Published on Jan 11, 2017
Fresh off his brutal chair assault on SmackDown LIVE, The Showoff looks to open a new door by entering the Royal Rumble Match, courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.
World Wrestling Federation. ... This logo debuted on December 1997 during the Attitude Era, with the previous logo (shown above) continuing to be used until March 1998. ... On April 7, 2011, the company officially changed their name simply to WWE; however, the legal name is still World ...World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (d/b/a WWE) is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company that deals primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, video games, product licensing, and direct product sales.

WWE also refers to the professional wrestling promotion itself, founded by Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt in 1952 as Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. As of 2016, it is the largest wrestling promotion in the world, holding over 500 events a year (with the roster divided up into various globally traveling brands),[8] and broadcasting to about 36 million viewers in more than 150 countries. The company's headquarters are located in Stamford, Connecticut, with offices in major cities across the world.[9][10]

As in other professional wrestling promotions, WWE shows are not legitimate contests, but purely entertainment-based, featuring storyline-driven, scripted, and choreographed matches, though they often include moves that can put performers at risk of injury if not performed correctly. This was first publicly acknowledged by WWE's owner Vince McMahon in 1989 to avoid taxes from athletic commissions. Since the 1980s, WWE publicly has branded their product as sports entertainment, acknowledging the product's roots in competitive sport and dramatic theater.

The company's majority owner is its chairman and CEO, Vince McMahon. Along with his wife Linda, children Shane and Stephanie, and son-in-law Paul "Triple H" Levesque, the McMahon family holds approximately 70% of WWE's equity and 96% of the voting power. As of August 2014, Eminence Capital, a New York-based hedge fund, acquired a 9.6% stake in WWE while the McMahon family retains 90.4% interest.[11]

The current entity, incorporated on February 21, 1980, was previously known as Titan Sports, Inc., founded in 1979 in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts. It acquired Capitol Wrestling Corporation (the holding company for the World Wrestling Federation, WWF) in 1982. Titan was renamed World Wrestling Federation, Inc. in 1998, then World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. in 1999, and finally the current World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. in 2002. Since 2011, the company has officially branded itself solely as WWE though the company's legal name was not changed
WWE
Formerly called
Titan Sports, Inc.
World Wrestling Federation, Inc.
World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.
Type
Public company
Traded as NYSE: WWE
NASDAQ: WWE
ISIN US98156Q1085
Industry Professional wrestling
Sports entertainment
Media and Technology
Streaming media
Predecessor Capitol Wrestling Corporation
Founded February 21, 1980; 36 years ago
South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, U.S.[1]
Headquarters 1241 East Main Street, 06902[2]
Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Vince McMahon
(Chairman and CEO)
Stephanie McMahon
(Chief Brand Officer)
Paul "Triple H" Levesque
(Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events, and Creative)
Products
Television
Publishing
Films
Finance
Music
Merchandise
Streaming network service
Home video
Live events
Services Licensing
Revenue Increase US$658.8 million (2015)[3]
Operating income
Increase US$38.8 million (2015)[3]
Profit Increase US$24.1 million (2015)[3]
Total assets Increase US$409.1 million (2015)[3]
Total equity Increase US$209.3 million (2015)[3]
Owner Vince McMahon (52%)[4]
Number of employees
approximately 800 (2016)[5]