UFC and WWE Remain Distinct Entities Under TKO Group Holdings
Summary
– Dana White states that UFC and WWE operate very separately.
– White has not worked with WWE since the merger.
– Recent layoffs at WWE due to job duplication post-merger.
Dana White says WWE and UFC are “very separate” despite being under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella.
During Saturday’s UFC 302 press conference, White was asked if he’s learned anything from working with WWE since the merger. The UFC president responded that he has not worked with WWE at all.
“It’s very separate, I haven’t worked with them at all,” White responded. “I do what I do and they do what they do. They’re using some of the people from my team to help them in different areas business-wise but as far as putting on live events, WWE is very good at what they do and we’re very good at what we do, and that’s about as far as it goes with me.”
There were more layoffs at WWE last week related to the merger with UFC. Senior Vice President of Entertainment Relations Kristin Prouty was let go after nearly 20 years with the company. Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Beth Fisher was also let go.
“These cuts largely have to do with job duplication and they cut staff and have people doing similar jobs for both WWE and UFC, thus people from each side, but more the WWE side, are getting cut,” wrote Dave Meltzer about the layoffs in Friday’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Last month, White was asked about UFC fighters, particularly Derrick Lewis, crossing over to WWE. White responded that he had no problem with his fighters doing so.
“Listen, some of the fighters who fight here have always dreamed about doing a WWE match or whatever it is and I don’t have a problem with that,” White said. “I didn’t have a problem with that when Vince was consistently f—ing me for no reason and now that that’s not the case anymore, I, obviously, would absolutely do it.”
