WWE SmackDown World Tour
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World Wrestling Entertainment and Endeavor-owned UFC are set to merge this year in a deal that will create a sports entertainment behemoth valued at more than $21 billion.
After the deal was announced in early April, WWE shares soared to their highest point in nearly four years. The stock is up more than 50% so far this year.
For wrestling fans, though, the story’s not about those numbers. Rather, the merger’s success hinges on what’s actually happening in the ring — and whether it’s worth their time and money.
In a landscape where consumers have broad economic and political sway, the merger will serve as a test of just how potent fans’ collective power can be in the face of corporate behemoths. And wrestling fans aren’t afraid to share their opinions.
Some are worried that a return to a pay-per-view model for WWE’s flagship event, WrestleMania, is on the horizon. Last month, it streamed exclusively on NBCUniversal’s…
2023-05-06 10:45:11
Post from www.cnbc.com