WWE reports 24% surge in Q1 2025 revenue, Netflix deal powers growth
Image via WWE
WWE has kicked off 2025 with an impressive financial performance, posting $391.5 million in revenue for the first quarter - a significant 24% increase from Q1 2024. The rise, amounting to $74.8 million, is primarily credited to booming media rights and a landmark content distribution deal with Netflix.
According to the TKO Group's financial disclosure, WWE's earnings were buoyed by an uptick in media rights, live event turnout, and partnership revenue.
Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor: 'India won't give face-saving exit to Pak army chief Asim Munir'
IPL 2025: BCCI suspends IPL 2025 amid India-Pakistan tensions
Fully intact, undetonated Chinese PL-15 missile found in Hoshiarpur
The $30.5 million gain in content-related income came largely from the new arrangement that makes Netflix the exclusive global streaming home for WWE's flagship shows like - Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and its premium live events.
Netflix began streaming Raw in the U.S. starting January 2025, marking a historic shift for the wrestling giant as it transitioned from traditional broadcast to a global streaming platform. Meanwhile, SmackDown continues to air on USA Network, NXT on The CW, and other premium events on Peacock within the U.S.
TKO raises 2025 projections after WWE surge
TKO Group, the parent company formed by the merger of WWE and UFC under Endeavor - reported total revenue of $1.27 billion for Q1, with WWE contributing nearly a third. UFC, on the other hand, brought in $359.7 million, up $46.7 million from the same period last year.
The company has now raised its full-year forecast for WWE and UFC revenue to a range of $3.005 billion to $3.075 billion, citing continued strength across its portfolio. Including recent acquisitions such as IMG, On Location, and Professional Bull Riders (PBR), TKO expects total annual revenue to cross $4.49 billion.
'TKO is off to a good start in 2025,' said Ariel Emanuel, Executive Chair and CEO of TKO. 'Our conviction in our portfolio of assets is strong, and we are now focused on integration, synergies, and media rights growth.'
Corporate changes amid growth
The financial high comes just days after WWE underwent several corporate and talent-level changes. While the company has not commented directly on layoffs, industry insiders believe recent cuts are part of the ongoing post-merger restructuring process under TKO.
Interestingly, WWE's revenue figures do not include the record-breaking WrestleMania 41 event held in Las Vegas, which falls under Q2 reporting. With other marquee events like Royal Rumble also delivering strong results earlier this year, WWE seems well positioned heading into the next quarter.
Despite wider economic pressures and trade uncertainties, WWE's transition to streaming, strategic partnerships, and global expansion appear to be paying off - at least for now.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
Aamir Khan shares why nephew Imran Khan struggled to fit into Bollywood
Actor Aamir Khan, who is gearing up for the release of 'Sitaare Zameen Par', has shared why his nephew Imran Khan didn't fit in Bollywood. Imran, who gained critical acclaim and love for films like 'Delhi Belly' and 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na', left Bollywood 10 years an interview with Indian Express, Aamir Khan said that Imran was offered mainstream films, but he found it difficult to fit in as he is not comfortable with herogiri. He further expressed that Imran wants to be an actor and not a Imran has a certain creative instinct. He finds it difficult to fit into the mainstream construct we have. That's not his natural space. Which is why he'd do really well in a film like Jaane Tu and Delhi Belly. He's in his element there. But the moment you put him in a regular Hindi film, he won't fit. He's not comfortable with herogiri. He wants to play a real person. Everybody was offering him mainstream films because he's good-looking. But he wants to be an actor and not a star," Aamir said. Although Imran had quit films, he is reportedly making a comeback with 'Adhure Hum Adhure Tum' opposite Bhumi Pednekar. The film is slated for a Netflix release. It is being directed by Danish Aslam, who has also directed the Imran Khan-starrer 'Break Ke Baad' opposite Deepika had earlier opened up in an interview in Film Companion that his decision to step away from the Hindi film industry was not an abrupt but a gradual decision. Imran also expressed that he could not relate with the industry's focus on box office success and financial gains. Meanwhile, Aamir Khan's 'Sitaare Zameen Par' is slated for a theatrical release on June 20, 2025. An official remake of the Spanish film 'Champions', the film also stars Genelia Deshmukh in a prominent Watch
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Will examine proposal for shifting cricket stadium to outskirts of Bengaluru: Siddaramaiah
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the State government will examine a proposal to shift the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) stadium to the outskirts of Bengaluru. Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Sunday about the demand to shift the stadium, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, 'The government will have to look for alternative land if the stadium is to be shifted to the outskirts.' The demand for shifting the stadium has come in the wake of the death of eleven cricket fans and injuries suffered by several others during a stampede that took place outside the M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on June 4 when a function was organised to felicitate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru who lifted its maiden IPL 2025 trophy.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Squid Game's fame? Netflix CEO reveals the shocking truth behind its success
What made Squid Game popular? Live Events Returning Cast Members What to Expect in Season 3? FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Squid Game's final chapter is set to premiere on Netflix on June 27. The streaming platform dropped the trailer for the final season at its Tudum event last week. The global hit will continue the story of Gi-hun, as he returns to the deadly games following a failed rebellion in Season premiering on Netflix on September 17, 2021, the fictional South Korean survival series—where participants compete in brutal games for a prize of 45.6 billion won (S$43 million)—continues to be the platform's most popular show to a podcast with Nikhil Kamath , the co-founder of Zerodha, Netflix Co-CEO, Ted Sarandos explained what made Squid Game such a huge hit across the globe. The fact that Squid Game became such a global sensation was completely unpredictable, Sarandos Korean team that picked it knew it would be a big hit in Korea, he told Kamath. And it turns out that shows that are big local hits have the best chance of travelling globally because they are very, very good, added Squid Game's Season 2 launched in December 2024, it set a new record for the highest number of views during its premiere week and reached Netflix's global Most Popular Non-English TV list within just three days. Season 2 ranks second on the list with 193 million views, second only to Season 1's 265 million confirmed several returning characters for Season 3. They include Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun, Lee Byung-hun as the Front Man and Wi Ha-jun as Hwang Jun-ho. It will also star Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Jo Yuri, Lee David, Roh Jae-won and Park 3 features Gi-hun entering the game once again. A teaser shows him brought back in a coffin. He must play new deadly games like jump rope and a violent teaser keeps the same setting of dangerous games masked as fun. Gi-hun's goal remains revenge against the Front Man. In a message to fans, Dong-hyuk confirmed this season will complete Gi-hun's journey. The conflict between him and the Front Man will reach its will release all episodes of Squid Game Season 3 on June 27, 2025, continuing directly from Season Season 3 completes Gi-hun's story, but a spin-off exploring events between Seasons 1 and 2 may be developed later.
