McMahon was behind the pro wrestling revolution of the '80s, Hogan was the wrestler seen in each and every mainstream media.

2. Shawn Michaels:

WWE is not the same since he retired. He was a living legend and his unique career will always be remembered. He is the icon who took the transition from the '90s to the 2000s on his shoulders. Not many can brag to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame one year after retiring.

3. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin:

Proudly raising his middle fingers in the faces of everyone who dared oppose him, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was the blue-collar warrior for the common man. He was the biggest name of the Attitude Era and he brought the WWF to a new level.

4. The Undertaker

A multi-time WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, a six-time tag team titleholder. For nearly 20 years, he has been The Phenom of WWE. His entrance is the greatest ever in pro wrestling history and his legend will always live.

5. André the Giant

He was the main attraction in the pro wrestling business for over 20 years and he was undefeated for 15 years with the WWF. He blazed through WWE on an unprecedented winning streak, remaining undefeated for nearly 15 years.

Top 5 UFC Pound For Pound Fighter:

1. Jon Jones (27-1, 1 NC; heavyweight champion):

Jon Jones is undoubtedly the best fighter in the UFC, not just today, he is the best fighter of all time. He returned to the UFC in March after a three-year absence and won the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round.

2. Islam Makhachev (25-1, lightweight champion)

Oct. 21 Islam defended his title from "The Great", Alexander Volkanovski, by KO within 1 round. His p4p rank moved from number 3 to 2. The lightweight division is the most dangerous and challenging, but Islam still managed to dominate the division.

3. Alexander Volkanovski (26-3, featherweight champion)

After suffering the sole defeat of his professional career in 2013, Volkanovski won a stunning 22 fights in a row. His only pro losses have come against a welterweight champion and a lightweight champion. He is the only fighter who deserves the nickname "The Great"

4. Leon Edwards (21-3, 1 NC; welterweight champion)

Edwards became Britain’s second UFC champion with a stunning, last-gasp knockout of Kamaru Usman in August 2022. Edwards is scheduled to defend the UFC Welterweight Championship title against Colby Covington on December 16, 2023, at UFC 296.

5. Charles Oliveira (34-9, 1 NC; former lightweight champion)

Oliveira holds multiple UFC records, the most submission wins in the organization's history at 16, the most finishes at 20, and the most bonuses at 19. Charles has the most fans among all the fighters today, this is because of his unique style of combining jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai.

Reference:

Power, Dan. “WWE Top 100 Superstars: The Ultimate List.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 3 Oct. 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/568941-wwe-top-100-superstars-the-ultimate-list.
“Home.” WWE, www.wwe.com/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2023.
“MMA Pound-for-Pound Rankings: A New, Deserving No. 1 Spot for Islam Makhachev.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/24067525/mma-pound-pound-rankings. Accessed 24 Oct. 2023.
Raimondi, Marc, and Mike Coppinger. “Everything We Do (and Don’t) Know about the UFC-WWE Merger.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/36066332/endeavor-ufc-wwe-merger-2023-explained. Accessed 24 Oct. 2023.
“WWE and UFC Officially Merge in $21.4-Billion Deal.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sept. 2023, www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-09-12/wwe-ufc-endeavor-merges-ari-emanuel-vince-mcmahon-tko.