ESPN Acquires Rights To All WWE PLEs Starting In 2026 - But Some Fans Aren't Happy With The Change

ESPN Acquires Rights To All WWE PLEs Starting In 2026 - But Some Fans Aren't Happy With The Change

WWE's content will leave Peacock at the end of 2025, as WWE and ESPN have announced a landmark new deal that will see all PLEs, including WrestleMania, streaming exclusively on the Disney-owned platform.

By JoshWilding - Aug 07, 2025 05:08 AM EST
Filed Under: WWE

We've known for a while that WWE's deal with Peacock is nearing its end, and the prevailing theory has been that the company would expand its partnership with Netflix. While RAW is the only WWE show on the platform in the U.S., fans overseas get that, SmackDown, NXT, and all of the company's PLEs on the streaming giant. 

Well, in a landmark 5-year deal with ESPN thought to be worth $1.6 billion, all WWE PLEs, including WrestleMania, will begin streaming exclusively on the ESPN DTC service starting next year in North America. 

Business-wise, this is huge for TKO and WWE. Fans are a little less pleased, as it means they'll now need to have access to Netflix (RAW), The CW (NXT), the USA Network (SmackDown), and ESPN (WWE PLEs) to access all of the company's content moving forward. 

That won't be cheap, and the days of the WWE Network costing $9.99 per month are clearly long gone (it will reportedly cost $29.99 per month for a single PLE).

Here's the full press release from WWE and ESPN:

BRISTOL, Conn. and STAMFORD, Conn. (August 6, 2025)—ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), and WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), today announced a landmark rights agreement as ESPN platforms, including the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, will become the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs), including the two-night cultural phenomenon WrestleMania, starting in 2026. This deal makes ESPN home to the highest-profile WWE events of the year.

The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms. Marquee PLEs include WrestleMania and SummerSlam – both two-night events – and Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank, among others. WWE will continue to produce all PLEs.

Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN: "WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform. This agreement, which features the most-significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future."

Mark Shapiro, President and Chief Operating Officer, TKO: "We are proud to reinforce the ‘E’ in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can’t-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies."

Nick Khan, President, WWE: "WWE’s agreement with ESPN is a pivotal moment for our millions of fans across the United States: the leader in sports entertainment partnering with the biggest brand in sports media. Bringing WWE’s flagship events to ESPN’s platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit."

ESPN platforms, including its DTC service, will have the opportunity to stream WWE’s pre-and post-event shows tied to all Premium Live Events.

All of ESPN. All in One Place. Coming Soon.

For the first time ever, ESPN will offer its full suite of networks and services directly to fans, along with an enhanced ESPN App that integrates game stats, betting information, fantasy sports, commerce, multiview options and a personalized SportsCenter For You. Designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, these new features and functionality will be available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package. For more visit the ESPN DTC Press Kit.

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