Three of WWE’s top executives are featured on Sports Business Journal’s
2021 Most Influential People in Sports Business list.
WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon, WWE President & CRO
Nick Khan, and WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon are included on the list under the “Most Influential: Media Influencers” category.
SBJ pointed how there is a clear repositioning of WWE to a media business under Khan. They touted two big projects in the works –
Netflix’s docuseries on Vince, and the
Blumhouse-developed “The United States of America Vs. Vince McMahon” TV series. SBJ wrote the following on The McMahons and Khan making the list together:
“There is clearly a repositioning of the WWE to a media business under Khan, who joined the company from CAA Sports in August 2020, especially with the move to Peacock as part of a five-year deal reported to be more than $1 billion. High-profile projects include a multipart Netflix docuseries on Vince McMahon’s life and a deal with Blumhouse Television on a scripted series about the WWE in the 1990s.”
SBJ’s “Most Influential: Media Influencers” list for 2021 also included executives from ESPN, NBC Sports Group, Amazon, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, and WarnerMedia News & Sports/Turner Sports.
The listing on WarnerMedia News & Sports Chairman Jeff Zucker and Turner Sports President Lenny Daniels did not mention AEW, but did tout how Turner added NHL hockey and Premiere League soccer to the line-up, noting how Zucker and Daniels have become more aggressive in picking up sports rights. It was also noted that Warner/Turner now have one of the highest quality portfolios in all of sports media.
UFC President Dana White was featured under the “Most Influential: Sports Property Influencers” category. SBJ wrote the following on White:
“Perhaps the world’s most recognizable combat sports executive, White has the UFC poised to complete its best year ever financially despite it coming amid a still-smoldering pandemic. Bolstered by the resources and connections of owner Endeavor, and a deepening commitment to market its product by ESPN, White’s fighting series is coming out of the pandemic stronger than when it went in.”
Stay tuned for more.
reasons do line-up tho