ESPN gets WWE WrestleMania, PLE rights in $1.6 billion deal
Share and Follow

Mickey Mouse is now clear to make his WrestleMania debut.

According to the Wall Street Journal, ESPN and WWE have signed a five-year, $1.6 billion deal that grants ESPN exclusive rights to broadcast WWE’s top live events starting in 2026. This is part of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service, set to debut later this month.

The events covered in the deal include the two-night WrestleMania and the major shows SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank, as announced by ESPN.

ESPN’s chairman, Jimmy Pitaro, told the Journal, “I felt like this deal makes perfect sense for ESPN. It’s a major content acquisition that we believe will significantly enhance our direct-to-consumer launch and advance our future in streaming.”

WWE previously had been airing its PLEs through Peacock, with the sides having partnered on a five-year, $900 million deal, per the Wall Street Journal.

This ESPN pact continues WWE’s venture into streaming, having previously signed a 10-year deal worth more than $5 billion with Netflix to host “Raw” each Monday night.

WWE’s chief content officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, said WrestleMania, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series will be “bigger than ever” and “more of a spectacle than ever” following this merger.

“What we consider the worldwide leader in sports entertainment to be with the worldwide leader in sports — and entertainment — ESPN, there’s nothing bigger, there’s no bigger opportunity than this for us right now,” Levesque said on “Get Up” on Wednesday.

“To be in the Disney family, so to speak, we’re thrilled and can’t wait to get rolling.”

ESPN’s new streaming service is debuting Aug. 21 and will cost $29.99 per month, and this agreement will include WWE’s pre- and post-card shows for the PLE, per the ESPN release.

The network already had a working relationship with WWE’s parent company, TKO, to air UFC via a deal worth $300 million each year, per the Wall Street Journal.

“We are proud to reinforce the ‘E’ in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey,” TKO president and chief operating officer Mark Shapiro said in a statement posted by ESPN. “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.”

This deal continues what has been a busy stretch for ESPN, having previously acquired NFL Network and other assets in another billion-dollar deal.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Donald Trump Confirms Putin’s Planned Visit to the U.S. for Crucial Meeting

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will meet with Russian…

Trump Aide Faces Controversy as MAGA Influencer Raises Sexting Allegations

In early 2025, Gen Z conservatives were riding high. President Donald Trump…

Sleepy Hollow Police Alert Homeowners to Risky TikTok Trend: Teens Kicking Doors

SLEEPY HOLLOW, Ill. (WLS) — There was a new warning from local…

A Peek Into Nicola and Brooklyn Beckham’s Private Wedding Amidst Family Tensions

There are surely few lovebirds in the world keener to share their…

White House Official Indicates Trump Administration Pursues $1 Billion Settlement With UCLA

The Trump administration is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University…

Boston Faces Escalating Crisis with ‘Zombie-like’ Addict Roaming City Mall

Boston’s raging drug problem has deepened after images surfaced of a man…

Jacksonville’s Proposed Tax Reduction Sparks Debate Among City Leaders

Jacksonville’s finance committee approved a 1/8 of a mill reduction to the…

Katie Thurston Delivers a Witty Comeback to Former ‘Bachelorette’ Contestant Cody Menk

Katie Thurston is demonstrating her ability to dish out shade just as…