Tony Khan Buying WWE 'Wouldn't Surprise' Ric Flair — Financial Angle

Ric Flair told Ariel Helwani he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Tony Khan one day purchased World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), a comment that has drawn attention because it coincides with newly surfaced details from the 2023 sale process.

The remark was made during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, where Flair discussed his relationship with WWE and praised Khan’s approach to talent management. Separately, unredacted portions of court filings tied to a shareholder lawsuit revealed that a company called Base 10—backed by Tony Khan—submitted an approximately $6.9 billion offer during the 2023 sale process, according to reporting by POST Wrestling and related summaries of the filings.

From a market perspective, WWE now operates under TKO Group Holdings, a publicly traded entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker TKO, and its publicly filed SEC reports set the framework for investor expectations and valuation. Any credible acquisition attempt would require board approval, regulatory review and a clear financing structure, meaning chatter alone does not equate to an imminent transaction but can influence investor sentiment.

Legal analysts and industry commentators note that the disclosure of bidding information in court documents has intensified scrutiny of the 2023 process and fueled speculation about alternative buyers. However, the documented Base 10 offer was reportedly the lowest among the interested parties and did not advance to the data-room stage, according to the filings summarized in the coverage. That context tempers expectations about a near-term change of control.

Looking ahead, investors and market watchers will closely follow any additional unsealed filings, official statements from TKO management and potential moves by well-capitalized industry players. While Flair’s on-air comment feeds headlines and fan debate, the financial and regulatory mechanics of any acquisition remain the decisive constraints for a transaction of this scale.