451 | George Barrios (Part 1) | Sometimes Wrong but Never in Doubt: How a Cuban Kid from Queens Transformed WWE
The Greatness MachineShow Notes
In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh sits down with George Barrios, entrepreneur, investor, and former Co-President of WWE, for a wide-ranging conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the power of contrarian thinking. George shares his remarkable origin story as the son of Cuban immigrants who fled Castro's regime, his self-described journey as a "talented f**k-up," and how he went from a 0.6 GPA freshman to the boardroom of one of the world's most recognized entertainment brands. The conversation dives deep into how George and his business partner Michelle Wilson identified a massively undervalued asset in WWE, rebuilt it from the inside out, and ultimately engineered a $20 billion merger between WWE and UFC — the largest sports deal in history.
In this episode, Darius and George will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction to George Barrios
(03:04) George's Origin Story
(06:05) Family Background and Early Influences
(08:56) Education Journey and Challenges
(11:57) Cultural Heritage and Family Values
(15:12) Reflections on Parenting and Education
(18:01) Transition to Corporate World and WWE
(20:51) The Accidental CFO Journey
(22:48) Discovering WWE: A Surprising Opportunity
(25:10) Overcoming Doubts: The WWE Reputation Challenge
(28:51) Transforming WWE: Insights and Strategies
(33:33) Co-Leadership Dynamics: George and Michelle's Partnership
(39:04) Unlocking Value: The Economics of Wrestling
(42:41) Building the Future: Lessons from WWE's Success
George Barrios is a business leader, investor, and operator at the intersection of sports, media, and technology. He is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Isos Capital and an investor and director with Global Sport Group. He previously served as Co-President and Board Member of WWE, helping expand the company’s digital, global, and direct-to-consumer businesses and leading its merger with UFC to form TKO Group. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at The New York Times Company, Time Warner, HBO, and Praxair. A first-generation Cuban American raised in Queens, George holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut and is the author of “Sometimes Wrong But Never in Doubt”.
Connect with George:
Website: https://georgebarrios.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgebarrios/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510786554
Connect with Darius:
Website: https://therealdarius.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine
Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708
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