Folks, hold onto your spandex and steel chairs because TKO President Mark Shapiro just dropped some bombshells at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference, and let’s just say—WWE is still in diapers, according to him. That’s right. WWE, the billion-dollar, muscle-flexing, pyro-blasting machine we know and love is, in Shapiro’s words, just a “baby.” And not the cutesy kind, but more like a baby Hulk still figuring out how to smash even more revenue records. This could be huge—HUGE, folks.
WWE – Still in Its Infancy (Allegedly)
Shapiro’s main point? WWE is just getting started. In fact, he says, “We’re one year in,” with Endeavor’s takeover and the birth of TKO. Talk about being a baby, folks. WWE, a company that’s been body-slamming audiences for decades, is apparently still crawling. I guess that makes Vince McMahon its grizzled, overcaffeinated babysitter.
But seriously, Shapiro thinks there’s loads of missed potential—like WWE is an untapped goldmine. His big pitch? More sponsorships. More deals. More ways to make money that don’t involve just flinging humans at each other for our entertainment (though we definitely love that part too).
The Baby’s Growing Fast—And So Are Ticket Prices
And what’s one surefire way to rake in more cash? You guessed it—ticket prices. Shapiro says they’ve been “too low for too long,” and now that TKO’s in charge, prices are headed up like a freshly powered-up John Cena. Because why pay $50 to see Roman Reigns when you could pay $100, right?
Oh, and if you thought ticket hikes were a one-time thing? Think again. Apparently, those prices will continue to go up. So, fans, better start saving those pennies—or maybe just start investing in WWE stock. You’ll need the dividends to afford a seat.
Fewer Live Events – More Time to Miss the Action
And now, for the grand finale: WWE will be scaling back on live events. Yes, folks, those good ol’ house shows that pop up in random towns across America like a surprise RKO are going to be fewer and farther between. Shapiro says they just don’t make enough money, so why bother? Instead, we’re going to get more premium, TV-worthy content—and less of the good ol’ “WWE’s coming to my small town!” excitement. I mean, who needs personal connection when we’ve got Peacock, right?
But hey, this baby WWE is about growth—financial growth, that is. And if cutting down on live events and jacking up ticket prices is what it takes, Shapiro and TKO are more than ready to take this baby to the moon. Forget growing pains, this baby’s already swinging for the fences.
Final Thoughts?
WWE isn’t done evolving—far from it. Shapiro’s vision is clear: more money, fewer shows, higher tickets. Will fans love it? Time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: this so-called “baby” is ready to start throwing some serious tantrums.