| Court: | Delaware Court of Chancery |
| Case Number: | Consol. C.A. No. 2023-1166-JTL |
| Case Leaders: | Gregory V. Varallo, Mark Lebovitch, Rebecca E. Boon, Anthony M. Calvano |
| Case Team: | Jonathan G. D’Errico, Alexander Rigby, Tayler D. Bolton |
BLB&G represents plaintiff Dennis Palkon in this derivative stockholder action brought on behalf of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (“WWE”). The action challenges the merger of WWE and Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (“Endeavor”). The operative complaint, filed November 20, 2023, alleges that Vince McMahon, WWE’s co-founder and controlling stockholder, orchestrated the sale of WWE to Endeavor—led by his longtime friend and former agent Ari Emanuel—for his personal benefit at the expense of WWE’s public stockholders. The complaint further alleges that McMahon initiated secret negotiations with Endeavor in summer 2022 after being forced to retire amid sexual misconduct allegations and parallel federal investigations. The merger was accomplished without an independent special committee or majority-of-the-minority vote.
The case is governed by Delaware’s entire fairness standard. Defendants answered the complaint in lieu of moving to dismiss. Following extensive discovery and discovery motion practice, the case is currently scheduled for trial in June 2026 before Vice Chancellor Laster.