WWE Looking To Sell By Mid-2023 As Nick Khan Meets With Disney & ESPN

Even more developments in the impending sale of WWE.

Jan 12, 2023 January 12th, 2023

While reports of a sale to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund were at best premature, WWE is still aiming to have the company sold off by the middle of this year.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated how his WWE sources noted the intent to have the market leader sold by mid-2023, with JP Morgan now assisting in this process.

Interestingly, WWE CEO Nick Khan has been in Los Angeles this week and held discussions with "heavy hitters" such as Disney CEO Bob Iger and ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro.

Elsewhere, UFC owners Endeavor are said to "also be in the hunt", while there is indeed interest in WWE from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. As for the previous rumours that WWE had already agree to sell to the Saudi PIF, Meltzer mentioned that "there was smoke" to those reports, but any deal between the two parties isn't close at this stage.

Part of the reports of a Saudi purchase of WWE suggested that the organisation would revert to being a private company as part of any such deal. On that matter, Meltzer detailed how the Public Investment Fund is likely the only option right now if there was indeed a want to take WWE private.

Of course, the news of an impending WWE sale comes hot on the heels of Stephanie McMahon resigning from the company, and Vince McMahon being unanimously elected as WWE Executive Chairman of the Board.

As ever, expect more on this situation as it continues to develop.

Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.

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