WWE, Inc. (previously known as Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd, Titan Sports Inc., World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc., and World Wrestling Entertainment) (NYSE: WWE) is an American publicly traded, privately controlled sports entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales. It is currently the largest professional wrestling company in the world, reaching 14.5 million viewers in the U.S. and broadcasting its shows in 30 languages to more than 145 countries. It promotes under two brands, known as Raw and SmackDown.
Vince McMahon is the majority owner, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company. Together with his wife Linda McMahon, and their children, Shane McMahon and Executive Vice President of Talent and Creative Writing, Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, the McMahons hold approximately 70% of WWE's economic interest and 96% of the voting power in the company. The company's headquarters are located in Stamford, Connecticut with offices in Los Angeles, New York City, London, Tokyo, Toronto, and Sydney. WWE holds an extensive library of videos, representing a significant portion of the visual history of professional wrestling.
The company began as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd in 1952, which promoted under the banner of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and later the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). In 1982 it was sold to the same family's Titan Sports Inc. company, which later changed its name to World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc., before finally becoming World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. in 2002, and later just "WWE" in 2011.