WWE Sale Rumors, More On Talent/Staff Thinking Vince Is More Involved (Patreon)
Content
Those in the company that we've spoken to say they expect "business to pick up" in April, specifically after WrestleMania. We've been told by several in WWE that having WrestleMania in Los Angeles around the time of a potential sale and rights fee renewals was a positive strategic situation for the company.
While a CNBC analyst said that Comcast is out on a potential WWE sale, Fightful had spoken with sources at Comcast with knowledge of the product. It was widely accepted that even though Comcast (via USA Network and NBC) have had a long relationship with Vince McMahon, that there would be no desire from their end to keep him involved in the company.
There were actually numerous sources related to rumored buyers who said that Stephanie McMahon could be a desired return. One source at Disney said "these companies are doing their due diligence, they're following the news cycles, regardless of their public levels of interest. They're aware of the things that would make audiences and staff happy. She seemed to bring a lot of positive to the company. The company's progression under Nick Khan was also played up.
One of the prevalent feelings is that WWE has had effective teams in place and that an acquisition would come as a major shot in the arm for whatever connected streaming service is involved. WWE has rights fees for Raw, Smackdown, PLEs and more coming up at almost exactly the same time.
It's worth noting that both to higher ups in WWE, and to those close to him personally, Vince McMahon has claimed that he would be interested in a sale that didn't involve him staying with the company. McMahon has also downplayed rumors of influence on creative to claim to those close to him that he is back to either sell the company or oversee rights fee negotiations. Virtually every source connected with a company that has been rumored to have interest was in agreement that if McMahon demanded to remain involved, it would negatively affect the sale price, leverage, and value of the brand moving forward.
However, there have been several red flags for talent and producers alike in WWE.
Fightful reported recently that there were concerns among talent that Vince McMahon could have a bigger hand in creative than has been let on. WWE reps have vehemently denied that McMahon is involved, and McMahon has claimed to those close to him that he's there to oversee either new television rights, a sale, or both. However, there have been some red flags that have caused more concern for talent.
Talent have noted that there are more rewrites the day of the show than usual under the Triple H regime. There have also been some strong indicators of characters and gimmicks being adjusted to a manner in which McMahon had previously preferred, that were relaxed or changed when Triple H took control. Some of these things have had an impact on morale. Talent have also mentioned that there has been extensive creative laid out, that was adjusted at the last minute. However, no talent we've heard from has outright been told Vince is involved beyond giving input.
We've had constant information sent nearly weekly about a "Vince's office" sign being backstage in WWE at tapings. However, that was a sign that contains numerous directions of backstage locations that wasn't updated upon McMahon's departure.
It should be noted that creative is also insistent that they've had no contact with Vince McMahon directly, and haven't been told that any changes were from McMahon himself. When McMahon appeared in Boston at the episode of Raw in March, some claimed that he stayed out of the way, however, talent were quick to note he was in Gorilla, where all the performers saw him before walking out and upon coming back through the area.
We're told that both WWE and Vince McMahon are aware that a huge blow to talent morale could and likely would happen if he were publicly involved in creative. It should also be noted there is no "smoking gun" that Vince is involved. There are also several tells that indicate he's not -- the lack of constant rematches, and talent that he didn't like being used.
A lot of these concerns were so openly discussed that they ended up making their way to the AEW locker room as well.