ESPN & WWE Shake Up Wrestling Streaming
Disney’s ESPN and TKO Group (owner of WWE) have signed a historic five‑year, $1.6 billion media rights deal making it the exclusive U.S. streaming home of WWE’s Premium Live Events (PLEs), including WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank, and more, starting in 2026.
That’s about $325 million per year. This is a dramatic increase over the previous $900 million contract WWE had with Peacock (~$180 million/year).
Why This Deal Matters
ESPN’s Streaming Ambitions
The network is launching its highly anticipated direct‑to‑consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025, priced at $29.99/month for the unlimited plan. This includes 47,000 live events annually across it’s networks, plus on‑demand content. The WWE PLE deal is a signature acquisition meant to drive subscriptions and reduce churn.
WWE Gains Massive Reach
WWE President Nick Khan called the deal a landmark moment, pairing WWE’s passionate fanbase with ESPN’s sports media reach. The production control remains with WWE even pre‑ and post‑event shows fall under the agreement, while the network handles major distribution.
Audience & Brand Expansion
It’s Chairman Jimmy Pitaro emphasized that WWE will help its network attract a younger, more diverse, female‑leaning audience and broaden its content portfolio beyond traditional sports, fitting its’s long‑term strategic evolution.
What Fans Can Expect
| Feature | Details |
| Streaming Platform | ESPN’s DTC service ($29.99/month; $299.99/year). Bundle options with Disney+ and Hulu available at launch |
| Event Access | All ten annual WWE PLEs, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble all on ESPN platforms starting 2026; select events simulcast on ESPN cable channels |
| Weekly Shows | SmackDown stays on Peacock and USA Network until 2029; Raw remains on Netflix globally per WWE’s international licensing deal |
The Strategic Impacts
- For ESPN/Disney: This deal underscores the network’s ambition to become a streaming powerhouse in entertainment, not just traditional sports.
- For WWE/TKO: It solidifies WWE’s place in mainstream sports media and leverages ESPN’s reach and platform features.
- For Fans: More comprehensive and integrated access, though some will feel the sting of higher subscription costs compared to Peacock’s legacy pricing ($10.99/month).
- For Competitors: Peacock loses a marquee draw, while Netflix continues global coverage of WWE’s weekly shows solidifying a multi‑platform wrestling strategy.
Conclusion
The Future Is Here
From 2026 onward, every WWE Premium Live Event will stream exclusively on ESPN’s direct‑to‑consumer service in the U.S. This signals a dynamic collision between sports entertainment and mainstream sports media. Whether you’re an insider, a wrestling die‑hard, or just curious about streaming wars this deal reshapes the playing field.
