As editor and author of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has seen it all in both the pro wrestling and MMA industries.
Until recently, even he probably didn’t envision a time when the biggest U.S. companies in both would be under the same umbrella. Yet that’s exactly what’s about to take place following the announcement earlier this month that Endeavor is merging WWE and UFC into a single company.
It’s natural that there would be some trepidation among WWE fans that things could change in dramatic ways with the company not solely under the control of the McMahon family for the first time ever. But as Meltzer told Under the Ring podcast host Phil Strum this week, he expects things to largely stay business as usual on WWE programming once the merger is finalized.
“As far as the product itself goes, I don’t expect the fans to notice a big difference at all,” Meltzer said.
Instead, the impact will be felt most acutely by people working behind the scenes.
“I think that from an office standpoint, it will be huge, because there’s going to be a lot of layoffs and things like that,” he added. “That’s what happened with UFC, lots and lots of people were laid off. It will be run more and more and more for high profitability.
Meltzer noted that Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes were told under previous UFC ownership that they’d have jobs for life after they retired from fighting. But after Endeavor acquired UFC in 2016, those jobs disappeared — which could also happen in WWE to people Vince McMahon may have wanted to take care of after their wrestling days.
Listen to the entire interview above for Meltzer’s insights on:
- What other company was engaged in “serious bidding” for WWE prior to the Endeavor announcement
- How the WWE-UFC merger opens up more business deals for both promotions
- Why WWE’s top stars probably don’t need to worry about being released even if they’re making a lot of money
- What, if anything, will change for McMahon
- Whether UFC and WWE will work together to counterprogram against AEW
- Why Nick Khan is the most important business hire WWE has ever made
- The possibility that McMahon and Dana White could butt heads
Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum calling upon his longtime love for and coverage of pro wrestling to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included Northeast Wrestling and NWA talent Wrecking Ball Legursky, NWA president (and Smashing Pumpkins frontman) Billy Corgan, and hardcore icon Raven.
To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to Under the Ring on Apple Podcasts or your podcast provider of choice, or check out the Under the Ring YouTube channel to see all of the interviews in video form.