WWE has sold more than £70m of shares in funding new American football league

World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) chief Vince McMahon has sold £75m worth of shares in the company funding the start of a new American football league.

Findings revealed McMahon sold 3.34m shares in WWE which will be used to fund a separate company - Alpha Entertainment - to explore “investment opportunities across the sports and entertainment landscapes, including professional football”.

The joint business venture between WWE and US TV company NBC lasted one season after the two firms only made back 30 per cent of the initial $100m investment.

But despite the growth in the number of NFL teams, the widely recognised brain damage risk due to how dangerous the sport can be and the consequences it carries, there are rumours that McMahon is plotting something of a comeback for the sport.

Alpha Entertainment, McMahon’s company, applied for a number of XFL trademarks with the US Trademark and Patent Office earlier this month.

Another McMahon company, VKM Ventures, has filed trademarks for the United Football League, too.

McMahon has been a friend of President Donald Trump for many years who has publicly criticised the protesting players and the NFL itself.