More on AEW’s Interest In Purchasing WWE, the Expected Sale Price for WWE

As noted, CNBC reported on Thursday evening that AEW President Tony Khan and his father, AEW lead investor Shad Khan, are interested in potentially buying WWE. It was noted that the idea of WWE merging with AEW is a long shot, and that AEW has not had any talks with WWE officials.

Barron’s, a publication of The Wall Street Journal, added that AEW is also in the running to potentially buy WWE, but the Khans wouldn’t go into the deal alone.

“All Elite Wrestling—the top rival to WWE ,led by Tony Khan and family—is in the pool of potential buyers for WWE, a person close to the potential transaction told Barron’s, adding that the Khans will likely look for a financial partner to acquire the asset,” the reporrt stated.

Barron’s also said there are at least three companies generally seen as in a position to buy WWE. As we’ve noted, other potential buyers include Comcast/NBCU, Endeavor, Disney, Amazon, Netflix and Apple. The front-runner seems to be the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which could be the only way for WWE to stay private, and keep McMahon in control.

It was also noted that WWE will likely fetch top dollar, with the sale price being in the billions of dollars.

“We think… market consideration related to the value of live content creates an optimal setting for an acquisition attempt,” wrote Benchmark’s Mike Hickey, who believes WWE could fetch more than $105 per share, which implies a 46% gain from the closing price on January 5, before McMahon said he wanted to return.

Guggenheim analyst Curry Baker also writes that WWE could command somewhere in the $100 to $110 per share range. After news of a potential sale emerged, Baker labeled WWE stock his best idea, rating it at Buy with a target of $94 for the price. 

Barron’s notes that this range makes sense as a price of around $102 would value the company at 22 times the $410.4 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization WWE is expected to record in fiscal year 2023. In 2016, Endeavor paid $4 billion, or 22 times adjusted EBITDA, for UFC.

“We think that now is the time to Buy WWE,” Hickey previously wrote. “Business momentum is strong, and future growth prospects appear promising.”

Stay tuned to WrestlingHeadlines.com for more. Below are links to some of our recent reports on the ongoing situation:

FULL COVERAGE OF THE VINCE MCMAHON – JOHN LAURINAITIS ALLEGATIONS AND FALLOUT:

– Backstage Notes on Vince McMahon’s WWE Status, Who Is Running WWE Right Now, McMahon Family Issues, More

– More on AEW’s Interest In Purchasing WWE, the Expected Sale Price for WWE

– New Report on the WWE Sale and Triple H & Stephanie McMahon, Potential Buyers

– WWE Hires Outside Advisors to Help with Sale Talks, Vince McMahon Comments

– Backstage Updates on the WWE Sale, Nick Khan Meets with Interesting Names, Latest on WWE Possibly Going Private, More

– Stephanie McMahon WWE Status Update, WWE Talents to Push Back Against a Sale to Saudi Arabia?, More Backstage Notes

– Update on the WWE Sale – Saudi Arabia PIF Rumors from Tuesday Night

– Major Rumors on a WWE Sale Making the Rounds

– WWE Names Vince McMahon as Chairman Once Again; Comments from Vince, Nick Khan, Stephanie McMahon

– Stephanie McMahon Announces WWE Resignation

– JP Morgan Gets Hired By WWE To Assist With Potential Sale

– Full Transcript from Today’s WWE Meeting Led By Stephanie McMahon, Nick Khan and Frank Riddick

– Backstage News from WWE Meeting, WWE Going Private Again?, Vince McMahon Notes, More

– Interesting Note on WWE Board Member Who Just Resigned, People In WWE Looking to Leave Over Vince McMahon?, More

– Triple H, Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon Issue Statement on Vince McMahon’s Return to WWE Board, Two Members Resign

– WWE Holding Important Meeting Today, Wall Street Reacts to Vince McMahon’s Return to The Board

– Vince McMahon Officially Returns to WWE Board of Directors with Former Presidents, Three Members Removed

– Wall Street Reacts to Potential WWE Sale and Return of Vince McMahon

– Backstage Reactions to Vince McMahon Confirming His Plans for a WWE Return

– Vince McMahon Issues Statement and Details on Plans for WWE Return

– Vince McMahon Reportedly Planning WWE Return for a Major Sale

– Vince McMahon Reportedly Planning a WWE Comeback, Vince Facing New Demands from Women Alleging Abuse, New Details on Allegations, More

– Vince McMahon Scandal Hurt WWE’s Ability to Sell Sponsorships

– Backstage Talk on Vince McMahon’s Post-WWE Life

– WWE Special Committee Investigation Wraps, WWE Remains Worried Vince McMahon’s Departure May Hurt Them Creatively, Backstage Talk on Vince’s Future, More

– WWE Says Vince McMahon’s Departure May Hurt the Company Creatively and Financially

– WWE Reveals $5 Million More In Payments Made By Vince McMahon

– Backstage Updates on WWE and John Laurinaitis, WWE’s Board of Directors Investigation

– Linda McMahon Comments on Vince McMahon’s WWE Retirement After Being Pressed By Reporter

– Vince McMahon WWE Stock Update, Vince’s WWE Ownership, Linda McMahon Note

– Wrestlers Interested In Working for WWE Again, Backstage Talk on Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, More

– New Interesting Backstage Talk on How Vince McMahon Was During Creative Meetings and Live TV Production

– USA Network Looks Ahead to Big WWE Changes, USA on Fan Reactions to Triple H Taking Over Creative

– Top WWE Stars Jab at Vince McMahon’s Retirement on RAW

– What Triple H Promised to WWE Talents In Pre-RAW Backstage Meeting, More Backstage Notes

– Vince McMahon Reportedly Being Investigated By the Federal Government, Retirement Impacted By Investigations

– Vince McMahon Facing Additional Investigations?, More on Vince’s Exit from WWE

– Backstage News on Vince McMahon’s Transition to Retirement, USA’s Response to WWE Creative Change, More

– WWE Restates Financial Statements Due to Unrecorded Vince McMahon Expenses, Vince to Pay Money Back

– Triple H Named Head of WWE Creative, WWE Officially Names Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan as Co-CEOs, Preliminary Q2 Earnings

– Backstage News on Brock Lesnar Working WWE SmackDown After Walking Out Earlier

– Stephanie McMahon and WWE Fans Send “Thank You” Message to Vince McMahon

– Read Vince McMahon’s Full Retirement Letter Sent to WWE Employees

– Brock Lesnar Officially Pulled from WWE SmackDown

– WWE SmackDown Backstage Mood, Rumor on Another Departure, Meeting Held After Vince McMahon’s Retirement Announcement, More

– Tony Khan Jokingly Reacts To Vince McMahon’s Retirement: “I’m Grateful To Now Be The Longest-Tenured CEO In Pro Wrestling”

– WWE to Replace Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam?, More on Lesnar’s Reaction to Vince McMahon’s Retirement

– Backstage News on Vince McMahon’s Retirement, Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan’s New WWE Roles, More

– Brock Lesnar Reportedly Leaves SmackDown, Upset Over Vince McMahon’s WWE Retirement

– Vince McMahon Retires from WWE

– Triple H at WWE SmackDown, Backstage Talk on Triple H’s New Role, Bruce Prichard Update, More

– WWE Announces Triple H’s New Executive Role, Triple H Comments

– More Vince McMahon Allegations To Be Revealed?, Possible Reasons Mainstream Media Didn’t Give Significant Attention to Recent WSJ Report–

– Netflix Reportedly Pulls Vince McMahon Project, Millions of Dollars Spent

– Backstage Reactions to Vince McMahon Allegations, What Vince Allegedly Shouted After WWE TV Appearance, More

– WWE Issues Internal Statement on Latest Vince McMahon Allegations

– Vince McMahon Reportedly Paid Millions of Dollars In “Hush Money” to Former Wrestler and Others

– News on Who Made the Decision to Name Stephanie McMahon as WWE’s Interim CEO & Chairwoman

– Stephanie McMahon Addresses Investigation Into Her Father During WWE HQ Meeting

– How Much Value WWE Has Lost Since Vince McMahon Scandal Broke, WWE Ratings Up Due to Buzz?

– WWE Now Facing Multiple Potential Class Action Lawsuits

– Bruce Prichard Gets More WWE Power, John Laurinaitis Update, Backstage Concern Over Latest Major Move

– Vince McMahon Makes Surprise WWE RAW Appearance to Hype Big Return

– More Details On Vince McMahon’s Mood, Backstage Atmosphere At Friday’s WWE SmackDown

– Vince McMahon Opens Tonight’s WWE SmackDown, Video of the Segment

– “Weird” Atmosphere at WWE SmackDown, Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis Updates, Stephanie McMahon Talk, More

– Backstage Update on Vince McMahon’s SmackDown Appearance, Internal WWE Reactions to Today’s Announcement, More

– Stephanie McMahon Sends Message to WWE Staff After Today’s Huge Announcement

– Vince McMahon Announced for WWE SmackDown

– Stephanie McMahon Named Interim CEO of WWE, Vince McMahon Issues Statement on Stepping Away During Investigation

– Pat McAfee Reacts to Vince McMahon Allegations, Thinks We Will Never Get the Truth

– WWE Statement to Employees on Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis Investigation, Backstage News and Talk on Vince’s Future, More

– Anonymous E-mails Lead to Investigation Into Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis Over Relationships with Ex-WWE Female Employees, WWE Issues Statement

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