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With WWE's profits constantly growing and news about "budget cuts" taking place every other month, there has been speculation by some fans that Vince McMahon could be trying to make the company as profitable as possible for a sale.
It's hard to imagine McMahon selling the promotion, especially since it has been in his family for nearly 80 years. He himself will have completed 40 years in charge of WWE by 2022.
Let's look at a scenario where Vince McMahon eventually sells the company and leaves the sports entertainment industry after 50 years overall. There would undoubtedly be a huge shift, not just within WWE, but the entire professional wrestling/sports entertainment industry.
Here are five big things that could happen in such a scenario:
#5. The creative process within WWE would change drastically without Vince McMahon
When we say everything in WWE goes through Vince McMahon, this includes the creative process. For the last few decades, he has been hands-on with the creative process, micromanaging it. Admittedly, the micromanaging of the creative process seems to have increased since the PG Era. How many times have we read rumors of McMahon re-writing RAW at the last minute?
What many fans don't understand is that Vince McMahon knows several factors are on the line in the creative process. It could have something to do with merchandise sales, sponsorships, partnerships, global presence, etc.
However, if he sells the company and is out of the picture, the creative process in WWE will change drastically. In all likeliness, superstars would get more creative freedom with him gone. While there are only a handful of superstars in WWE who have creative control, several other superstars would benefit.
There are always two sides to the argument when superstars are held back creatively, but it does happen. First and foremost, the constant change in creative teams may not take place.
In the last few years, we've seen creative teams separated because of the WWE Draft and that seemed like the right move. However, they were also reportedly merged back together later on, with news and rumors of a constant change in the creative team.
A more concentrated and dedicated creative team might be in place and there's also a chance that the number of rejected ideas go down.
#4. Reduced financial success at first without Vince McMahon
Despite the argument that WWE isn't as popular as it was 21 years ago, Vince McMahon continues to create record profits. As of 2020, this was WWE's net worth:
As of 2020, the WWE net worth is listed as $5.71 billion. Despite viewership hiccups, WWE has been doing mighty fine in the revenue department. In the second quarter of 2018, it recorded a revenue of $281.6 million - a 31% increase, the highest in WWE history. The sharp rise in revenue was largely helped by the huge increments in media and operating income which recorded a 48% and a 43% increase respectively.
Budget cuts and a record broadcast deal with FOX Sports for SmackDown ensured that the promotion is kept as profitable as possible. This isn't always met with a great reception, especially since a lot of talent has been released by McMahon and WWE in the last year-and-a-half.
Whoever the new management is, it's unlikely that they will replicate the financial success that Vince McMahon has achieved, at least not at first. It's something that will likely take a while to recover, but the WWE brand name will continue to stay strong and afloat.
#3. A big change to talent independent contract status with Vince McMahon gone?
The "independent contractor" situation might end in WWE if Vince McMahon is gone. This is, however, if a major corporation takes over and has direct control. With the McMahon family still in power through anyone else, the independent contractor situation might still be intact. In case you're unaware, this is how Investopedia defines an "independent contractor":
An independent contractor is a self-employed person or entity contracted to perform work for—or provide services to—another entity as a nonemployee. As a result, independent contractors must pay their own Social Security and Medicare taxes. In addition, an entity that uses the services of an independent contractor is not required to provide them with employment benefits, such as health insurance and employer-sponsored retirement accounts, that the entity might otherwise provide were the contractor an employee.
This is a big problem within the company because Vince McMahon has long considered superstars as "independent contractors" and not "employees". However, they're still bound by several restrictions that one would as an employee.
Jon Moxley spoke to his wife Renee Paquette on her podcast about his issues with independent contractor term:
"When I was doing my taxes in WWE, because you're an independent contractor – which is not true – you're a fu--ng employee. So, you have to pay your taxes. In the developmental first couple of years, I didn't make that much money. I was able to do them myself on TurboTax," said Jon Moxley.
It's a highly-debated topic, but a big change with McMahon gone is the transition of WWE Superstars from independent contractors to employees.
#2. Triple H to finally take over from Vince McMahon?
Despite CM Punk's comments about Vince McMahon's "idiotic daughter and doofus son-in-law" taking over WWE after he's gone, it's not a change that fans would protest.
With NXT being a more acclaimed show than RAW or SmackDown from a creative perspective between 2013 to 2019, many fans assumed that Triple H taking over the company would be best for business. There is a visible difference in approach, with him seeing things from the lens of modern fans.
If he were to take over, it would also mean that Stephanie McMahon would be at the forefront as well. Of course, it all depends on who buys out WWE and if they have an agreement with Vince McMahon over who runs the company.
It's still possible that The Game and Stephanie will be pushed to the forefront with other people higher-up to answer to. However, McMahon's departure and Triple H "replacing" him would also signify a potentially big shift in work culture within WWE.
#1. With Vince McMahon gone, focus on building megastars could re-emerge
Vince McMahon realized something years ago - It's better to have the WWE brand as a big draw rather than a single superstar or megastar. Is it a coincidence that the company hasn't been able to build a megastar since John Cena? Naturally, Roman Reigns' name emerges, but it's simply not the same as it was with Hulk Hogan, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, The Rock, and John Cena.
McMahon has prioritized making Reigns WWE's top star, but it seems unlikely that The Tribal Chief will emerge as a company megastar.
It isn't just WWE that has taken this approach. After Conor McGregor shattered pay-per-view records with the UFC, his inactivity became a problem. A large chunk of their pay-per-view revenue in a calendar year depended on McGregor, and the UFC felt the need to make the brand the star rather than a single fighter.
WWE was much earlier in their change in approach and it can be seen on the decreasing reliance on big names for major shows. Another example is how WrestleMania itself is a brand name that can attract tens of thousands of people to travel from across the United States and the world to a single stadium each year.
With Vince McMahon selling WWE and departing, the party in charge may change the approach and focus on building megastars over keeping the company name as the big star attraction. However, that is largely dependent on the level of popularity that pro wrestling has and maintains
