During the massive bidding war to purchase WWE in 2023, AEW owner Tony Khan submitted one of the most lucrative offers.
Once longtime WWE chairman Vince McMahon resigned following allegations of professional and sexual misconduct, Khan made a nearly $7 billion bid to become his successor.
An ongoing shareholder lawsuit claims that McMahon pre-selected Endeavor to purchase the promotion to secure a guaranteed role. The lawsuit also disclosed more details about Khan’s mega offer to become the majority owner.
According to reports, Base 10, a business owned by AEW founder Tony Khan, bid $6.9 billion for WWE. The massive bid exceeds the sale of the Boston Celtics, which Bill Chisolm purchased for $6.1 billion in August 2025.
Speaking with WWE insider Jonathan Coachman and Vince Russo on The Coach & Bro, Khan confirmed his pricey bid on WWE, explaining his reasoning.
“I was very interested in the process. And I think that if there was going to be a sale, I would at least want a chance to be involved. And if it had gone for any less than that, I would have really kicked myself,” Khan said.
Despite the lofty $7 billion bid, Khan ultimately lost the bidding war to Endeavor, which only owned UFC at the time. Endeavor purchased WWE for $9.3 billion, and the acquisition was announced during WrestleMania 39 weekend in 2023.
Endeavor’s WWE Purchase is Being Investigated
GettyWWE sold a majority stake to Endeavor for over $9 billion in 2023
Even with the ongoing lawsuit to determine the legitimacy of the sale, Khan has no regrets about pursuing WWE ownership.
“While respecting the confidentiality of that, I would say I don’t have any complaints about that process from my side right now that I want to talk about right now,” he said.
“I do think there was some stuff to that. While respecting the confidentiality of the whole thing, I also would say that at the time, that seemed like to me, just reiterating, if it had gone for any less, I would have really beat myself up. Like, why wouldn’t you put in a bid? I thought that was a very reasonable number that I put in.”
Tony Khan Owns WWE’s Biggest Rival
Since its inception in 2019, AEW has been one of the biggest American pro wrestling promotions.
Although it has not surpassed WWE in weekly viewership, AEW has blossomed into a massive draw for wrestling fans. AEW Dynamite, which airs weekly on TBS, typically hovers around 700k views, according to Wrestlenomics.
Current AEW world champion MJF recently stated that the promotion puts on the best matches and urged WWE fans to “give us a watch.”
“If you haven’t watched us yet, I truly do not know what you are waiting for,” MJF said. “We make gourmet food. We have the best matches and the best pay-per-views. It’s not even close…. give us a watch.”
WWE attempted to sign MJF to SmackDown earlier this year. However, just as he did in their previous recruitment attempts, MJF opted to remain with AEW.
“I know I would’ve been successful if I went there [in the past]. I know I’d be successful if I go over there now, which is why they are still interested in me.”
MJF added that he is afforded more creative control in AEW.
“I respect what they’re doing [in WWE]. I respect their product. But, I knew I’d be given more opportunity and more of a leash [with AEW].”
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