WWE’s Disney Connection: Jeff Jarrett Says Wrestling Just Hit a New Level
The wrestling business is evolving fast, and Jeff Jarrett believes WWE’s recent broadcast deals have officially tied the company to an entertainment giant on par with the biggest in the world.
Speaking on his My World with Jeff Jarrett podcast, the AEW Hall of Famer didn’t mince words about WWE’s new identity after inking blockbuster partnerships with Netflix (beginning 2025) and ESPN (starting 2026). With ESPN owned by Disney, Jarrett sees the landscape as forever changed.
“I think the simple deal is, folks, WWE is now synonymous with Disney,” Jarrett said. “Disney owns ABC, so I think... it’s either going to be on ABC or ESPN or both. I’m going to think WrestleMania is going to slide in there. The events just went to another level, as far as exposure.”
The “Super Bowl Effect” on Wrestling
Jarrett suggested that WWE’s PLEs will increasingly resemble the NFL’s Super Bowl, with major celebrity appearances, star-studded pre-shows, and higher ticket prices. “The game has completely raised,” he continued. “This is the big-ass monster contract.”
Even while firmly committed to AEW, Jarrett acknowledged WWE just pulled off the biggest business move in wrestling history. He even speculated that WWE’s long-term future could include theme park attractions, as the Disney connection blurs the line between wrestling and mainstream entertainment.
Jarrett and co-host Conrad Thompson ultimately agreed that while the deal benefits WWE directly, the ripple effect will lift the entire industry—including AEW.
🎙️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Jarrett hit the nail on the head: this isn’t just about WWE getting a TV contract—it’s about wrestling taking another step toward full integration with global entertainment culture. If WrestleMania ends up on ABC in primetime, you’re talking about exposure that makes wrestling “normal” to audiences who might otherwise never seek it out. For AEW, TNA, NJPW, and others, it means more eyes on the industry as a whole. WWE may be “synonymous with Disney” now, but the rest of the business could benefit from the spillover.
