WrestleMania and All WWE Premium Live Events to Air Exclusively on ESPN Platforms in 2026. WWE’s Biggest Events, Including WrestleMania, Move Exclusively to ESPN in 2026, including the two-night WrestleMania, WWE’s Super Bowl! WWE is coming off two nights of SummerSlam, which just took place in the NY/NJ Meadowlands, with a total attendance of 122,000 fans. This move was not expected; fans had thought WWE would move the PLEs to Netflix.
Questions we hope to have answers to in the future are: Will we see an integration of WWE into Disney Parks, especially Wide World of Sports, here at Walt Disney World? Will 2025 Halloween Horror Nights be the only time we ever see the WWE Haunted House run by Universal Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando? Can Mickey Mouse, the ultimate Face, take a bump? We should have more answers this morning at 8:30 AM during The Walt Disney Company’s Investors Call.
Updated: Fans are asking if the PLEs will be part of the new ESPN Streaming Service, and the answer is yes. While some PLEs will be shown on the ESPN or ESPN2 channels, the major PLEs will only be on the new ESPN DTC Streaming Service, which will cost consumers $29.99. We watch WWE PLEs and can tell you what will happen; WWE Fans are going to have to switch streaming services from Peacock to the new ESPN Service at a much higher cost.
- Designed to give fans more choice and flexibility, ESPN DTC will offer two plans, including an unlimited plan for $29.99/month that gives fans access to all of ESPN’s linear networks – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes – in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX, covering 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, studio shows, original programming, and more. Bundling opportunities for the ESPN unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu include a special offer at launch for $29.99/month for the first 12 months.
ESPN, a cornerstone of the Walt Disney Company, and WWE have finalized a landmark deal, making ESPN platforms the exclusive U.S. home for all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) starting in 2026. This agreement positions Disney’s streaming future squarely in the ring, as all marquee events, including the two-night cultural phenomenon WrestleMania, will be streamed in their entirety on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer service.
This deal is a major win for both companies. For ESPN, it adds a massive, passionate fanbase to its portfolio, bolstering the content library of its new streaming service. Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN, stated that the agreement “bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.”
For WWE, the move to ESPN signifies a major shift in its media strategy. Nick Khan, President of WWE, called it “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.” Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO, WWE’s parent company, also drew a parallel to the successful partnership with UFC, stating, “We have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership.”
The ESPN DTC service will be the exclusive streaming home for all annual PLEs, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Money in the Bank. While most of these events will be exclusive to the streaming service, some will be simulcast on linear ESPN channels. Additionally, ESPN platforms will have the opportunity to stream pre- and post-event shows, giving fans a comprehensive viewing experience for all of WWE’s biggest nights.
WrestleMania and All WWE Premium Live Events to Air Exclusively on ESPN Platforms in 2026
