Disney’s ESPN to Exclusively Stream WWE’s Biggest Events in the U.S.
In a historic move for combat sports and entertainment, ESPN—owned by The Walt Disney Company—has secured the exclusive U.S. streaming rights for WWE‘s Premium Live Events (PLEs) starting in 2026. The five-year deal, reportedly worth over $1.6 billion, makes ESPN the new digital home for major events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series.
This game-changing partnership marks a significant jump from WWE’s previous $900 million deal with NBCUniversal’s Peacock, which currently holds domestic streaming rights through 2025. ESPN’s deal, valued at an average of $325 million annually, will significantly bolster the sports network’s new direct-to-consumer streaming platform launching August 21 at $29.99 per month.
WWE Expands Global Reach While Reinventing U.S. Access
Outside the United States, Netflix retains global streaming rights for WWE content, with the exception of certain markets. Meanwhile, NBC’s Peacock will continue to stream SmackDown. The ESPN deal ensures that WWE fans in the U.S. will get exclusive access to pre-shows, post-shows, and all flagship live events under one powerful sports streaming umbrella.
TKO President Mark Shapiro called the partnership “transformational,” noting that WWE’s blend of athleticism and storytelling aligns perfectly with ESPN’s content strategy. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro echoed the excitement, emphasizing the passionate fanbase WWE brings to its new streaming era.
The move also comes as WWE continues its red-hot momentum: viewership for Raw, SmackDown, and NXT is climbing, and live event attendance continues to break records—like the nearly 70,000 fans at this year’s Royal Rumble.
With ESPN also acquiring NFL Network and RedZone this week, the streaming wars just got a whole lot more intense.
