ESPN–WWE Media Call Breakdown: What Will Air on ESPN TV/App, Why the Library Isn’t Included, and More
This Saturday marks a major milestone in WWE’s broadcast history. With Wrestlepalooza, WWE officially begins its $1.625 billion partnership with ESPN, bringing all Premium Live Events exclusively to the ESPN app in the United States.
Ahead of the launch, ESPN executives hosted a media call to outline what fans can expect from the debut event and beyond.
No WWE Library (Yet)
One of the biggest questions on fans’ minds was whether ESPN would host WWE’s vast on-demand library, similar to what Peacock previously offered. ESPN executive Matt Kenny made it clear that the focus right now is live WWE events only, with no plans to integrate the library into the app.
Read More: The Future of WWE’s Archive Video Library
Wrestlepalooza vs. AEW All Out
The call also addressed the elephant in the room: WWE’s Wrestlepalooza airing the same weekend as AEW’s All Out 2025. Kenny explained that scheduling is closely coordinated with WWE and that ESPN isn’t afraid of competition. “We welcome it,” he said. ESPN’s bigger concern? Juggling its other rights commitments like college football.
Multi-View & SportsCenter Presence
JT Lasker spotlighted one of ESPN’s unique selling points: the multi-view function on the ESPN app. This means fans can watch Wrestlepalooza alongside other sports happening live, making it easier to keep up with multiple events in real time.
Kenny also emphasized the importance of SportsCenter’s coverage from Wrestlepalooza, calling it a key part of making the event feel like a mainstream sports spectacle.
Creative Control Stays With WWE
When pressed on talent decisions — including rumors about Brock Lesnar’s involvement — ESPN executives were firm: WWE retains full creative control of booking and programming. ESPN provides the platform, but what fans see in the ring is entirely WWE’s call.
Linear TV Commitments
While WWE PLEs will stream exclusively on the ESPN app, Matt Kenny (ESPN Executive) revealed that a minimum threshold of content must also air on ESPN’s linear television networks. That way, some portion of every WWE Premium Live Event will remain accessible outside the app, helping funnel casual viewers toward ESPN’s streaming product.
Note: Select WWE Premium Live Events will also air in full on ESPN’s legacy television channels — ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews. The specific events to be simulcast have not yet been announced.
Access Expanding Through Year-End
Another key detail: by the end of 2025, most cable and streaming subscribers with ESPN included in their packages are expected to gain automatic access to the ESPN app, meaning fans won’t necessarily need an extra subscription to catch WWE’s live events.
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
This media call shows how serious ESPN is about its WWE partnership. They aren’t just treating Wrestlepalooza like another wrestling event — they’re plugging it into the same ecosystem as their biggest sports properties. The multi-view option is a clever way to attract casual fans, and the SportsCenter push signals that WWE is now firmly part of ESPN’s sports culture playbook.
The lack of a WWE library might sting longtime fans who enjoyed binge-watching classics on Peacock, but ESPN clearly sees live events as the core product. What matters most now is whether WWE can deliver on this stage — and whether the mainstream exposure ESPN provides will grow the audience.
One thing is clear: with UFC, WWE, and now Wrestlepalooza under its banner, TKO and ESPN are betting big on combat sports and sports entertainment driving the future of streaming.
