For whatever this is worth, in the investment community, many have interpreted Vince McMahon's comments in the recent Forbes article to mean that he's willing to either sell WWE, or at least a major ownership stake in the company. The speculation is he would structure a deal that would see him remain in charge, but monetize his ownership value for his family before he passes away.
Those in the investment community seem to feel that McMahon should recognize the need to strike a deal where he can retain control, but also have the company in the hands of someone who can create a suitable successor for him.
Even if McMahon sells an ownership stake in his company, the feeling is that nobody would actually replace him as the guy in charge, unless of course he's simply too old to function at his job at that point in time.
For those wondering, the companies most speculated regarding media partners who would be the best fit in a situation like this are Madison Square Garden and Liberty.
WWE has denied rumors of merger talks, however the speculation has resulted in some of the stock increases we have seen over the past week.
Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter