Since Vince McMahon’s return to WWE in a “review of strategic alternatives,” rumors have been swirling about potential buyers for the company. NBC Universal/Comcast have been frequently mentioned as a suitor for WWE, and their CEO, Jeff Shell, spoke about the potential of a WWE purchase.
Shell did not mention WWE by name, but did state, “We are always looking for bolt-on acquisitions that bolster our businesses. Two examples: We bought DreamWorks [Animation] and it has been paying off steadily since our acquisition. Just now, with ‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish,’ which is a big hit at the box office and really our entrance back into the Shrek universe, continues to make that acquisition look really favorable.”
Comcast President Mike Cavanaugh said that any outside deal would have to be weighed against Comcast’s direct involvement. He said, “Where we control it, operate it, know what we’re doing, have no surprises.”
WWE Network programming in the U.S. has belonged exclusively to NBC Universal’s Peacock streaming service since 2021. Peacock closed 2022 with 20 million paid subscribers. WWE Monday Night RAW and WWE NXT also both air on the USA Network, which is an NBCU-owned cable channel.
