Finance

WWE Q2 Earnings Surpass Estimates

WWE set records across digital and social platforms.
WWE’s revenue boost was primarily due to increased monetization of content and the live event segment.

Jul 30, 2021 | 05:15 am

UPDATED Jul 30, 2021 | 06:26 am

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

The WWE announced Thursday that its Q2 revenue increased by 19% year-over-year. Total revenue was $265.6 million, exceeding analysts’ projections of $259.7 million.

The media and entertainment company also set records across digital and social platforms — 11.2 billion digital video views and 394 million hours consumed.

WWE’s revenue boost was primarily due to increased monetization of content and the live event segment, which includes sales from events like “WrestleMania.”

In January, WWE partnered with NBCUniversal’s Peacock in an exclusive network rights deal reportedly worth $1 billion over five years.
“Wrestlemania 37” was Peacock’s most-watched live event ever and sold 40,806 tickets in-person.
WWE has 79 million subscribers on YouTube and 11.9 million on TikTok — surpassing the NFL, MLB, and NHL.

WWE returned to touring on July 16, and five shows have been at or close to full capacity.

Wrestler-turned-movie star John Cena is back with WWE and is expected to appear in a Friday Night SmackDown event on Sept. 10 at Madison Square Garden.