451 | George Barrios (Part 1) | Sometimes Wrong but Never in Doubt: How a Cuban Kid from Queens Transformed WWE

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