Was WWE Really Sold to Saudi Arabia Following Vince McMahon's Return?

By Rick Martin First Posted: Jan 11, 2023 09:03 PM EST

News of disgraced WWE chairman Vince McMahon's return to the wrestling company has shaken the entire industry. Now, rumors are floating that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has bought the company. However, there are also rumors that a deal has not been made yet.

On Tuesday, reports indicated that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has bought WWE and the company would go private rather than being a publicly traded one.

However. combat sports insider Ariel Helwani stated on social media that this has not happened yet and the wrestling giant is "still exploring all options." This was backed up by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, who stated that somebody in WWE "who would know" told him the Saudi Arabia rumors are untrue.

It was reported that the two sides have so far only agreed on principle and have not finalized the deal yet.

According to Bleacher Report, Vince McMahon's return was seen as a sign of "an imminent WWE sale." He once again took the company's chairmanship after his return, though his daughter, Stephanie McMahon, resigned as co-CEO, making Nick Khan the sole CEO for the company. Her husband, Triple H, remains the head of creative.

Vince McMahon Might Not Really Want to Sell WWE According to Some Rumors

Meanwhile, TJR Wrestling is reporting that WWE sources have called the Saudi Arabia sale story to be "completely false." Instead, some reports are indicating that WWE, Vince McMahon in particular, does not want to sell the company at all.

Financial analyst David Faber stated that while there are signs that WWE might be in the process of being sold, he has heard from prospective buyers that it is still unclear if McMahon really wants the company to be sold at all. He added, "Do you really want Vince McMahon, you know, working for you, so to speak?"

Faber pointed out that this throws some doubt into the sale and added, "the Saudi thing doesn't appear to have a lot behind it right now."

Aside from Saudi Arabia, other potential buyers include Netflix, Amazon, NBC Universal, and Disney. Warner Brothers Discovery, which owns top WWE rival, AEW, is also seen as a potential buyer.

More Rumors Surrounding WWE Sale

WWE has been assuring fans and talent alike that despite Stephanie McMahon resigning as co-CEO, her husband, Paul "Triple H" Levesque, will remain Chief Content Officer. However, morale went down in WWE as Stephanie was well-loved not just by employees, but by the wrestlers themselves.

Vince McMahon's return also did not sit well with several shareholders, according to Caged Inside Seats. Minority shareholders are considering a lawsuit against Vince McMahon and other WWE directors. This is reportedly over a "breach of fiduciary duty," and the complaint is expected to be filed soon.

The potential sale of WWE to Saudi Arabia also sparked rumors that one major talent was unhappy with this development, with overall morale within the locker room going down when the rumors began.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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