Report: WWE PPVs Potentially Moving To ESPN Earlier Than Planned

WWE pay-per-views may be moving to ESPN on a permanent basis much earlier than expected.

It was announced earlier this month that WWE pay-per-views/premium live events would air on ESPN platforms in the United States from 2026 as part of a five-year deal worth $1.6 billion. WWE's major main roster shows are expected to air on ESPN's direct-to-consumer service, while select shows will also air on ESPN's linear TV platforms.

The deal was due to take effect from April's WrestleMania 42 as WWE's current PLE media rights deal in the United States with Peacock doesn't expire until March 2026. It has since been reported, however, that WWE's as-yet-unannounced pay-per-view on September 20 will air on ESPN in the United States, and Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that all WWE PPVs could air on ESPN platforms moving forward, as WWE may have already fulfilled their contractual obligations to Peacock.

"I'm hearing we may have ESPN going forward…They do [have a deal with Peacock until March 2026], and I don't know this 100 per cent, but I was kind of given the impression that the way it worked with Peacock was they were contracted to X number of events and they've added because there's a second night of SummerSlam, they added the Evolution show. So they may have met the quota. We'll see what happens, but that was the impression I was given," Alvarez said.

WWE pay-per-views have aired on Peacock in the United States since March 2021, when the pro wrestling company decided to move away from the WWE Network. WWE PPVs/PLEs will continue to air on Netflix internationally.

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