Tony Khan’s Sensational Bid to Buy WWE Revealed

In a surprising turn of events, it has come to light that Tony Khan, owner of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), made a substantial bid to acquire World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2023, before the company was ultimately purchased by Endeavor and formed TKO Group Holdings.

The 2023 Bidding War

According to court filings uncovered in a shareholder lawsuit concerning the WWE merger, Khan’s company, Base 10, submitted a bid of $6.9 billion for WWE [ProWrestling.net]. Other contenders in the bidding process included Formula One’s parent company, Liberty Media, and private equity firm KKR [ITR Wrestling]. Endeavor ultimately won the auction with a winning bid of $8.5 billion [ProWrestling.net], leading to the creation of TKO Group Holdings.

Base 10 and Khan’s Involvement

While Tony Khan was not directly named in the initial complaint filed in the Delaware Chancery Court in November 2023, his companies, Base 10 and All Elite Wrestling, were explicitly mentioned [ITR Wrestling]. Florida business records indicate that BASE10, Inc. Was incorporated in 2014, with Khan listed as the sole officer and the company’s address linked to the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium, the NFL team owned by his family [ITR Wrestling].

The Shareholder Lawsuit and Allegations

The merger process is currently the subject of an ongoing shareholder lawsuit alleging unfair practices. Plaintiffs claim that former WWE owner Vince McMahon may have preselected Endeavor due to assurances from Ari Emanuel, Endeavor’s CEO, regarding McMahon’s future role within the company [ITR Wrestling]. Although, these allegations have been denied by the defendants.

What If?

Had Tony Khan successfully acquired WWE, he would have controlled a significant portion of the professional wrestling industry, including AEW, WWE, and Ring of Honor, which he purchased in 2022 [OutKick]. This would have consolidated power in a way not seen since Vince McMahon’s acquisition of WCW and ECW.

Looking Ahead

The revelation of Khan’s bid adds another layer of complexity to the evolving landscape of professional wrestling. With AEW continuing to challenge WWE’s dominance, and both companies now potentially operating under the same corporate umbrella through Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance’s planned acquisition, the future of the industry remains dynamic and uncertain [OutKick].