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Betting Odds for Who Will Buy WWE – Comcast, Disney Among Top Suitors

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by Graham "GSM" Matthews in Entertainment

Updated Jan 12, 2023 · 8:23 PM PST

WWE owner Vince McMahon enters the arena
Apr 3, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; WWE owner Vince McMahon enters the arena during WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
  • WWE has confirmed it could be for sale sometime in 2023
  • Multiple potential suitors have reportedly expressed interest in purchasing the promotion
  • Who do betting odds favor buying WWE? See odds, analysis, and our best bets below

It didn’t take long for the pro wrestling world to be shaken to the core in 2023 with news of longtime WWE owner Vince McMahon returning to the company following a six-month retirement to head up a potential sale of his pride and joy.

In a mere matter of weeks, Stephanie McMahon went from serving as co-CEO and chairwoman of WWE to announcing her resignation in the wake of her father being reinstated, making him the sole executive chairman as of earlier this week.

All signs seem to point to WWE being up for sale sometime in 2023 with the company itself announcing its decision to “engage outside advisors to support review of strategic alternatives,” and already speculation is running rampant regarding potential suitors.

Sportsbooks have since rescinded their odds, but here’s our analysis of what was previously available and what it might mean for WWE’s future.

Odds for Who Will Buy WWE

Potential Suitors Odds
Comcast -140
Disney +350
Sovereign Wealth Fund of Saudi Arabia +750
Endeavor Group Holdings +900
Amazon +950
Netflix +1200
Fox +1200
Warner Bros. Discovery +1500
Liberty Media +1500
Dwayne Johnson (Red Bird Media) +2000
Tony Khan (All Elite Wrestling) +3000

Odds as of Jan. 12. Browse the top online sports betting sites.

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Comcast, Disney Among Top Favorites in WWE Sale

Although there has been serious talk about WWE possibly selling this year, there are no guarantees that ownership will actually change hands, especially with it being run solely by the McMahon family for nearly three-quarters of a century. If it does, however, Comcast would make the most sense.

Comcast, the parent company of NBC Universal, has had a successful working relationship with WWE for decades. USA Network has aired Monday Night Raw for the majority of its 30-year run on the air, not to mention NBC already owns the entire WWE video library as part of their deal with Peacock.

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The last piece of the puzzle would be for Comcast to move SmackDown back to one of its channels later this year.

Disney isn’t too far behind in the odds at +350, which shouldn’t be too surprising given Disney’s track record of essentially owning everything in the sports and entertainment industries including ESPN, Marvel, Star Wars and 20th Century Fox.

WWE has been a family-friendly product for the past 15 years and would be a fine fit for Disney. It could lead to an increased presence for the promotion in the mainstream on the Mickey Mouse-famed streaming service and amusement parks.

Dispelling Saudi Arabia Rumors

Rumors made the rounds on social media this past Tuesday indicating that WWE had been bought by the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Saudi Arabia and that it was considered a done deal. These rumors were later debunked with WWE confirming they remained in the preliminary stages of being sold with multiple interested parties.

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That said, this option isn’t completely far-fetched, hence it’s +750 odds. WWE entered an agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2017 to host two annual events there through 2027, though the ramifications of the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Saudi Arabia could be incredibly damaging to the promotion’s ability to keep their current television deals, sponsorships and the like.

Are Endeavor, Fox and Tony Khan Realistic Longshots?

All of the listed companies would all have their own reasons for wanting to purchase WWE, though Endeavor at +900 is one that should be considered a top candidate.

Interestingly, Endeavor acquired complete control of UFC in 2021 and kept Dana White on as president, so a similar move could be made with WWE depending on whether they would be in favor of Vince McMahon remaining at the helm despite his problematic past.

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Fox currently airs SmackDown and they haven’t been shy about promoting the product these past few years. AEW President Tony Khan making a bid for WWE would be the most shocking swerve in wrestling history and could be considered a possibility, but it’s not as realistic of a longshot as some might think.

Regardless of who ultimately foots the bill, WWE fans should prepare for what could be the biggest year in the company’s illustrious history.

 

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