World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC Stock Price, News & Analysis

WWE (NYSE: WWE) has expanded its partnership with Fanatics, entrusting the latter with the management of WWE's global event merchandise business starting May 1. This collaboration will enhance the retail experience at over 300 events annually, including major events like WrestleMania and Royal Rumble. The partnership aims to optimize merchandise offerings with localized products and innovative retail experiences, building on the success of record-breaking merchandise sales in 2022. WWE's Senior VP, Alex Varga, stated this move is expected to increase merchandise revenue in 2023 and beyond.

WWE's next premium live event, Backlash, will take place on May 6, 2023, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

WWE (NYSE: WWE) is set to announce its first quarter 2023 financial results on May 3, 2023, before the market opens. Following the results, the company will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET, which can be accessed via toll-free number 855-200-4993 or 323-794-2092 for international callers. A live webcast of the call will be available on corporate.wwe.com/investors. The earnings presentation will also be accessible on the same site. WWE, a leader in global entertainment, offers family-friendly programming available in over 1 billion homes worldwide. Investors can look for updates on the company's media rights negotiations and its upcoming business combination with Ultimate Fighting Championship.

WWE's WrestleMania 39 has set unprecedented records, emerging as the company's most successful event ever. The two-night spectacle at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, attracted 161,892 fans and generated over $21.6 million in gate revenue, surpassing previous benchmarks by 27%. Viewership soared, with Night 1 and Night 2 breaking global records by 28% and 33%, respectively. Sponsorship revenue doubled to exceed $20 million, while merchandise sales increased by 20% compared to 2022. The event also became the most socially engaged WrestleMania, garnering over 500 million views, a 42% rise from last year.

Endeavor Group and WWE announced a definitive agreement to form a new publicly listed company, with Endeavor owning 51% and WWE shareholders 49%. This new entity will include UFC at an enterprise value of $12.1 billion and WWE at $9.3 billion. The combined revenue for UFC and WWE reached $2.4 billion in 2022, with a 10% annual growth rate since 2019. The merger is expected to yield $50 million to $100 million in annual cost synergies. The transaction is anticipated to close in the second half of 2023.

WWE has announced its Summer 2023 live events schedule, with tickets on sale starting Friday, April 7. Highlights include WWE Supershow on June 3 in White Plains, NY, and multiple SmackDown and Raw events across various venues. Key dates include June 16 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY, and July 21 at Amway Center in Orlando, FL. WWE remains focused on delivering family-friendly entertainment through its global media channels.

WWE has announced that NXT Battleground will be held live at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts, on May 28. This event marks the first NXT premium live event in Massachusetts and the second stand-alone event outside Florida since February 2020. The show will feature popular NXT Superstars, including champions Bron Breakker, Wes Lee, and Roxanne Perez. Tickets go on sale on April 1 at 10 a.m. ET. NXT Battleground will be streamed live on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network internationally. Further details will be provided in the upcoming weeks.