Days before the UFC will hold their inaugural event at the White House in honor of Donald Trump’s birthday, the U.S. Justice Department has given the green light for Paramount Skydance to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
The approval of the $111 billion bid felt like a fait accompli given the relationship between the Trump administration and the Ellison family in addition to the current regulatory climate.
From Politico on the eight month review:
Following an extensive review, DOJ officials concluded that the transaction posed no competitive threat and chose not to contest it, according to individuals familiar with the matter. The department approved the merger without imposing any divestitures, behavioral remedies, or other concessions, one source noted.
The deal still has some hurdles as several U.S. state regulators are pushing back on it.
Both parties are now seeking to finalize the transaction promptly, reigniting discussions within the professional wrestling community about the implications for AEW, which holds a domestic television rights agreement with WBD through 2027, including a one‑year extension option.
Paramount currently has no wrestling programming on any of its networks or services, but it maintains a broad portfolio of partnerships with TKO covering UFC, Zuffa Boxing and PBR, and TKO also owns WWE.
Josh Nason
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He’s a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.