ESPN is accelerating its takeover of WWE’s premium live events (PLEs) from 2026 to September 20, 2025, kicking off with a brand-new event, Wrestlepalooza, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The announcement, strategically timed for Thursday, August 21, coincides with the launch of ESPN’s highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming app, a cornerstone of the network’s push to redefine its digital future.
WWE personnel are in Indianapolis today to unveil the news, marking a pivotal shift in the wrestling media landscape. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the transition from Peacock, which currently holds WWE PLE streaming rights, was not a buyout by ESPN but a negotiated agreement between WWE and Peacock, with ESPN, a Disney subsidiary, brought into the fold. A source familiar with the deal explained that WWE fulfilled its Peacock PLE obligations early by splitting its marquee events, WrestleMania and SummerSlam, into two nights each, allowing for this expedited handoff.
Peacock will stream its final WWE PLE, Clash in Paris, on August 31, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, live from France. Meanwhile, WWE and Peacock have struck a new deal to bring additional main-roster WWE programming to the NBCUniversal platform, with details forthcoming. WWE’s developmental brand, NXT, will continue to stream its PLEs on Peacock.
Wrestlepalooza, set to stream live on ESPN’s new app at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, promises to be a historic event, headlined by the final Indianapolis appearance of retiring WWE legend John Cena. The event follows the record-breaking 2025 Royal Rumble, which drew an all-time attendance high at Lucas Oil Stadium in the same city. Other 2025 PLEs shifting to ESPN include Crown Jewel on October 11 and Survivor Series on November 29.
ESPN’s new streaming app, launching Thursday, aims to anchor Disney’s broader streaming strategy, offering live feeds of ESPN’s linear TV channels and exclusive content for $29.99 per month. Starting October 2, users can bundle it with Fox One, Fox’s new streaming service featuring news, sports, and broadcast channels, for $39.99 monthly, while Fox One alone costs $20. The dual launch underscores a semi-competitive yet collaborative dynamic between the media giants.
WWE’s weekly shows, Raw on Netflix and SmackDown on USA Network (with next-day streaming on Peacock), remain unaffected. However, the fate of WWE’s extensive programming library, currently housed on Peacock, is uncertain, with indications of a potential shift to ESPN’s platform.
This move positions ESPN to capture wrestling fans and sports enthusiasts alike, leveraging WWE’s global appeal to drive subscriptions and cement its streaming app as a must-have for cord-cutters. As Wrestlepalooza looms, all eyes are on Indianapolis—and ESPN’s ambitious digital gambit.
Please follow us on Facebook and X for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join our Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help. You can find Luke on X HERE.