Podcast Summary:

The Herd with Colin Cowherd Presents: Daniel Cormier TV – WWE President Nick Khan on Muhammad Ali Act, UFC 324, and Wrestling’s Future
Date: December 4, 2025

Overview

In this insightful episode of Daniel Cormier TV, part of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Daniel Cormier sits down with WWE President Nick Khan for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution and innovation in WWE and UFC under TKO, the rise of new stars, family and leadership, Zuffa Boxing’s future, and the impact of the Muhammad Ali Act on combat sports. Nick Khan offers both industry perspective and personal anecdotes, making for an engaging look behind the curtain of pro wrestling and prizefighting today.

Key Discussion Points

1. The "Daniel Cormier Limit"—WWE’s Generosity with Comp Tickets

• [03:32] Daniel Cormier: Asks about celebrity comp tickets and shares how he brings many wrestling students to WWE.
• [03:48] Nick Khan: “We set a new limit…it’s usually me reaching out, saying, ‘Hey, DC, we’re going to be in your neighborhood. Would you like to attend?’ Yes, I’ll be plus 43…It turns out these are all of your students.”
  • WWE recognizes DC’s efforts to inspire young fans and usually accommodates his large group.

2. Rise and Ambitions of TKO (WWE & UFC Under One Roof)

• [05:05] Nick Khan: Recalls the formation of TKO and Daniel Cormier’s inclusion at the stock exchange for its first listing.
  • “The first name mentioned by all three [Ari Emanuel, Dana White, Mark Shapiro] was Daniel Cormier.”
  • Praises Cormier as a “true American success story…most athletes have a tough time segueing…you’ve done it at the highest level.”
• Discusses rapid progress:
  • UFC’s Paramount+ deal.
  • WWE’s premium live events moving to ESPN.
  • Monday Night Raw’s new Netflix partnership.
  • “In our business, no different than your business, you got to earn your keep every day.” [06:34]

3. WWE–ESPN Partnership and Big Event Moments

• [06:34] Daniel Cormier: Recalls the red carpet rollout for ESPN at WrestleMania 2023, asks about the evolving ESPN relationship.
• [07:14-09:02] Nick Khan: Highlights ESPN’s huge embrace, e.g., College GameDay hosting a wrestling pick segment for Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena at WrestlePalooza.
  • “They made us feel like it was the Super Bowl.”
• Wrestling storytelling creates superstar moments, such as the War Games match and Brock Lesnar’s star power:
  • “When he walks into a room, he looks and usually is the baddest dude on the planet.” [08:09, Nick Khan]

4. Family Values and Career Balancing—Personal Insights from Nick Khan

• [09:22-12:14]
  • Cormier reveals Nick’s humble roots—law school struggle, needing girlfriend (now wife) to co-sign a loan.
  • Nick Khan on family first:
    • “She decided, you know, to take a bet on me…It’s something I don’t forget to this day.”
    • “You went through the unspeakable…There’s not a day that I breathe that I don’t think about something like that.” [13:00]
    • On fatherhood: “By the time they leave after high school, you’ve spent 90% of the time you’ll ever spend with them.” [13:10]
    • Inspiration from Shaq—the importance of not bringing work frustration home.

5. WWE’s Succession and Elevation of New Stars

• [15:01-17:50]
  • Discusses the balance of established stars (Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Cody, Punk) with the next generation (Bron Breaker, Logan Paul, Bronson Reed).
  • “One of the impressive things…is that the current generation of top stars will embrace the perceived next generation.” [15:01, Nick Khan]
  • Cormier shares a personal vignette about Bron Breaker’s humility and drive.
  • Lighthearted family talk: “That [Tsunami move] is now the signature move in our house. Father to 14-year-old daughter, 10-year-old son. So they’re laying on the bed, full tsunami.” [17:17, Nick Khan]

6. What’s Next for WWE and UFC (2026 and Beyond)

• [18:00]
  • Triple H and Dana White’s positive regard for Daniel Cormier as a guest referee.
  • Raised expectations for WWE’s next year.

7. Zuffa Boxing, the Muhammad Ali Act, and the Future of Boxing

• [24:48-30:51]
  • Zuffa Boxing’s partnership with Saudi Arabia aims to restore boxing’s former popularity through better matchmaking, UFC-style.
  • “You had…one of the top three sports in the United States in the 50s and 60s, which has now dropped off…Our goal is to help re-establish that.” [25:23, Nick Khan]
  • Key difference: “The champ fights the number one contender…the best have to fight the best.” [26:41]
  • Khan emphasizes storytelling’s role in fan engagement and plans to emulate the year-round media presence of UFC/NFL for boxers.
  • Plan for cooperation with existing boxing promoters: “We’re just going to do our thing…If fighters want to stick with the old way, go ahead. That’ll remain an option.” [28:38]
  • Detailed explanation of the Muhammad Ali Enhancement Act and their push to modernize the sanctioning and payment systems.

8. Why Boxing Declined in America, and How WWE/UFC Can Rebuild

• [30:51-33:39]
  • Historical context: From Ali-Frazier and $2.5m purses (1971) to the NFL and NBA discovering how to create stars and maintain public interest.
  • “If I said to you in 1988, who’s the fastest man on the planet?…Carl Lewis.” [32:27, Nick Khan]
  • Individual sports faded as big leagues took over; now, storytelling and local gyms are key to revitalization.

9. Fun Close: Wheel of Fortune Winnings and Humble Beginnings

• [34:04] Daniel Cormier: “You won $16,000 on Wheel of Fortune!”
• [34:04] Nick Khan: “I needed that $16,000…When your bank account goes from 0 to 16, you think, like, I never have to work again…That money, and I got lucky to win it. And the next thing you know, a month later, you’re like, oh my God, that $16,000 was not actually that much.”
• Cormier wraps up with thanks and best wishes for the coming Royal Rumble, now also on ESPN.

Notable Quotes (“Speaker,” Timestamp MM:SS)

• “We set a new…limit…called the Daniel Cormier limit…Yes, I’ll be plus 43.” — Nick Khan, 03:48
• “You’re a true American success story…Most athletes have a tough time segueing…you’ve done it at the highest level.” — Nick Khan, 05:25
• “They made us feel like it was the Super Bowl.” — Nick Khan, on ESPN’s treatment of WWE, 07:14
• “When he walks into a room, he looks and usually is the baddest dude on the planet.” — Nick Khan, about Brock Lesnar, 08:09
• “By the time they leave after high school, you’ve spent 90% of the time you’ll ever spend with them.” — Nick Khan, 13:10
• “The champ fights the number one contender…the best have to fight the best.” — Nick Khan, on Zuffa Boxing’s philosophy, 26:41
• “If they don’t care about the story behind the person, there’s no reason to watch.” — Nick Khan, on storytelling in combat sports, 27:19

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:32] – Ticket comps and the "Daniel Cormier limit"
• [05:05] – TKO’s genesis, Cormier’s role, UFC/WWE synergy
• [07:14] – WWE’s integration with ESPN
• [09:22] – Nick Khan’s personal story, law school, and family values
• [13:10] – Fatherhood reflections and work-life balance
• [15:01] – Building the next generation of WWE stars
• [17:17] – Fun with wrestling moves at home
• [24:48] – Zuffa Boxing, innovation in matchmaking
• [26:41] – How Zuffa Boxing will differ from traditional promoters
• [27:19] – Storytelling’s importance and year-round promotion
• [28:38] – Relationship with other boxing promoters and sanctioning
• [30:51] – The Ali Act, revitalizing boxing
• [32:27] – How American sports idol shifted from boxing to leagues
• [34:04] – Wheel of Fortune story and wrap-up

Tone and Style

True to the show's spirit, the episode balances candid camaraderie, sports industry wisdom, and lighthearted banter. Cormier’s admiration for talent development and Khan’s blend of business acumen with humility consistently shine through. The dialogue is accessible, energetic, and full of inside stories, making even “boardroom” topics lively for fans of wrestling, UFC, and combat sports at large.

This summary captures the rich content and key exchanges for listeners who want an engaging, comprehensive recap of Daniel Cormier’s in-depth chat with WWE President Nick Khan.