History of WWE in Timeline
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion owned by TKO Group Holdings, a subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It's a global media and entertainment company involved in professional wrestling, film, football, and licensing its intellectual property for video games and action figures. WWE has expanded beyond wrestling to become a diversified entertainment brand.
January 7, 1953: First CWC Show
On January 7, 1953, the first show under the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) was produced.
1953: Capitol Wrestling Corporation Founding
In 1953, the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) was founded as a Northeastern territory of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
January 24, 1963: Lou Thesz Defeats Buddy Rogers
On January 24, 1963, Lou Thesz defeated Buddy Rogers for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Toronto.
April 1963: WWWF's Creation and Championship
In April 1963, McMahon and Mondt left the NWA and formed the WWWF. The WWWF World Heavyweight Championship was created.
April 1963: WWWF Formation
In April 1963, following a dispute, the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) left the NWA and became the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF).
April 25, 1963: Buddy Rogers Allegedly Wins WWWF Championship
On April 25, 1963, the WWWF claimed that Buddy Rogers won a tournament in Rio de Janeiro to become the inaugural WWWF World Heavyweight Champion, although he was actually hospitalized at the time.
June 1963: Gilzenberg Named WWWF President
In June 1963, Willie Gilzenberg was named the first president of the WWWF.
1971: WWWF Re-joins NWA
In 1971, although the WWWF had previously withdrawn from the NWA, McMahon quietly re-joined.
1979: WWWF Renamed WWF
In 1979, the WWWF was renamed the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
February 21, 1980: Titan Sports, Inc. Incorporated
On February 21, 1980, the entity originally named Titan Sports, Inc., was incorporated in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
June 6, 1982: Vincent J. McMahon Buys Capitol Wrestling
On June 6, 1982, the generally accepted date for when the deal was struck, the younger Vincent J. McMahon bought Capitol from his father, effectively seizing control of the company, though the deal was not finalized on this date.
June 1982: Capitol Wrestling Corporation Copyrights
Past June 1982, Capitol Wrestling Corporation maintained copyrights and ownership on WWF television.
1982: McMahon First Leadership
In 1982 there was the first time there was a change in leadership of WWE.
1982: Titan Sports Acquires Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd.
In 1982, Titan Sports acquired Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd., the holding company for the WWF.
June 1983: McMahon Takes Full Ownership
By May or June 1983, McMahon took several loans to take full ownership.
1983: Titan Moves to Stamford
In 1983, Titan moved its offices to Stamford, Connecticut.
1983: McMahons Withdraw from the NWA
In 1983, the McMahons and Jim Barnett withdrew from the NWA, disrupting the territory system.
January 23, 1984: Hulk Hogan Defeats The Iron Sheik
On January 23, 1984, Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden.
1985: Saturday Night's Main Event Debut
In 1985, Saturday Night's Main Event debuted on NBC, marking the return of professional wrestling to network television since the 1950s.
July 16, 1986: Chatterton's Alleged Assault
On July 16, 1986, Rita Chatterton claimed Vince McMahon tried to force her to perform oral sex on him in his limousine; when she refused, he raped her.
1987: Reincorporation Under Delaware General Corporation Law
In 1987, Titan Sports, Inc. reincorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law.
1987: WrestleMania III
In 1987, WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome set an attendance record of 93,173 for the WWF.
1987: New Titan Sports, Inc. Established
In 1987, a new Titan Sports, Inc. was established in Delaware.
1987: WWF implements drug-testing policy
In 1987, the World Wrestling Federation had a drug-testing policy in place, initially run by an in-house administrator.
February 1988: Consolidation with Massachusetts Entity
In February 1988, the Delaware Titan Sports, Inc. was consolidated with the Massachusetts entity.
1988: Phillips Reinstated after Initial Allegations
In 1988, Mel Phillips was brought back to the WWF after being temporarily dismissed for sexual misconduct. Vince McMahon allegedly made Phillips promise to "stop chasing after kids".
1988: Mel Phillips Temporarily Dismissed
In 1988, Mel Phillips was temporarily dismissed from the WWF for sexual misconduct but was brought back that same year.
1988: Hogan vs. Andre Rematch
In 1988, a rematch between Hulk Hogan and André the Giant on The Main Event I was seen by 33 million people.
1989: Acknowledgement of Pre-determined Wrestling Aspect
In 1989, WWE's then-owner Vince McMahon publicly acknowledged the pre-determined aspect of professional wrestling to avoid taxes from athletic commissions.
1991: WWF begins independent drug testing
In 1991, WWF wrestlers were subjected to independent testing for anabolic steroids for the first time.
April 3, 1992: Rita Chatterton's Allegation Against Vince McMahon
On April 3, 1992, Rita Chatterton claimed that on July 16, 1986, Vince McMahon tried to force her to perform oral sex on him in his limousine; when she refused, he raped her.
1992: Mel Phillips fired from WWF
In 1992, Mel Phillips, WWF's ring announcer and ring crew head, was fired from the WWF amidst accusations of molesting multiple "ring boys".
1992: Steroid Abuse Allegations
In 1992, the WWF was hit with allegations of steroid abuse and distribution, impacting public relations and leading to talent departures.
January 1993: Monday Night Raw Debut
In January 1993, the WWF debuted its flagship cable program Monday Night Raw.
1993: Jim Hellwig Name Change
In 1993, Jim Hellwig, known in the WWF as "The Ultimate Warrior", legally changed his name to the mononym Warrior.
1993: McMahon indicted in steroid controversy
In 1993, Vince McMahon was indicted in federal court after the steroid controversy engulfed the WWF, forcing him to temporarily cede control of the WWF to his wife Linda.
1994: Titan Sports reaches agreement with WWF for Nature
In 1994, Titan Sports reached an agreement with the World Wide Fund for Nature (also trademarked WWF) regarding Titan's use of the "WWF" acronym, restricting its use in connection with its wrestling promotion.
1994: McMahon acquitted in steroid trial
In 1994, Vince McMahon was acquitted of charges in the steroid trial and resumed his role in the day-to-day operations of the WWF.
1994: 1994 Agreement and Logo Usage
In 1994, an agreement allowed WWE to use the original WWF logo (1979-1994) and the "New WWF Generation" logo (1994-1998) despite litigation.
1994: 1994 Agreement Violation
In 1994, the World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. had an agreement with the World Wide Fund for Nature, that was later violated.
September 1995: WCW Monday Nitro Debut
In September 1995, WCW countered with its own Monday night program, Monday Nitro, starting the Monday Night War.
1996: Nitro Dominates Ratings
In 1996, Nitro began a nearly two-year ratings domination, fueled by the introduction of the New World Order (nWo).
1996: Austin 3:16
In 1996, Stone Cold Steve Austin delivered his "Austin 3:16" speech after defeating Jake Roberts.
1996: Titan Sports sues WCW
In 1996, Titan Sports, the parent company of the WWF, sued WCW over WCW implying that Scott Hall and Kevin Nash were invading WCW on the WWF's behalf.
1996: Lawsuits Between Warrior and WWF
In 1996, Warrior and the WWF engaged in a series of lawsuits and legal actions regarding the ownership of the characters, Warrior and Ultimate Warrior.
1996: Independent testing ceases
In 1996, independent drug testing ceased due to financial constraints, with WCW hurting WWF's business.
1997: Montreal Screwjob and Mr. McMahon
1997 ended with McMahon facing real-life controversy following Bret Hart's controversial departure from the company, dubbed as the Montreal Screwjob. This created McMahon's on-screen character, "Mr. McMahon".
1997: WWE partners with NWA
In 1997, WWE partnered with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), hosting NWA matches on its programming as part of "an invasion" storyline.
1997: Montreal Screwjob
In 1997, the Montreal Screwjob took place at the Survivor Series.
1998: WWE continues partnership with NWA
In 1998, WWE continued its partnership with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), hosting NWA matches on its programming as part of "an invasion" storyline.
1998: Lawsuits Between Warrior and WWF
In 1998, Warrior and the WWF engaged in a series of lawsuits and legal actions regarding the ownership of the characters, Warrior and Ultimate Warrior.
1998: "New WWF Generation" logo end
In 1998, the "New WWF Generation" logo stopped being used.
April 29, 1999: SmackDown! Special Airing
On April 29, 1999, the WWF made its return to terrestrial television, airing a special program known as SmackDown! on UPN.
August 26, 1999: SmackDown! Weekly Series
On August 26, 1999, SmackDown! became a weekly series on UPN, competing with WCW's Thunder.
October 1999: Ted Turner Loses Control Over WCW
In October 1999, Ted Turner lost control over WCW after Time Warner merged with America Online (AOL). The newly merged company lacked interest in professional wrestling, leading to the eventual sale of WCW.
October 19, 1999: Initial Public Offering
On October 19, 1999, World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. launched an initial public offering as a publicly traded company on the NYSE.
1999: Titan Renamed World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.
In 1999, Titan was renamed World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.
April 2000: USA Networks files lawsuit against WWF
In April 2000, USA Networks, Inc. filed a lawsuit against World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. to keep Raw is War and all WWF programming after the WWF opened up a bidding war a month prior.
June 27, 2000: Delaware Supreme Court rules in favor of WWF
On June 27, 2000, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled in favor of the WWF in its dispute with USA Networks, Inc.
November 2, 2000: Settlement reached in Hart family lawsuit
On November 2, 2000, the Hart family reached a settlement with the WWF, receiving US$18 million over Owen Hart's death.
2000: Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Between Titan and WCW
In 2000, a settlement was reached in the lawsuit between Titan Sports (WWF) and WCW, giving WWF the right to bid on WCW's assets if the company were liquidated.
2000: WWF and NBC Launch XFL
In 2000, the WWF, in collaboration with television network NBC, launched the XFL, a new professional football league.
2000: World Wide Fund for Nature Sues WWE
In 2000, the World Wide Fund for Nature sued World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. in the United Kingdom, alleging various violations of the 1994 agreement.
March 2001: WWF purchases WCW assets
In March 2001, AOL Time Warner canceled WCW's television shows and sold the company assets to the WWF.
March 2001: McMahon Acquires WCW
In March 2001, Vince McMahon acquired the rights to WCW's trademarks, tape library, contracts, and other properties from AOL Time Warner for approximately $7 million.
April 2001: ECW Files for Bankruptcy
In April 2001, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) folded after filing for bankruptcy protection.
2001: ECW Music During Invasion Storyline
In 2001, WWE used original music from ECW during the Invasion storyline, which later became part of a lawsuit.
2001: XFL Debuts and Fails
In 2001, the XFL debuted with high ratings initially, but interest waned, and ratings plummeted. NBC withdrew from the venture after only one season.
March 2002: WWE Introduces Brand Extension
In March 2002, WWE created two separate rosters, with wrestlers appearing on either Raw or SmackDown!, due to a surplus of talent from the Invasion storyline. This was called the "brand extension".
May 5, 2002: WWE "Get The F Out" Campaign Launch
On May 5, 2002, WWE launched its "Get The F Out" marketing campaign, changing all references on its website from "WWF" to "WWE" and switching the URL from WWF.com to WWE.com.
May 6, 2002: WWF Renamed to WWE
On May 6, 2002, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) changed its company name and wrestling promotion name to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) after losing a lawsuit to the World Wildlife Fund over the WWF trademark.
June 24, 2002: Start of the "Ruthless Aggression" Era
On June 24, 2002, during an episode of Raw, Vince McMahon officially announced the start of the "Ruthless Aggression" era.
2002: Annual Draft Lottery Begins
In 2002, WWE introduced the draft lottery to set the rosters for Raw and SmackDown!, aiming to refresh the rosters of each show.
2002: World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. Renamed
In 2002, World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
2002: WWF Renamed WWE
In 2002, following a legal dispute with the World Wildlife Fund, the WWF was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
June 2003: Lawsuit Filed Against WWE
In June 2003, Harry "Slash" Grivas and Roderick Kohn filed a lawsuit against WWE due to the music being used for its programming and DVDs without consent or payment.
June 2003: WWE Begins Paying Dividends
In June 2003, WWE began paying a dividend on its shares of $0.04 per share.
2003: WWE Purchases ECW Assets
In 2003, WWE purchased the assets of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), which had previously folded after filing for bankruptcy protection in April 2001.
2003: Limited Decision for Classic Video Games
In 2003, WWE won a limited decision to continue marketing certain classic video games from THQ and Jakks Pacific that contained the WWF "scratch" logo, but the packaging had all WWF references replaced with WWE.
January 2005: WWE Purchases Music Catalog
In January 2005, the lawsuit against WWE was resolved with a settlement that saw WWE purchase the music catalog outright.
September 27, 2005: Release of "The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior" DVD
On September 27, 2005, WWE released a DVD documentary focusing on Warrior's retrospective wrestling career, titled The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior.
2005: WWE Programming Moves Back to USA Network
In 2005, WWE's programming (excluding SmackDown!) moved back to USA Network, now owned by NBCUniversal, and has maintained its relationship to this day.
January 2006: Warrior Files Lawsuit Against WWE Over DVD
In January 2006, Warrior filed another lawsuit against WWE in an Arizona court over the depiction of his wrestling career in The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior DVD.
February 1, 2006: McMahon Accused of Sexual Harassment
On February 1, 2006, Vince McMahon was accused of sexual harassment by a worker at a tanning bar in Boca Raton, Florida.
February 2006: WWE initiates Talent Wellness Program
In February 2006, WWE initiated the Talent Wellness Program, a comprehensive drug, alcohol, and cardiac screening program, following the death of Eddie Guerrero.
May 26, 2006: ECW Relaunched as a Third Brand
On May 26, 2006, WWE relaunched ECW as a third brand, expanding the brand split.
2006: Massaro's Alleged Assault in Kuwait
In 2006, Ashley Massaro alleged she was sexually assaulted at a US military base in Kuwait during a WWE tour.
2006: Unrecorded payments by Vince McMahon
In 2006, Vince McMahon made unrecorded payments.
August 2007: WWE defends Talent Wellness Program
In August 2007, WWE defended the Talent Wellness Program amidst steroid purchase busts. Ten wrestlers were suspended for violating the policy after being linked to Signature Pharmacy.
September 18, 2009: Warrior's Lawsuit Dismissed
On September 18, 2009, Warrior's lawsuit in Arizona was dismissed.
February 16, 2010: Final ECW Program Airs
On February 16, 2010, the final ECW program aired and was replaced with NXT, transitioning to a more family-friendly format.
September 13, 2010: WWE updates banned substances list
On September 13, 2010, WWE updated their list of banned substances to include muscle relaxers.
April 7, 2011: WWE Ceases Using Full Name
On April 7, 2011, WWE stopped using the full name World Wrestling Entertainment and began referring to itself solely as WWE to reflect its global entertainment expansion.
June 2011: WWE Cuts Dividend
In June 2011, WWE cut its dividend from $0.36 to $0.12 per share.
August 29, 2011: Raw Becomes Raw Supershow
Beginning with the August 29, 2011, episode, Raw was referred to as Raw Supershow, featuring talent from both Raw and SmackDown.
2011: Sexual Assault Allegation in California
In 2011, a tanning spa worker alleged that McMahon sexually assaulted her in California.
2011: WWE Rebrands
In 2011, the promotion ceased branding itself as World Wrestling Entertainment and began solely branding itself with the initials WWE.
May 23, 2012: TNA sues WWE and Brian Wittenstein
On May 23, 2012, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) sued former employee Brian Wittenstein and WWE, alleging that Wittenstein violated a non-disclosure agreement and shared confidential information with WWE.
July 2012: WWF Logo No Longer Censored
Starting with the 1,000th episode of Raw in July 2012, the WWF "scratch" logo is no longer censored in archival footage due to WWE reaching a new settlement with the World Wide Fund for Nature.
July 23, 2012: Supershow Epithet Dropped
On July 23, 2012, the "Supershow" epithet was dropped from Raw, but the format continued with talent from both brands.
October 2012: WWE Home Video Releases Uncensored
Since October 2012, WWE Home Video releases, starting with the re-release of Brock Lesnar: Here Comes The Pain, no longer censored the WWF initials and logo in archival footage.
2012: WWE Network Scheduled Launch
In 2012, the WWE Network was initially scheduled to launch, but was later pushed back to 2014.
January 15, 2013: TNA Withdraws Lawsuit Against WWE
On January 15, 2013, TNA formally withdrew the lawsuit against WWE without prejudice, allowing them to potentially refile it later.
2013: WWE Performance Center Established
In 2013, WWE established the WWE Performance Center in partnership with Full Sail University to provide sports medicine and training facilities for wrestlers.
February 24, 2014: WWE Network Launched
On February 24, 2014, WWE launched WWE Network, a streaming service featuring archive content, pay-per-views, and original programming.
2014: Lemelson's Allegations Against WWE
In 2014, activist investor Emmanuel Lemelson stated that he believed the company had made material misrepresentations in its financial reporting and called for new leadership or a sale of the company.
2014: Share Price Fluctuations
In 2014, concerns about WWE's viability caused wide fluctuations in its share price.
2014: Over the Edge 1999 airs on WWE Network
In 2014, fifteen years after his death, the WWE Network aired the Over the Edge 1999 event for the first time. All footage of Hart was edited out of the event and a small photo tribute is shown before the start.
2014: WWE Network Scheduled Launch
In 2014, the WWE Network was scheduled to launch after being pushed back from 2012.
2014: Lawsuits Filed Against WWE
Starting in 2014, numerous former WWE talent filed multiple lawsuits against WWE alleging that WWE did not protect and hid information from their talent about concussions and CTE.
January 27, 2015: WWE Network Reaches 1 Million Subscribers
On January 27, 2015, WWE Network reached 1,000,000 subscribers in less than a year, which WWE claimed was "the fastest-growing digital subscription service ever".
March 2015: WWE Relaunches Tapout with ABG
In March 2015, WWE joined forces with Authentic Brands Group to relaunch Tapout as a general "lifestyle fitness" brand.
2015: WWE partners with Evolve
In 2015, WWE partnered with Evolve, an independent wrestling promotion, using it as a scouting ground for potential NXT signees.
2015: Roman Reigns Pushed as the Face of the Company
In 2015, WWE started pushing Roman Reigns as the face of the company, beginning with his win at the Royal Rumble, amidst mixed reception.
May 25, 2016: WWE Relaunches Brand Split
On May 25, 2016, WWE relaunched the brand split, billed as the "New Era," with Raw and SmackDown each featuring unique rosters, announcers, championships, and ring sets.
July 2016: End of the Supershow Format
In July 2016, the "Supershow" format ended, marking the end of the brand split, as all programming and live events (until July 2016) featured the full WWE roster.
August 21, 2016: WWE Universal Championship Introduced
At the August 21, 2016 SummerSlam event, a new World Championship called the WWE Universal Championship was introduced, with Finn Bálor becoming the inaugural champion.
November 17, 2016: WWE and Sky Deutschland Sign Agreement
On November 17, 2016, WWE and Sky Deutschland signed a multi-year agreement to distribute WWE pay-per-view events and broadcast Raw and SmackDown Live on SKY Sports starting in April 2017.
November 29, 2016: WWE 205 Live Introduced
On November 29, 2016, WWE introduced WWE 205 Live, a program specifically for the cruiserweight division (wrestlers 205 lbs. and under).
December 15, 2016: WWE United Kingdom Championship Established
On December 15, 2016, WWE established a new WWE United Kingdom Championship, with the inaugural champion to be decided in a tournament airing on WWE Network in January 2017.
2016: WWE partners with Progress Wrestling
In 2016, WWE partnered with England's Progress Wrestling, with Progress hosting qualifying matches for WWE's Cruiserweight Classic.
2016: Wrestlemania 32 Breaks Attendance Record
In 2016, Wrestlemania 32 broke the attendance record previously set in 1987.
January 2017: Inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion Decided
In January 2017, the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion was decided by a 16-man tournament featuring wrestlers from the UK and Ireland, which aired on WWE Network.
April 10, 2017: Raw and SmackDown Available Live in Japan
On April 10, 2017, WWE and DAZN made Raw and SmackDown available live in Japan with Japanese commentary.
April 27, 2017: WWE and TV5 Agreement
On April 27, 2017, WWE and TV5 reached a new agreement to broadcast one-hour editions of SmackDown.
May 12, 2017: WWE and Saran Media Agreement
On May 12, 2017, WWE and Saran Media reached a new multi-year agreement to televise Raw and SmackDown.
July 10, 2017: WWE and AB 1 Extend Partnership
On July 10, 2017, WWE and AB 1 extended their partnership into its 18th year with a new, multi-year agreement to broadcast WWE programming.
July 20, 2017: WWE and SuperSport Agreement
On July 20, 2017, WWE and SuperSport reached a new, multi-year agreement to broadcast WWE programming live for the first time in more than 50 countries.
August 1, 2017: WWE and Foxtel Extend Partnership
On August 1, 2017, WWE and Foxtel extended their partnership into its 18th year with a new agreement to broadcast WWE programming.
August 8, 2017: WWE and Canal 1 Agreement
On August 8, 2017, WWE and Canal 1 reached a new agreement to broadcast one-hour editions of Raw and SmackDown.
August 16, 2017: WWE and Nine Network Broadcast Agreement
On August 16, 2017, WWE and Nine Network reached a broadcast agreement to air weekly one-hour versions of Raw and SmackDown.
August 24, 2017: WWE and Flow Agreement
On August 24, 2017, WWE and Flow reached a multi-year agreement to televise WWE's flagship programmes Raw and SmackDown.
September 7, 2017: WWE and TVA Sports Agreement
On September 7, 2017, WWE and TVA Sports reached a multi-year agreement to air a weekly, one-hour edition of Raw in French in Canada.
October 2017: WWE's Breast Cancer Awareness Month Promotion
In October 2017, WWE used the tagline "Unleash Your Warrior" when promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month, leading to accusations of whitewashing Warrior's past.
October 24, 2017: WWE and Sport TV Agreement
On October 24, 2017, WWE and Sport TV reached a multi-year agreement to air Raw and SmackDown.
December 15, 2017: WWE and IB SPORTS Extend Partnership
On December 15, 2017, WWE and IB SPORTS extended their partnership with a new agreement to broadcast WWE programming live for the first time in South Korea.
December 18, 2017: WWE and SPS HD Agreement
On December 18, 2017, WWE and SPS HD reached an agreement to broadcast Raw and SmackDown on SPS Sports for the first time in Mongolia.
2017: Roman Reigns Top Merchandise Seller
By 2017, Roman Reigns had become WWE's highest merchandise seller.
2017: Progress talent participate in WWE events
In 2017, Progress Wrestling talent participated in the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament and at WWE's WrestleMania Axxess events.
2017: McMahon Reclaims XFL Brand
In 2017, Vince McMahon reclaimed the XFL brand under a separate shell company from WWE, intending to relaunch the XFL in 2020.
2017: WWE partners with ICW
In 2017, WWE partnered with Scotland's Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), with some ICW talent appearing in the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament and at WWE's WrestleMania Axxess events. WWE also explored a deal to bring ICW programming onto the WWE Network
January 16, 2018: WWE Mixed Match Challenge Premieres
On January 16, 2018, WWE Mixed Match Challenge premiered, featuring wrestlers from Raw and SmackDown in a mixed tag-team tournament.
June 2018: NXT UK Launched
In June 2018, WWE launched its UK-based brand as an offshoot of NXT, called NXT UK, with Johnny Saint serving as the inaugural general manager.
September 2018: Lawsuits Against WWE Dismissed
In September 2018, US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed many of the lawsuits filed by former WWE talent alleging that WWE did not protect and hid information about concussions and CTE.
October 2018: WWE hosts tryouts at wXw Academy
In October 2018, WWE hosted German tryouts at the Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) Wrestling Academy.
May 15, 2019: Death of Ashley Massaro
Prior to her death on May 15, 2019, former WWE wrestler Ashley Massaro alleged that she was sexually assaulted at a US military base during a 2006 WWE tour of Kuwait.
June 2019: NCIS Investigation into Massaro's Allegations
From June 2019 to January 2020, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigated Ashley Massaro's allegations of sexual assault during a WWE tour in Kuwait.
September 2019: NXT Becomes Third Brand
Starting in September 2019, NXT had a weekly, live, two-hour show on the USA Network, with WWE promoting NXT as their "third brand".
January 2020: NCIS Investigation into Massaro's Allegations
From June 2019 to January 2020, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigated Ashley Massaro's allegations of sexual assault during a WWE tour in Kuwait.
March 2020: WWE Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, WWE began to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, filming weekly programs at the Performance Center without spectators, beginning with the March 13 episode of SmackDown.
August 2020: WWE Relocates to Amway Center for ThunderDome Residency
In August 2020, WWE relocated from the Performance Center to Orlando's Amway Center for a long-term residency, broadcasting episodes of Raw, SmackDown, and pay-per-views through the WWE ThunderDome.
September 2020: Lawsuits Dismissed by Court of Appeals
In September 2020, the lawsuits against WWE were dismissed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
October 2020: NXT Events Relocated to Performance Center as Capitol Wrestling Center
In October 2020, NXT events were relocated from Full Sail University to the Performance Center in a setup dubbed the Capitol Wrestling Center, featuring virtual and select live fans.
October 29, 2020: Reports emerge about McMahon's awareness of Phillips' misconduct
On October 29, 2020, it was reported that Vince and Linda McMahon were aware of allegations against Mel Phillips but turned a blind eye. The WWF allegedly began a campaign to discredit one of the accusers.
2020: ICW programming airs on WWE Network
In 2020, ICW programming began airing on the WWE Network.
2020: Progress Wrestling programming airs on WWE Network
In 2020, Progress Wrestling programming began airing on the WWE Network.
2020: Planned XFL Relaunch
In 2020, Vince McMahon planned to relaunch the XFL under a separate shell company from WWE, however it is unclear if this happened.
2020: WWE Purchases Evolve
In 2020, WWE purchased Evolve, a U.S. independent promotion, for an undisclosed amount.
January 2021: WrestleMania 37 Moved to Tampa
In January 2021, WWE moved WrestleMania 37 to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida as a two-night event on April 10 and 11, with limited fans in attendance.
March 18, 2021: WWE Network US Distribution Exclusively on Peacock
On March 18, 2021, the WWE Network in the United States became exclusively distributed by Peacock.
April 12, 2021: ThunderDome Relocates to Yuengling Center
On April 12, 2021, the ThunderDome relocated to Yuengling Center, located on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa, beginning with the episode of Raw.
April 2021: Triple H Defends WWE's Move to Peacock
In April 2021, WWE executive Triple H defended WWE's move to Peacock amidst criticisms regarding censorship.
April 2021: Supreme Court Declines to Hear WWE Concussion Case
In April 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear the case regarding lawsuits against WWE over concussions and CTE.
2021: NXT Moves to Tuesday Nights and Reinstated as Developmental Brand
In 2021, NXT was moved to Tuesday nights, conceding the Wednesday Night Wars to AEW, and was reinstated to its original function as the developmental brand for Raw and SmackDown under the name "NXT 2.0".
2021: NXT Rebooted as NXT 2.0
In 2021, NXT was moved to a Tuesday night timeslot and was rebooted as NXT 2.0, reinstituting its original function as a developmental brand.
January 11, 2022: MLW files anti-trust lawsuit against WWE
On January 11, 2022, Major League Wrestling (MLW) filed an anti-trust lawsuit against WWE, accusing them of interfering in television and streaming deals and poaching talent.
February 2022: 205 Live Dissolved, Replaced by NXT Level Up
In February 2022, the 205 Live brand was dissolved, and the 205 Live show was replaced by a new NXT show called Level Up.
February 24, 2022: WWE Partners with On Location for Premium Hospitality Experiences
On February 24, 2022, WWE launched a partnership with On Location to provide premium hospitality experiences for major events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank.
April 2022: WWE Board Investigates McMahon's Settlement
In April 2022, the WWE board began investigating a $3 million hush-money settlement that McMahon paid over an alleged affair with a former employee of the company.
June 17, 2022: Vince McMahon Steps Down as CEO
On June 17, 2022, Vince McMahon stepped down as chairman and CEO of WWE amidst an investigation into alleged "hush money" payments and was replaced by his daughter, Stephanie McMahon, as interim chairwoman.
July 22, 2022: Vince McMahon Officially Retires
On July 22, 2022, Vince McMahon officially retired from WWE. Following his retirement, Stephanie McMahon was officially named chairwoman, and she and Nick Khan were named co-CEOs.
July 30, 2022: SummerSlam 2022
On July 30, 2022, SummerSlam was held as the first WWE pay-per-view event under the leadership of Stephanie McMahon and Triple H.
August 18, 2022: Shawn Michaels Promoted
On August 18, 2022, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels was promoted to WWE Vice President of Talent Development Creative.
September 6, 2022: Triple H Promoted to CCO
On September 6, 2022, WWE announced Paul 'Triple H' Levesque's promotion to Chief Content Officer.
September 9, 2022: WWE and The Foxtel Group Partnership
On September 9, 2022, WWE reached a new multi-year partnership deal with The Foxtel Group, making them the exclusive distributor of WWE in Australia.
2022: Unrecorded payments by Vince McMahon
In 2022, Vince McMahon made unrecorded payments.
2022: Civil Sex Abuse Lawsuits Filed Against McMahon
In late 2022, Rita Chatterton and a separate tanning spa worker filed civil sex abuse lawsuits against Vince McMahon.
January 6, 2023: Vince McMahon Announces Return
On January 6, 2023, Vince McMahon announced intentions to return to WWE ahead of media rights negotiations.
January 10, 2023: Stephanie McMahon Resigns
On January 10, 2023, Stephanie McMahon resigned as chairwoman and co-CEO of WWE. On the same day, Vince McMahon assumed the role of executive Chairman, and Nick Khan became the sole CEO.
January 2023: McMahon Returns as Executive Chairman
In January 2023, Vince McMahon returned to the company as executive chairman.
February 2023: NXT partners with Reality of Wrestling
In February 2023, WWE's NXT brand launched a partnership with Reality of Wrestling (ROW), owned by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.
April 3, 2023: WWE and Endeavor Merger Deal
On April 3, 2023, WWE and Endeavor reached a deal to merge with UFC's parent company, forming a new public company valued at $9.1 billion, marking the first time WWE was not majority-controlled by the McMahon family.
April 2023: WWE and Endeavor Deal
In April 2023, WWE made a deal with Endeavor Group Holdings to merge with Zuffa (UFC) to form TKO Group Holdings.
September 12, 2023: TKO Group Holdings Merger Completed
On September 12, 2023, the merger between WWE and UFC to form TKO Group Holdings was completed.
September 2023: TKO Group Holdings Formed
In September 2023, Endeavor Group Holdings, UFC, and WWE formed a new publicly traded company, TKO Group Holdings, Inc.
September 2023: Vince McMahon's Ownership
Prior to September 2023, Vince McMahon retained a 38.6% ownership of the company's outstanding stock and 81.1% of the voting power.
September 30, 2023: NXT No Mercy
On September 30, 2023, NXT No Mercy was the first WWE pay-per-view event under TKO Group Holdings.
December 2023: WWE launches partnership with AJPW
In December 2023, WWE launched a partnership with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).
December 26, 2023: CM Punk's WWE Return Match
On December 26, 2023, CM Punk returned to WWE and defeated Dominik Mysterio at WWE MSG Show.
January 2024: New Allegations Against McMahon
In January 2024, McMahon's history with WWE ended amid new allegations by ex-WWE employee Janel Grant, accusing McMahon and John Laurinaitis of sexual assault and sex trafficking, leading to Slim Jim pausing its sponsorship of WWE events.
January 23, 2024: Dwayne Johnson Joins TKO Board
On January 23, 2024, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson joined the TKO Group Holdings board of directors.
February 2024: Laurinaitis's Attorney Statement on Massaro Allegations
In February 2024, an attorney representing former WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis stated that "most upper level management at sometime became aware of the [Massaro] allegations and ensured all proper WWE protocols were followed, including privacy for the alleged victim."
April 1, 2024: Triple H Declares New Era
On April 1, 2024, Triple H stated that WWE had entered "another era".
May 4, 2024: WWE Backlash France
On May 4, 2024, WWE held Backlash France, their first-ever pay-per-view event in France.
October 2024: WWE launches WWE ID system
In October 2024, WWE launched the WWE ID system to develop and support the training of independent wrestlers, partnering with wrestling schools and promotions like Black and Brave Academy, Nightmare Factory, and others.
2024: McMahon Ends Ties with WWE
In 2024, Vince McMahon, no longer the majority WWE stockholder, ended his ties with the company amid a sex trafficking scandal.
2024: Talent Exchange with TNA
In 2024, WWE began a wider talent exchange with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), with several TNA wrestlers appearing on NXT and vice versa.
2024: WWE expands partnership with AJPW
In 2024, WWE expanded their partnership with AJPW, with NXT wrestler Charlie Dempsey going to Japan to challenge for AJPW's Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, marking the first match under the new collaboration.
January 2025: WWE announces partnership with TNA
In January 2025, WWE announced a multi-year partnership with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) that allows TNA wrestlers and NXT wrestlers to appear on NXT events, TNA Impact!, and select WWE and TNA Premium Live Events.
