The iconic Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) -) will soon be part of Endeavor (EDR) -) as the unimaginable happened, and the WWE was bought by the company that also owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the Professional Bull Riders (PBR).
Endeavor’s portfolio consists of companies that have an intense entertainment experience and campaigns to support it. McMahon, who had a controlling interest in the pro wrestling company will retain a large share of the joint venture's stock and remain as its executive chairman.
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The long-time executive has taken a leave from the company after having spinal surgery. He is also under a federal investigation and has been hit with a federal grand jury subpoena, and a search warrant. These were actions in the U.S. government's continued investigation into payments McMahon made to several women he allegedly had intimate relationships.
Those troubles, however, have not slowed WWE down as the company has its best television ratings and live-event ticket sales in years. Now, it has rekindled one of its most famous advertising relationships.
Image source: Will Ragozzino/Getty Images/TS
WWE Bets on Nostalgia
Some thirty-odd years ago the WWE had a campaign that extended beyond its fanbase. The iconic commercial series featured the late WWE “Macho Man” Randy Savage performer using his what would become one of his most famous taglines, “Snap Into a Slim Jim.”
Conagra Brand’s (CAG) -) meat snack brand, Slim Jim is back at it with a multi-platform campaign for “The SummerSlam Battle Royal Presented by Slim Jim." The new campaign is the largest sponsorship deal in WWE’s history.
The battle royal will feature 20 WWE wrestlers as part of its Summerslam premium live event (basically what used to be called a pay-per-view). The match, part of what is usually the company's second-biggest show of the year, will feature a wrestler rising in popularity, LA Knight, whose "Yeah" catchphrase is similar to Savage's famous "oh, yeah!"
Slim Jim and WWE have long been associated with each other due to people remembering the old ads, but this new deal makes the relationship official.
“Alongside our partners at Slim Jim and Conagra Brands, WWE is excited to renew one of the most memorable collaborations in sports entertainment history and there’s no better way to kick off the partnership than a 20-man Battle Royal at SummerSlam,” WWE Head of Global Sales and Partnerships Craig Stimmel said according to Fox Sports.
Conagra also seems happy to be back in business with WWE
"Slim Jim has always been about crushing boredom and doing the unexpected, which is also the cornerstone of WWE and their memorable lineup of bold, in-your-face Superstars,” Conagra Brands General Manager of Snacks Spencer Fivelson said. “We’re thrilled to be back in the ring with WWE to build on our shared history and celebrate the savage energy of today’s WWE Superstars.”
