The interesting angles of the WWE and UFC merger

The merger of the WWE and UFC creates some intriguing angles for what the future will look like for both companies.

WrestleMania weekend was all about big matches, big moments, and even bigger news. Sunday confirmed what fans and media outlets have speculated for months regarding the WWE sale, as Endeavor is moving in to take a 51 percent stake of ownership in WWE, eventually merging it with the UFC to create a sports-entertainment giant. This is a big moment in sports entertainment that should create more excitement than apprehension among fans of both worlds.

On their own, WWE and UFC are two giants in sports entertainment. Yes, that is a term coined by the WWE and Vince McMahon, but it is important to recognize the close relationship that wrestling and mixed martial arts held for decades. The crossover between the two spaces was around long before Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey made the jump, and thanks to this development the worlds are moving closer.

The earliest impact will be felt behind the scenes. WWE and UFC both hold strategic advertising partnerships that will be leveraged to increase revenue opportunities for both brands. For example, UFC has a tightly controlled clothing sponsorship deal that mandates fighters wear branded gear for all media events. While that strict policy may not become commonplace in WWE, that idea can become a new revenue opportunity for the largest wrestling company in the industry.

The same could be said about more advertising seen on ring posts and the mat. These practices aren’t fully new in wrestling, but there has been a clear advancement in those areas within WWE.

Of course, there is speculation about individuals from both worlds taking part in competitions within WWE or UFC. Could wrestling fans turn on their weekly program to see individuals like Conor McGregor or Colby Covington pop up on screen and potentially within storylines? Yes, that becomes more available as these two organizations merge. UFC Welterweight Champion, Leon Edwards was shown on screen during the Clash at the Castle, and The Creed Brothers shared a moment with UFC Hall of Famer, Daniel Cormier during WWE NXT Stand & Deliver. The crossover is already there.

Fans have long called on the WWE to do something different, rather than its same old tired storytelling and match types. This new deal doesn’t immediately signify massive, wholesale changes, but it should create some level of excitement for the next iteration of sports entertainment which has long needed spark to bring back lapsed fans and build those of the future.