In a move that can only be described as the business equivalent of a steel cage match, WWE and UFC have joined forces in the live event ring under their new conglomerate, TKO. The freshly minted “TKO Live Events Strategy Team” promises to deliver more headlocks and head kicks to cities around the globe.
Executive Peter Dropick, the man who’s been guiding UFC events for nearly two decades, is stepping into the spotlight as the head honcho of this combined powerhouse. With Dropick at the helm, he’ll be tag-teaming with heavyweights like Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Dana “I’m the Boss” White, and Nick “Deal Maker” Khan. The press release didn’t skimp on the details, crowning Dropick as TKO’s Executive Vice President of Event Development and Operations.
What’s the big plan, you ask? It’s all about “operational efficiencies” and scoring those sweet, sweet site fees. Local governments are practically body-slamming each other for the chance to host WWE and UFC events, which means big bucks for the cities and an even bigger win for TKO.
Since TKO’s formation last October, WWE has seen some wild changes. Vince McMahon, the mustachioed mogul himself, made his grand exit (again) earlier this year, just days after a civil lawsuit accused him of some seriously shady dealings. Stepping into the spotlight, Levesque and Khan are now the dynamic duo leading WWE’s creative and business operations.
Last month’s WrestleMania 40 was a jaw-dropping success, smashing records with over 145,000 fans flooding in over two nights. Not to be outdone, UFC 300 also delivered a knockout performance with 20,067 fans and a gate of $16.5 million.