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WWE and UFC Finalize Merger as WrestleMania 39 Becomes the Most Successful in Franchise History

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: WWE/NYTimes

In a move that sent shockwaves through the sports entertainment industry, the WWE has finalized a merger with Endeavor’s UFC.  The news comes on the heels of the most successful WrestleMania in the history of the company in Los Angeles.

Monday, Vince McMahon announced plans to sell a controlling stake in WWE to Endeavor in a merger with mixed-martial arts rival UFC.  The all-stock deal will see Endeavor’s UFC and WWE merged to create a new standalone company, yet unnamed, noted to be worth around $21 billion. Endeavor shareholders will own 51% and WWE shareholders 49%.  An 11-member board will be split 6 directors to 5, Endeavor-WWE.

WWE in the deal is valued at $9.3 billion. In the re-alignment, Endeavor’s Ari Emanuel will be the CEO, McMahon will be the executive chairman. WWE CEO Nick Khan will be president of the unified company and UFC’s Dana White will continue as president of that organization.

In an interview with Emanuel and McMahon for CNBC, Vince shared that it was time for things to evolve, elaborating, “a family business has to evolve, for all the right reasons. And this is the right business decision, and it’s the right family decision.”  The major merger is expected to close mid-year pending regulatory approval.

This all comes at a time for McMahon where he had to pay the company back $17 million dollars of reimbursement for costs during the legal probe for allegations of sexual misconduct against him.  When many thought Vince was done at the WWE, he has bounced back.  Vince expressed: “Let me just say, I’ve made mistakes both personally and professionally through my 50-year career. I have owned up to every single one of them and then moved on.”

The deal was struck as a crucial time when Fox and NBCUniversal are entering into an exclusive negotiating window which began on April 1st. Fox airs Smackdown, while USA Networks airs Raw, and in a separate deal, Peacock now holds the streaming rights.

During Monday Night Raw, Paul ‘Triple H” Levesque assured viewers at home and the audience in attendance at Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles, that with the new merger, it will not effect the current landscape of WWE programming and live events, sharing “We ain’t goin’ nowhere!”

Photo: WWE

In a look at WrestleMania 39 by the numbers: the two-day sold-out event at SoFi Stadium set new records for viewership, gate, sponsorship, merchandise and social media. Night 2 surpassed the existing global viewership record by 33 percent, just one day after Night 1 of WrestleMania 39 surpassed the existing global viewership record by 28 percent.

WrestleMania 39 generated a gate of more than $21.6 million, breaking the previous record by 27 percent, with 161,892 in attendance at SoFi Stadium over the two nights.  Sponsorship revenue eclipsed $20 million, more than doubling the previous record. Merchandise sales were up 20 percent versus the record set in 2022.  This year’s WrestleMania has over 500 million views on social media and 11 million hours of video consumed over the two days, a 42 percent increase over last year.

Now take a look at Vince McMahon and Ari Emanuel discussing their merger with CNBC this morning below, followed by Triple H addressing the crowd at the beginning of Monday Night RAW tonight.

Do you think the WWE/UFC Endeavor merger will ultimately be a a good long term for the WWE? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Casts Australian-Born Wil Traval as the Mysterious Jude

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Wil Travel

General Hospital is welcoming yet another new face to the canvas when Australia native Wil Traval join the cast as a mysterious stranger named Jude, who will arrive in Port Charles come October.

Traval becomes the second new Australian-born actor to join the cast. It was back on July 13, that GH viewers first saw Dean Geyer in the role of Dr. Tristan Roberts, whose name is an homage to the late Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio, GH). Could Jude and Tristan be related?

If not that theory, might Jude join the mystery involving JJE (Jasper Jacks Enterprises), which is currently under the investigation by the WSB? Since Josslyn’s (Eden McCoy) father, Jasper Jacks, is from down under, could Jude be connected business-wise or otherwise, to the mysterious Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) who came to Port Charles with several agendas?

Wil Traval

Photo: : Brianna Alysse

FROM DOWN UNDER TO PORT CHARLES

Traval is a native of Victoria, Australia, who had a recurring role in Season 3 of The CW’s Dynasty. In the primetime soap reboot, Traval played Father Caleb Collins, whose faith was put to the test when he developed feeling for Cristal Carrington (Daniella Alonso).

The GH newcomer is no newcomer to TV and film roles with an extensive credits including: Netflix’s Jessica Jones, ABC’s Red Widow and Grey’s Anatomy, Arrow, Chicago P.D., Grimm and Once Upon a Time, to name but a few.

In his homeland of Australia, Traval is best known for portraying Dr. Jack Quade in the medical drama All Saints, and Detective Peter Church in the crime drama White Collar Blue.

So far in the last couple of months, General Hospital had brought on the following casting additions, the aforementioned Geyer and Appel, plus Kayden Brenna Tokarski (Scout Cain), Kelly Kruger (Serena Baldwin), Alimi Ballard (William Baines), Kearran Giovanni (Dr. Nichols) and Blythe Howard, who will debut next week on the Wednesday, September 23 episode as Monet.

So, with all the newbies hitting the screens on GH, is hard for you to keep up, or are you excited to see how Jude fits into the storyline with the arrival of Wil Traval this fall? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.

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Y&R’s Eileen Davidson Suffers Knee Injury That Required Surgery

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Eileen Davidson

Two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott, The Young and the Restless) has shared some news on an injury sustained to her knee that has taken her out of action for the next little while.

According to Davidson, via her Instagram, she, “Slipped getting out of a cold plunge and fractured my patella. I’m gonna be down for the count for quite a few weeks recovering from surgery. Thanks to the EMTs and the great team at Los Robles Hospital.”

Eileen suffered a fractured knee cap, and is currently in a knee/leg brace as shared in accompanied photos in her post. Several Y&R co-stars past and present jumped into the comment thread including: Greg Rikaart (Kevin, Y&R, now Leo, DAYS), show said “NO!” Lauralee Bell (Christine, Y&R) who expressed, “Oh no!! So sorry! Speedy recovery! Heal well and in time knowing you you’ll get your groove back!” Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea, Y&R), “Nooooooo😢 Sending huge hugs, love you!,” and Stephen Nichols (ex-Tucker, Y&R, Steve, DAYS) “Oh, Eileen… so sorry! Get better soon. Sending love and healing vibes,” and more.

Photo: EDavidsonIG

Davidson more recent to The Young and the Restless began in July following Ashley’s brother, Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) seeing stabbed by Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) and her dealing with the family and corporate secrets with Jabot.

Eileen has won two Lead Actress Daytime Emmys for her roles as Kristen DiMera/Susan Banks on Days of our Lives in 2014 and for her performances as Y&R’s Ashley in 2018.

Share your well-wishes for Eileen as she heals up from her patella surgery and our hopes for more Ashley on the way later this year via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Kelly Monaco Honors Her Late ‘General Hospital’ Co-Star Billy Miller, Sharing Letter He Wrote After Taping His Final Episode as Drew Cain

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Kelly Monaco and Billy Miller

Kelly Monaco (ex-Sam McCall, General Hospital) has taken to her Instagram for the second time this week and now honors her late dear friend and General Hospital co-star, Billy Miller (ex-Drew Cain) on what would have been his 47th birthday on September 17.

In her post, Monaco wished Billy “a heavenly birthday” and shared a typewritten note from her beloved co-star after he exited General Hospital in the role of Drew Cain. The three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor played the part from 2014-2019.

Monaco wrote accompanying the photo of Billy’s letter: “He (Billy) sent me this a few years ago, after he left (the show) wanting me to post it… I didn’t/ But… I know he wanted anyone who’s ever supported his work and or got to know him as a friend to read this letter.”

Photo: JPI

BILLY MILLER WON THREE DAYTIME EMMYS FOR HIS WORK IN SOAPS

Billy Miller was one of the most respected actors to ever grace the daytime screens for his portrayals as Richie Novack on All My Children from 2007-2008 and Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless from 2008 until 2014 and of course, his final soap stop on General Hospital. He also appeared on primetime’s Ray Donovan and Suits.

TOUCHING GOODBYE LETTER AFTER EXITING GENERAL HOSPITAL

Here now, is what Billy shared in his letter after exiting GH: “Hello, friends… With a slight air of sadness it is time to ponder what ‘goodbye’ means. However, instead of dwelling on what is gone and sure to be missed, there is another way.”

“Maybe our goodbye is really a remembrance of love felt, an appreciation for lives shared and the lifelong reminiscences that come from embraces given and received, Maybe our goodbye is an earnest hope for the brightest path forward for us all,” expressed Miller. “Maybe our goodbye is honoring growth and lessons learned.”

The beloved star added, “Now, instead of sadness, I am filled with gratitude for all your support, encouragement and every emotion shared. I cherish the journey we have taken together, Thank you for allowing me into your homes and lives. With every ounce of myself, I thank you for being you. I would be remiss in this crazy, unpredictable world we all love so much if I did not hold out the possibility that maybe our goodbye is really… until next time.”

Sadly, Billy died by suicide three years ago on September 15, 2023, just two days shy of what would have been his 43rd birthday.  You can check out Kelly’s post below.

Now, share your remembrances today of Billy Miller and the touching letter he wrote after leaving General Hospital, that Kelly Monaco posted in tribute to her friend and co-star via the comment section below.

 

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A post shared by Kelly Monaco (@kelly_m23)

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