WWE is accelerating its collaboration with ESPN, bringing premium live events to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service sooner than planned. The first live event on the ESPN platforms will be Wrestlepalooza, staged on September 20 in Indianapolis, the host city for this year’s Royal Rumble. The show will stream at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on ESPN’s platforms.
Starting September 20, ESPN will become the exclusive domestic home for WWE’s premium live events. The remaining pay-per-view-like events on the 2025 calendar, including Crown Jewel and Survivor Series, will also stream on the new ESPN service. Beginning next year, marquee titles such as WrestleMania and SummerSlam will also migrate to ESPN after NBCUniversal’s Peacock five-year run ends this year.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque spoke about the partnership, saying, “On September 20, WWE and ESPN are coming together for a can’t-miss event to kick off our new partnership. The biggest Superstars in WWE. The biggest brand in sports media. Are you ready?”
Wrestlepalooza is expected to be a marquee event. John Cena headlines the card, with Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre slated for major matches. The event will mark Cena’s final wrestling appearance in Indianapolis.
ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service is slated to launch on August 21, paving the way for WWE’s expanded streaming presence on the platform.
Additional context and implications:
– This move positions ESPN as the single domestic hub for WWE premium events, potentially broadening the audience reach through ESPN’s digital ecosystem and existing sports audience.
– The shift consolidates WWE’s live-event strategy under a single streaming umbrella, which could affect how fans access big shows and how advertisers package their campaigns around WWE content.
– For viewers, the arrangement may offer a more seamless, centralized viewing experience across ESPN’s apps and services, though the exact subscription model and pricing were not disclosed.
– Cena’s Indy appearance adds star power and serves as a notable milestone for the partnership, likely drawing added attention from legacy fans and newcomers alike.
Short summary:
WWE is fast-tracking its move to ESPN’s new streaming service, starting with Wrestlepalooza on September 20 in Indianapolis. ESPN will host all WWE premium live events domestically from that date, with WrestleMania and SummerSlam following in 2026 after Peacock’s deal ends this year. The arrangement features high-profile matches and marks a significant shift in WWE’s media distribution strategy, aiming to broaden reach and integration across ESPN’s platforms.
Positive angle:
This partnership could broaden WWE’s reach to a wider, more diverse audience and offer fans a more unified streaming experience by bringing major events under ESPN’s direct-to-consumer umbrella, with high-profile matchups and notable appearances like John Cena helping to energize the rollout.