Exhibit 10.17

January 13, 2003

Kurt Schneider

Dear Kurt:

On behalf of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., I am pleased to extend the
following offer of employment to you.

             Title: Executive Vice President, Marketing         Location:
Corporate Headquarters     1241 East Main Street     Stamford, CT 06902        
Department: Marketing         Reporting Linda McMahon   Relationship: Chief
Executive Officer         Start Date: February 24, 2003         Base
Compensation:        $275,000 base salary, which will be paid bi-weekly, in the
amount of $10,576.92. You will be eligible for a salary increase, based upon
your performance evaluation, in calendar year 2004. Our current review is June
1st.         Sign-on Bonus: $15,000 less applicable deductions payable on the
first pay date following 30 days of employment. If you voluntarily terminate
employment with WWE within one year of your date of hire, you must reimburse WWE
100% of your sign-on bonus. Reimbursement is due within 10 days following last
day of employment.         Incentive Bonus: You are eligible to participate in
the WWE Management Incentive Program. This program is based upon your
performance evaluation and achievement of fiscal year company/business unit
financial goals. Currently, the target bonus for your level of position is 40%.
Bonus payments are made after the close of the fiscal year (May 1 – April 30).
You will be eligible for an incentive bonus payment in 2004.

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             Stock Options:     You will be granted options to purchase 40,000
shares of Class A Common Stock of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., at an
exercise price equal to the closing price on the first day of your employment.
Your stock options will vest, or become exercisable in equal installments on
each of the anniversary dates of your employment over four years. As we
discussed, the WWE long term incentive plan ("LTIP") provides that any
outstanding options will accelerate and become 100% vested and exercisable upon
a change of control. A copy of the LTIP will be provided to you on your start
date.             Benefits: You will be eligible for full company benefits on
the first day of the month following your date of hire. Company benefits
include: Medical, Dental, Life, LTD and 401(k)plan. Detailed information
regarding the benefits is included in the enclosed offer packet.            
Vacation: Three (3) weeks vacation and three (3) personal days.See vacation
policy included in the offer packet for more details.         Relocation:      
WWE, Inc. will provide you with the following:           •       Up to One
Hundred Twenty (120) days of temporary housing;     •       Rental car for the
duration of your temporary housing     •       Up to Two (2) house hunting trips
for you and your family     •       Up to Three (3) additional return trips to
California for you to visit your family     •       WWE will reimburse you for
expenses associated with the termination of the lease on your existing house and
the purchase of your new home, i.e. moving expenses, legal and administrative
fees for both events. Excludable items are sales commission and loan points.
Where applicable any amounts paid to you will be grossed up to offset the impact
of taxes. All expenditures will need to be properly documented in keeping with
IRS negotiations.     •      

Relocation must be initiated within six months of hire. If you voluntarily
terminate employment with WWE, Inc. within one year of your relocation start
date, you must reimburse WWE, Inc. 100% of the relocation costs incurred by WWE
on your behalf. Reimbursement is due within 10 days following last day of
employment.

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           Confidentiality/    
Non-Solicitation
Agreement: Enclosed please find a Confidentiality/Non-Solicitation Agreement to
be signed and returned to the Human Resources Department.         Severance:  If
your employment is terminated by World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. “without
cause”, (“cause” is defined as(i) engages in fraud, deceit, misappropriation,
embezzlement or theft against WWE or any of its affiliates; (ii) willfully fails
to perform specific and lawful directives; (iii) is convicted, pleads or enters
a plea of nolo contendere to a felony, you will receive the following:        
a.       During the first year of employment, 12 months salary continuation at
your then current rate of base salary;   b. During the second year of
employment, 9 months salary continuation at your then current rate of base
salary;   c. During the third year of employment, 6 months salary continuation
at your then current rate of base salary;   d. Your stock options will continue
to be exercisable one (1) year from the date of termination as per the LTIP   e.
All Medical benefits at terms and condition no less favorable than as in effect
at the time of your termination for your duration of your salary continuation  
      Attorneys' Fees:  As we discussed, WWE will reimburse you for the
reasonable attorneys' fees you incurred in connection with the finalization of
this offer letter and the related agreements.

This offer is contingent upon clear reference and background checks and
satisfaction of the Immigration Control and Reform Act requirements. Your
employment relationship with WWE, Inc. will be “at will.” This means that either
you or WWE can end your employment at any time, for any reason.

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On behalf of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., we are very pleased that you
have accepted this offer and look forward to you joining our team. If you have
any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call at (203) 353-5016.

Please fax a signed copy of this letter to my attention by Thursday, January 30,
2003. The fax number is (203) 359-5151.

Sincerely,

/s/ Nicole Zussman    

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                                Nicole Zussman
Vice President Human Resources                 /s/ Kurt Schneider    

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Kurt Schneider   Date       Enclosure    

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