WWE Strikes Landmark $1.6 Billion Deal with ESPN for Exclusive PLE Streaming Rights

Kicking off in 2026, WWE's PLE events are set to shift from Peacock to ESPN in a deal worth $325 million per year.

WWE Strikes Landmark $1.6 Billion Deal with ESPN for Exclusive PLE Streaming Rights

TKO and WWE officials (via WWE's X account)

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Under the new-age leadership of Triple H and Nick Khan, WWE just closed yet another monumental deal. In a blockbuster move, WWE and Disney have officially announced a five-year, $1.6 billion agreement that will see ESPN become the exclusive streaming home for WWE’s Premium Live Events (PLEs) beginning in 2026.

The deal averages around $325 million per year, surpassing WWE’s current 2021 signed agreement with Peacock, which was worth $200 million annually. That marks a 1.6x increase in value and signals a major shift in how fans will access the company’s biggest events. 

Under the terms of the deal, ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming platform, which is set to launch on August 21 later this year, will host WWE’s marquee shows, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank. The streaming service will be priced at $29.99 per month, with no additional fees for PLEs, and full access will be included as part of the base subscription.

In addition to live events, the agreement includes pre- and post-show coverage and gives ESPN rights to produce original WWE content. Some PLEs will also be simulcast on ESPN’s linear TV channels, providing broader reach across platforms. TKO President Mark Shapiro issued an official statement to celebrate the milestone. 

We are proud to reinforce the ‘E’ in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. 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.

Mark Shapiro via an official statement

Importantly, traditional cable and satellite subscribers who already pay for ESPN will also receive authenticated access to the new DTC platform via the ESPN app, at no extra charge. The new partnership is expected to kick off with the Royal Rumble 2026, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the beginning of WWE’s annual pay-per-view calendar under the ESPN banner. However, this new deal only covers live PLEs.

Meanwhile, WWE’s weekly programming will remain split across multiple platforms. Monday Night Raw will continue to stream exclusively on Netflix, following the massive 10-year, $5 billion deal that began in January 2025. SmackDown is currently with Peacock and the USA Network, but will transition back to NBC Universal in the near future.

The future of WWE’s archival content library remains uncertain. According to Fightful Select, there is speculation that Google could strike a separate agreement, potentially making YouTube the U.S. hub for WWE’s on-demand legacy content. Meanwhile, there are also rumors that Netflix will be a serious contender in the bidding process. No official confirmation has been made yet.

Netflix already serves as the home for all WWE content outside the United States, including Monday Night Raw, Premium Live Events, and the archival library. If they secure domestic rights to the historic library as well, it would add to their existing billion-dollar global deal, further solidifying Netflix as a central hub for WWE content worldwide.

Nick Khan weighs in on WWE’s new partnership with ESPN set to begin in 2026

In a 2021 interview, WWE President Nick Khan outlined the company’s long-term strategy of omnipresence, aiming to reach the widest possible audience by being present across cable TV, network television, and streaming platforms. With major media deals in place with USA Network (cable), The CW (network), Netflix (streaming), and now ESPN (streaming and cable), WWE has achieved that goal, maintaining visibility across a wide range of demographics and age groups. 

Nick Khan and Triple H
Nick Khan and Triple H (via KLAS)

Now, with the recent announcement of WWE’s new media rights deal with Disney and ESPN, Khan has officially spoken about the transition. During an appearance on The Varsity podcast, he praised WWE’s outgoing partner, Peacock, while expressing his excitement about what lies ahead. 

Look, we’re excited, John, and before we get into all the Disney hype, I do want to say how amazing of a partner Peacock has been and continues to be… We bet on Peacock early. They bet on WWE early. We think the bet paid off for both sides, and here we are now today with Disney. It’s a whole new frontier for us. We’re excited about it.

Nick Khan via The Varsity podcast

He then highlighted the history between the top executives at TKO and Disney and the aim to take the wrestling product to newer heights. 

Obviously, between Mark Shapiro, Ari Emanuel, myself, Triple H, we have an extensive history with Disney. We think extremely positive history with Disney and the opportunity to take WWE there, we think will broaden the horizons and broaden the viewership with all of our fans and new fans coming in. You subscribe to that product. You get WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, all of our other Premium Live Events with no upcharge.

Nick Khan via The Varsity podcast

He also revealed more details about the ESPN agreement. The network will carry 10 Premium Live Events per year, spanning 12 nights, with WrestleMania and SummerSlam continuing as two-night events. The deal covers WWE’s domestic PLE rights, while international broadcasting is expected to remain unaffected.

Until January 2026, WWE’s PLEs will continue streaming on Peacock in the U.S. Once the ESPN deal takes effect, WWE will become a central piece of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer platform. This partnership not only reflects WWE’s evolving media strategy but also signals its deeper integration into the mainstream sports world.

By aligning with ESPN, which is already the home of the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and UFC PPVs, WWE continues to position itself alongside the most prominent names in global sports and entertainment.

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