The Walt Disney Company’s ESPN and sports entertainment brand WWE will begin their new partnership earlier than expected, with the sports network set to carry WWE Premium Live Events on its platforms starting September 20.
The first event under the agreement will be Wrestlepalooza, a new WWE showcase that will stream live from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Saturday, September 20. Other upcoming events this year include Crown Jewel on October 11 and Survivor Series on November 29. ESPN Unlimited, the cable network’s streaming plan that launches on Thursday, will be the exclusive home of WWE’s premium events.
Wrestlepalooza will feature WWE’s top talent, including Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and John Cena, who will wrestle in Indianapolis for the final time. The event is being staged in partnership with Indiana Sports Corp. Tickets for Wrestlepalooza will be available to the public starting Friday, August 22 at 10 a.m. Eastern (7 a.m. Pacific) through Ticketmaster.com. A presale for tickets begins on Thursday at the same time.
WWE is also offering Wrestlepalooza Priority Pass packages through its partner On Location. Those packages include premium seating, hospitality events with Superstar appearances, photo opportunities and other perks. Fans can purchase Priority Pass access immediately at onlocationexp.com/wweindy.
The new agreement covers all WWE Premium Live Events each year, including tentpole programming such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank and Survivor Series. WrestleMania and SummerSlam, both staged over two nights, will also be available to ESPN subscribers under the deal. ESPN will simulcast select WWE events on its linear cable channels.
ESPN is preparing to roll out its new direct-to-consumer streaming service on Thursday, August 21. The platform will be bundled with an enhanced ESPN App that includes additional features and a wider array of live sports programming. Pricing details are available at stream.espn.com.
The announcement underscores ESPN’s effort to strengthen its direct-to-consumer strategy while leveraging WWE’s global popularity. WWE, which continues to draw strong attendance and viewership for its live events, will gain new exposure through ESPN’s reach across both streaming and traditional television platforms.
