WWE Believes It Can Be Bigger Than Disney As a Global Brand

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WWE Could Be Bigger Than Disney, Says McMahon

By Tim Adams

Published Nov 8, 2018

WWE's Stephanie McMahon believes the company has the potential to surpass Disney as a global brand.

Disney is one of the biggest media companies in the world, with its reach extending to movies, television, sports and comics, just to name a few. When you're at the top of the mountain, there is always someone or something looking to knock the current champion or king off the throne. For Disney, its newest competitor is the WWE.

Speaking at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal this week, Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon compared the WWE to Disney when it comes to the WWE's global reach.

"10-20-30 years from now, there's no reason we can't be as big [as] or bigger than Disney," she said. "Now that's a tall order, especially given recent transactions. However, there's no reason why we can't get there. You have to dream big, have big, bold goals, and go after them."

World Wrestling Entertainment's Monday Night Raw holds the title as the longest-running weekly episodic television show, and has a successful sister-brand in Tuesday night's SmackDown Live. The company launched its own streaming platform called the WWE Network in 2014, produces its own films through its movie division, has a highly-rated reality show on E! (Total Divas), and recently teamed with BOOM! Studios for a line of WWE comics.

One of the WWE's more ambitious undertakings is the planned-revival of the XFL football league, which CEO Vince McMahon plans on relaunching in 2020. WWE will move SmackDown Live to Fox next year after signing a five-year deal reportedly worth over $1 billion.

(via WrestlingInc.com)