A New Home for the Squared Circle: WWE, ESPN Agree to New Media-Rights Deal To Air Premium Live Events, Including WrestleMania, in 2026

A New Home for the Squared Circle: WWE, ESPN Agree to New Media-Rights Deal To Air Premium Live Events, Including WrestleMania, in 2026 By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 - 10:42 am

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In a massive shakeup for distribution of some of professional wrestling's most high-profile shows, all of WWE's Premium Live Events (PLEs) are heading to the World Wide Leader in Sports. ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, announced this media rights agreement today as the network's platforms, including the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, will become the exclusive U.S. domestic home of events including the two-night cultural phenomenon WrestleMania. This deal will go into effect starting in 2026.

WWE has an immense, devoted, and passionate fanbase that we're excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform, says Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN. This agreement, which features the most-significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.

The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms. Marquee PLEs include WrestleMania and SummerSlam - both two-night events - and Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank, among others. WWE will continue to produce all PLEs.

We are proud to reinforce the E' in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey, says Mark Shapiro, President and Chief Operating Officer, TKO. 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.

ESPN platforms, including its DTC service, will also have the opportunity to stream WWE's pre-and post-event shows tied to all Premium Live Events.

WWE's agreement with ESPN is 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, says Nick Khan, President, WWE. Bringing WWE's flagship events to ESPN's platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/08/06/a-new-home-for-the-squared-circ...
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