When WWE moved Raw in the United States from the USA Network to Netflix this year, the deal also included putting everything internationally, including PLEs, on the streamer. Many thought this meant that Premium Live Events in the U.S. would eventually end up there too, and in an announcement today, WWE PLEs are indeed leaving Peacock very soon, but it’s not for Netflix. Instead, shows like the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, and SummerSlam are going to ESPN and their new service. This is huge news, but it’s not necessarily good for fans, because the price you’re going to pay to watch WWE is about to go way up.
WWE PLEs In The United States Are Moving To ESPN
A statement released today by the Walt Disney Company read:
“ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc., today announced a landmark rights agreement as ESPN platforms, including the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, will become the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs), including the two-night cultural phenomenon WrestleMania, starting in 2026. This deal makes ESPN home to the highest-profile WWE events of the year.
“The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms. Marquee PLEs include WrestleMania and SummerSlam – both two-night events – and Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank, among others. WWE will continue to produce all PLEs.”
According to CNBC, ESPN will pay $325 million a year for the next five years for the exclusive rights. This is a huge increase from the $180 million per year that Peacock is paying.
Fans Will Be Paying A Lot More To Watch WWE On ESPN
If you’re a WWE fan, you’re bound to wonder how much this move to ESPN is going to cost you. Be prepared for a massive increase. Currently, Peacock plans range from $10.99 to $16.99 per month. However, according to Deadline, you’re about to pay a lot more to watch WWE PLEs in America now. They reported:
“ESPN will launch its long-awaited new streaming service on August 21, at a price of $29.99 a month, bulking it up with WWE events and extended NFL rights.”
While some of WWE’s biggest shows of the year, like WrestleMania and SummerSlam, will be simulcast on other ESPN networks as well, the vast majority will only be on ESPN’s new streaming service at a cost double what fans are paying now. If you are an NFL fan, this might seem like an affordable package, but if you’re just looking for a place to watch wrestling, the much higher cost increase is going to take some getting used to. Wrestling fans had been excited that the high cost of WWE PLEs was long gone thanks to the WWE Network and Peacock. Those days are now over.
