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W WWEⓇ Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results 11/04/2021 Raises Full Year 2021 Guidance Third Quarter 2021 Highlights * * ( All comparisons are versus the prior year period unless stated otherwise ) • Revenue was $ 255.8 million , an increase of 15 % or $ 34.2 million , primarily driven by higher ticket sales and , to a lesser extent , venue merchandise sales , resulting from the Company's return to ticketed live events , including SummerSlam • Operating income was $ 64.0 million , an increase of 1 % or $ 0.6 million , benefitting from the growth in revenue and the absence of COVID - associated severance expense as compared to the prior year . This benefit was largely offset by higher television and event - related production expense • Adjusted OIBDA¹ was $ 77.9 million , a decrease of 8 % or $ 6.4 million . Adjusted OIBDA in the prior year quarter excludes COVID - associated severance expense ● • WWE returned to live event touring beginning July 16 , 2021 , with strong demand for tickets that outpaced expectations . WWE live events in North America attracted the highest quarterly average attendance in more than a decade SummerSlam was held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in front of a record - breaking , sold - out crowd of more than 51,000 fans . As the most watched SummerSlam in the Company's history , the event also set a record for sponsorship and grew merchandise sales by 155 % compared with 2019's SummerSlam • Digital video views were a record 12.8 billion , an increase of 39 % , and hours consumed were a record 411 million , an increase of 20 % , across digital and social platforms² • Return of capital to shareholders totaled $ 31.0 million , including $ 21.9 million in share repurchases and $ 9.1 million in dividends paid • Business Outlook³ * ( All comparisons are versus the prior year period unless stated otherwise ) • In January , the Company issued Adjusted OIBDA guidance of $ 270 million to $ 305 million for the full year 2021. Based on outperformance to - date and revised expectations for the full year , the Company is raising its guidance . Adjusted OIBDA is now expected to be within a range of $ 305 million to $ 315 million with the staging of only one large - scale international event . The revised full year guidance implies fourth quarter Adjusted OIBDA of $ 75 million to $ 85 million as compared to $ 51.2 million in the fourth quarter 2020. The year - over - year increase in fourth quarter 2021 is driven by the staging of one large - scale international event , which the Company was unable to stage in fourth quarter 2020 STAMFORD , Conn -- ( BUSINESS WIRE ) -- WWE ( NYSE : WWE ) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30 , 2021 . " During the third quarter , we returned to live event touring with record average attendance , driving our better - than - expected performance , " said Vince McMahon , WWE Chairman & CEO . " Even with only one large - scale international event due to COVID - related circumstances , we will exceed our previous financial guidance given the overall strength in each of our business lines . We think our performance highlights the strength of our brand globally and supports our belief that we are well - positioned to maximize the value of our content and drive long - term shareholder value . " Kristina Salen , WWE Chief Financial Officer , added " In the quarter , our better - than - expected revenue of $ 255.8 million and Adjusted OIBDA of $ 77.9 million reflected robust demand for our live events as we returned to touring and attracted average attendance above 2019 levels . Even with only one large - scale international event this year , we are raising our full - year 2021 Adjusted OIBDA guidance to a range of $ 305 million to $ 315 million . " Third - Quarter Consolidated Results * * ( All comparisons are versus the prior year period unless stated otherwise )