Last month, the WWE sent tongues wagging — and elbows flying — after CNBC published a report claiming the scripted sports entertainment product was in talks with both Michigan and Colorado regulators in an effort to allow people to wager on the outcome of pro wrestling matches.
Colorado officials quickly poured water on the report, saying no one at the Colorado Division of Gaming was involved in any talks on the matter. Officials at the Michigan Gaming Control Board, however, were a little more coy with their denial, confirming that a “third-party consultant approached the MGCB more than a year ago about a proposal to add WWE events,” but that conversations ended there.
Well, it's quite possible we haven't heard the last of the potential for betting on WWE events. Monday morning, in a joint press release with UFC parent company Endeavor Group Holdings, a long-anticipated WWE-UFC merger was announced, with Endeavor holding 51% of the operation and WWE shareholders 49%.
Today, @Endeavor announced it has signed an agreement to form a $21+ billion global live sports and entertainment company made up of @UFC'and @WWE. https://t.co/lPrkBmKJXm pic.twitter.com/ZBk95c5exU