WWE just changed the viewing map again. The company that built a worldwide following on television and pay per view is now steering the next stage of its streaming future. Over the past two years we watched big announcements stack on top of each other. Raw jumped to Netflix in January. SmackDown returned to USA Network last autumn. Now a new agreement with ESPN sets the stage for a fresh home for Premium Live Events in the United States beginning in 2026. Along the way Peacock has remained the home base for the WWE library and the big monthly shows during 2025, with extra specials added to sweeten the final stretch of that partnership. This is the full story in order, with what happened before the latest news, what the new deals actually mean, how wrestlers and fans are reacting, and what comes next for every major show on the calendar.
How we got here
Back in 2021 WWE moved the U S version of the WWE Network to Peacock. That deal brought the full library and all Premium Live Events under the NBCUniversal umbrella for American viewers. Company leaders and press reports repeated many times that the agreement would run through early 2026. Triple H even said on the record that the Peacock term ends in March of that year, which became a handy date for fans to circle as they wondered where the big tentpole shows would land next.
The first major twist came in January 2024 when TKO and Netflix announced that Raw would leave linear television and start a new era on the streaming giant in January 2025. It was a landmark move that put a weekly live sports entertainment show on a platform known for films and series. The debut night in January 2025 delivered nearly five million global views and a strong audience in the United States, a sign that the shift to a pure streaming home could work for a live wrestling show.
Through 2024 and into the first half of 2025, SmackDown settled in on USA Network under a new domestic rights deal and NXT found a broadcast home. That kept weekly programming visible while the industry waited to hear what would happen to Premium Live Events after the Peacock contract expired.
The ESPN deal becomes official
On August six of this year WWE and ESPN made the news official. Starting in 2026, ESPN platforms will be the exclusive U S home for every WWE Premium Live Event, including WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank. In simple terms, the shows fans once watched on the WWE Network and then on Peacock will move to ESPN’s new direct to consumer service, with select events simulcast on ESPN’s linear channels. Press releases from WWE and TKO spelled this out clearly, and major outlets confirmed both the start date and the scope of the agreement.
The money and strategy behind the move show why it matters. Multiple reports place the value around one point six billion dollars over five years. ESPN expects the new direct to consumer service to be a hub for live rights, and WWE provides a reliable calendar filled with destination nights. Sports business outlets also stressed that ESPN will keep some of the biggest events on its linear channels alongside the streaming feed, which helps reach viewers who still watch cable.
An Associated Press write up noted another key detail. ESPN plans to launch the full streaming service by the end of September 2025 at a listed monthly price, and the WWE package becomes a major driver once the calendar flips to 2026. The timing lines up with the close of the Peacock term and gives ESPN a clear runway to start strong with the Rumble and WrestleMania season next year.
What happens with Peacock in 2025
Fans asked a fair question as soon as the ESPN news landed. What do we watch in the meantime. Peacock remains in the picture through the end of this year and into the first part of next year for certain events, according to trade coverage and wrestling industry reports. WrestleZone reported that Peacock has kept rights to the library in 2025 and will carry specials such as Saturday Night Main Event on set dates late in the year, while NXT Premium Live Events remain on the service through March 2026. That creates a smooth handoff rather than a hard stop. The idea is simple. Keep fans watching on a familiar service while the ESPN platform gets ready for the full switch.
This approach also reflects what TKO leaders had been saying earlier this year about wanting to renew with Peacock while still exploring options. The new ESPN agreement shows where the PLEs are going, but the final months on Peacock still have value, especially for archival content and for shows tied to other WWE properties.
How the new deals fit together
Some fans wondered whether the ESPN announcement clashes with the Netflix arrangement for Raw. It does not. Raw stays on Netflix each week as a live series in many major markets, while the ESPN agreement covers Premium Live Events for the United States beginning in 2026. Coverage that explained the ESPN news also spelled out that there is no conflict with the Netflix partnership, since the Netflix deal is centered on weekly programming and selected original content, and the ESPN deal is focused on the monthly live event calendar in the U S. In plain language, you can watch Raw on Netflix and then watch pay per view style events on ESPN once the switch begins.
The months since Raw’s debut on Netflix already show what that split can look like. Raw drew strong numbers on its first night and kept expanding into more regions. WWE promoted those results on its corporate site, a sign that the company sees the Netflix platform as a growth engine for weekly storytelling, while a different partner can specialize in the big tent shows.
Voices from inside WWE and ESPN
The official press notes featured quotes from both sides. WWE leaders called the ESPN agreement a landmark moment, and ESPN leadership framed it as a core part of the new streaming plan. Trade and sports business outlets highlighted that ESPN already has a working relationship with UFC, which lives under the same TKO parent. That shared history helps both sides feel comfortable about production and promotion. It also gives WWE the kind of week long shoulder coverage that ESPN can provide through studio shows, digital segments, and live SportsCenter hits.
Mark Shapiro and Nick Khan had spent months hinting that WWE would keep an open mind about future streaming homes and would chase the best possible reach and revenue mix. With ESPN’s broad cable presence, a new streaming service, and deep ties to advertisers, the move checks many boxes. SportsPro summarized the logic and explained that select events will also appear on ESPN’s linear channels to create the widest possible audience for the biggest nights.
Reactions from wrestlers and fans
Wrestlers responded like you would expect. On social media, active champions and legends leaned into the ESPN brand. Some joked about a future where their face shows up next to football highlights on SportsCenter. Others praised the chance to place WrestleMania and the Rumble in front of more casual sports viewers who check ESPN daily. While the corporate releases carry the official tone, the wrestler timeline has been full of excitement about the added spotlight that ESPN coverage can bring. The same response met the Netflix news earlier in the year, as talents celebrated the idea of their weekly work landing on the biggest streamer in the world.
The fan response mixed hype with real questions. Many praised the broader reach and the promise of ESPN studio coverage. Others looked at the expected price of the ESPN service and worried about how much a monthly subscription will cost compared to Peacock. AP and other outlets listed projected pricing for the full ESPN service, which sparked long threads about cost and value. That conversation is not going away, but history shows that WWE viewers will follow the big shows if the product stays hot and the viewing experience is smooth.
What changes on event nights
On a practical level, here is what will feel different once the switch happens. In the U S you will open the ESPN app on your phone, smart TV, or console to watch the live kickoff and the full Premium Live Event. For the largest nights such as WrestleMania or the Rumble, ESPN has said it plans select simulcasts on linear channels. That means sports bars and hotel TVs can stay part of the tradition. If you have cable or a live TV package that includes ESPN, the channel guide will sometimes carry these events alongside the streaming feed. Sports business coverage of the announcement made that plan very clear.
For the rest of this year, Peacock continues to be the place for the library and the events already scheduled. WrestleZone’s reporting on late year specials fits that plan. Then 2026 becomes the clean start. Fans who watch Raw on Netflix will not need to switch apps during a Monday show, but they will need ESPN for monthly events once the new agreement takes hold.
Expert view on the strategy
From a business angle this is a classic TKO move. Spread the rights across partners who each bring a different strength. Netflix gives WWE a global streaming pipeline for a live weekly series and a home for documentaries and extra content. ESPN gives WWE a sports first service with strong production, deep promotional reach, and a clear marketing hook tied to major event nights. NBCUniversal remains a television partner through USA Network, which ties back to the Peacock relationship during the transition. The pieces lock together like a puzzle.
For WWE storytelling, the upside is obvious. ESPN coverage can lift the go home weeks for big shows. Features on top stars can run in the same feed as daily highlights from the biggest sports in the world. That keeps casual viewers looped in and helps sell last minute sign ups. The Netflix footprint keeps Raw in front of a younger streaming audience that might not watch cable at all, which can grow fresh fans who later jump to ESPN for event nights.
Predicting the next steps
Expect ESPN to start layering in WWE content even before the full switch. Studio segments, countdown shows, and cross promotion with UFC coverage feel likely. Once 2026 arrives, watch for a two night WrestleMania to be presented as a full weekend on the service, with live weigh in style shows, pre event interviews, and late night reaction panels. The linear simulcasts that SportsPro mentioned make it easy to place the biggest matches on the main channel at peak hours.
On the Peacock side, look for a farewell run built around archival drops, themed collections, and a few last specials that celebrate the history of the partnership. WrestleZone’s note about late year Saturday Night Main Event dates points in that direction. If those shows draw well, do not be shocked to see ESPN revive the brand name next year to kick off big weekends.
For Netflix and Raw the job is to keep the Monday streak strong. The first night numbers were a statement. If the show keeps delivering fresh matchups and strong cliffhangers, Netflix will continue to showcase it on the front page, which helps the entire WWE ecosystem. That audience can then be converted into event night viewers on ESPN when the time comes.
Final word
WWE is not just moving shows. It is shaping how fans will watch for the next five years. The Peacock run brought stability and a huge library to one platform. The Netflix move gave Raw a global home and proved that weekly live wrestling can thrive on a pure streaming service. The new ESPN partnership creates a sports first stage for the biggest nights of the year starting in 2026, with the added bonus of linear simulcasts for the classics. The money is big, the plan is clear, and the reaction across the industry feels like a nod of respect for how far sports entertainment has come in the streaming era.
Fans will always debate apps and prices. That is part of the game in 2025. What matters most is that WWE now has partners who can help it reach every type of viewer. The weekly die hard who streams Raw. The casual sports fan who checks ESPN every day. The longtime supporter who loves watching an old classic from the library. This plan touches them all. If the creative team keeps the product on fire, the new map will not just make sense on paper. It will feel right on your couch when the bell rings and the stadium roars.
