WWE reportedly lose major sponsor ahead of Royal Rumble. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

WWE reportedly loses major sponsor ahead of Royal Rumble

Slim Jim has reportedly pulled out of sponsoring WWE's Royal Rumble. The decision follows the recent allegations that Vince McMahon has been involved in sexual misconduct. Slim Jim signed a multi-event deal with WWE in August 2023. The deal made them "wrestling's biggest sponsor." 

The reporting is that Slim Jim has only pulled its sponsor for the upcoming Premium Live Event. There is no indication of whether it will cut ties with WWE moving forward. The initial report came via "WrestleVotes" on X.

The timing of Slim Jim's decision is far from ideal for WWE, which is a day away from one of its biggest shows of the year. There has likely been promotional material added to its stage and ring designs. However, the company's decision to distance itself from WWE at this time is understandable.

With Slim Jim making the first move, seeing if other sponsors follow suit will be interesting. There will be an air of caution for companies working with WWE in the near future. The financial hit the wrestling giant is going to take will likely be significant. The Royal Rumble is synonymous with wrestling fans around the world, and ad space is likely being charged at a premium.

TKO will now need to decide how to move forward. However, its primary focus should be maximizing the revenue from Saturday's PLE. Once the dust has settled on that event, and TKO can take stock of its profit margin, it can begin looking at ways to move forward as a company. 

Nevertheless, the Royal Rumble should provide excellent entertainment. There is a growing buzz surrounding the event. Wrestling fans are expected to tune in to the event in droves. Such has been the strong resurgence of WWE since Adam Levesque assumed the role of Chief Content Officer. 

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