Veteran WWE figurehead Vince McMahon aims for a comeback by attempting to acquire Conor McGregor's MMA promotion business.
Vince McMahon may have left WWE behind, but he's clearly itching to make a splash in the sports world once more.
A jaw-dropping turn of events has shaken the wrestling and combat sports spheres alike, as McMahon - the ex-WWE honcho - has made a bold, genuine attempt to pull some major strings in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
According to a bombshell report by Justin Barrasso for Sports Illustrated, McMahon recently wrapped up a meeting with the goal of snatching a majority stake in BKFC, a bare-knuckle boxing organization established in 2018.
In an unexpected move, Conor McGregor jumped aboard the BKFC bandwagon back in April 2024, becoming a part- owner and regular showstopper at events.
BKFC's founder and president, David Feldman, confirmed the meeting with McMahon, stating that while the timing was off for his organization and he wasn't willing to relinquish full control, McMahon was undeniably serious about the business and openly expressed a desire for creative control - much like how he would run the show[1][2][4][5].
"He's a great guy, his whole team is fantastic, but the timing wasn't right for us," Feldman told SI. "He's Vince McMahon - if I were him, I'd want creative control, too. He was awesome, very complimentary, and he was very serious to do business."
However, McMahon's vision for BKFC may represent a stark contrast to his tenure at WWE. This gritty, unfiltered spectacle might be just the challenge the genre-defining executive is looking for to rekindle his fire.
After all, McMahon has never shied away from ambition. Despite his departure from the WWE boardrooms, McMahon has been clandestinely preparing for his next big move. In September 2024, he registered a sports, entertainment, and media investment firm called 14TH & I in Connecticut, aiming to foster financial backing across movies, television, and sports media[1][2].
With close to $250 million in liquidity from selling over 1.5 million shares of TKO stock, McMahon's resources are primed for investment opportunities like the BKFC deal[1][2].
So, while this comeback attempt may have stumbled, make no mistake: McMahon is far from done. The fire that once fueled his meteoric rise and global wrestling empire is smoldering, ready to be fanned into an inferno once more.
And though his involvement in WWE may now only be confined to the annals of history, one thing's for sure: McMahon's relentless drive to promote live sports entertainment remains as fervent as ever.
In the aftermath of recent events, McMahon's return to center stage may come as a surprise to many. But when it comes to the world of Vince McMahon, perhaps it's just another exhilarating chapter in his unpredictable, ever-evolving story.
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2024/09/04/ill-be-out-of-this-business-december-31-2024-vince-mcmahon-announces-he-is-selling-wwe-stock-and-retiring/?sh=5b4e8cdd35ba
[2] https://www.Bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-01/vince-mcmahon-plans-combat-sports-venture-with-14th-and-i
[3] https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2024/11/mcmahon-to-concentrate-on-bare-knuckle-boxing-after-plan-to-buy-bkfc-fails/
[4] https://www.newsweek.com/vince-mcmahon-reportedly-preparing-return-sports-promotion-wwe-departure-1744748
[5] https://www.si.com/wrestling/2024/11/01/vince-mcmahon-bkfc-bare-knuckle-fighting-championship-sports-illustrated
- Vince McMahon, known for his tenure at WWE, is making a bold move into the combat sports world, aiming to acquire a majority stake in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), a venture that also attracts UFC star Conor McGregor.
- McMahon's foray into BKFC stands in stark contrast to his WWE career, offering a gritty, unfiltered spectacle that could rekindle his passion for live sports entertainment.
- In addition to his sports interests, McMahon has registered a sports, entertainment, and media investment firm, 14TH & I, with substantial financial resources from selling WWE shares, signaling his readiness for new investment opportunities like BKFC.
