Wrestling fans, get ready for a seismic shift in how you catch all the action—because WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) are about to make their grand debut on ESPN platforms in the United States, and it’s happening sooner than anyone expected. ESPN and WWE jointly announced on August 20, 2025, that the exclusive partnership will kick off on September 20, 2025, with the inaugural Wrestlepalooza, a brand-new event set to electrify Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
This move marks a significant change for both wrestling enthusiasts and the broader sports streaming landscape. Previously, WWE’s marquee events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and the Royal Rumble were available on Peacock. Now, ESPN becomes the exclusive U.S. home for all WWE PLEs, with every event accessible to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) subscribers who opt for the unlimited plan. The new ESPN DTC streaming service launches on August 21, 2025, with a monthly cost of $29.99, and promises a robust lineup of live sports, including the entirety of WWE’s premium slate.
Wrestlepalooza, the first PLE to be broadcast under this new agreement, isn’t just another date on the calendar—it’s shaping up to be a blockbuster. Scheduled for Saturday, September 20, 2025, with live streaming beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT, the event promises a star-studded card. Headlining the night is none other than John Cena, who is set for his last wrestling appearance in Indianapolis. The main event will also feature a constellation of WWE Superstars, including Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre.
The choice of Indianapolis for this historic event is no coincidence. The city hosted the 2025 Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium earlier this year, setting an all-time attendance record for the event. Now, with Wrestlepalooza at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis is once again at the epicenter of WWE’s biggest moments. As WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque put it, “On September 20, WWE and ESPN are coming together for a can’t-miss event to kick off our new partnership. The biggest Superstars in WWE. The biggest brand in sports media. Are you ready?”
Tickets for Wrestlepalooza go on sale Friday, August 22 at 10am ET/7am PT through Ticketmaster.com, with presale access starting Thursday, August 21 at 10am ET/7am PT. For those seeking the ultimate fan experience, official Wrestlepalooza Priority Pass packages are already available via WWE’s exclusive partner, On Location. These packages offer premium seating, hospitality events featuring Superstar appearances, exclusive photo opportunities, and more—giving die-hard fans a chance to get closer to the action than ever before.
But the changes don’t stop with Wrestlepalooza. The new ESPN deal means all WWE PLEs—including Crown Jewel on October 11 and Survivor Series on November 29—will stream live on the ESPN DTC platform. Major annual events such as WrestleMania and SummerSlam, which have become two-night spectacles in recent years, will also be part of the ESPN lineup, with select simulcasts on ESPN’s traditional linear TV channels. This arrangement ensures that subscribers will have access to every major WWE moment, all year long.
The deal between ESPN and WWE was finalized far ahead of schedule, moving up the previously announced 2026 start date to September 2025. According to The Hollywood Reporter, WWE’s existing arrangement with Peacock was restructured to facilitate the early transition. Peacock, which had to give the green light for the change, will stream its last WWE PLE—Clash in Paris—on Sunday, August 31, 2025. With the time difference, that event will begin at 2pm ET/11am PT.
Even as ESPN takes over WWE’s main roster PLEs, Peacock isn’t out of the wrestling business just yet. Under a new multi-year agreement, Peacock will continue streaming four annual Saturday Night’s Main Event broadcasts, including two special editions in 2025: one on November 1 and another on December 13, the latter featuring John Cena’s retirement match. The WWE Network library will remain available on Peacock through the end of 2025, and NXT PLEs will stream on the platform until March 2026. SmackDown’s library will also stay on Peacock, albeit with a 30-day delay, while live episodes continue to air on USA Network every Friday night. For fans keeping up with Raw, the flagship show now streams live on Netflix every Monday.
The new ESPN direct-to-consumer app, launching August 21, 2025, is part of a broader push by Disney to dominate the sports streaming market. Subscribers will have the option to bundle ESPN with Fox One starting October 2, 2025, for $39.99 per month. Fox One, a new streaming service from Fox, will offer its own suite of live news, sports, and broadcast channels for $20 per month as a standalone option. The ESPN app promises a seamless experience, giving users access to live feeds from ESPN’s many linear TV channels and, crucially for wrestling fans, the full slate of WWE PLEs.
Behind the scenes, the deal was hammered out by WWE’s Paul “Triple H” Levesque and NBC Sports President Rick Cordella, ensuring a smooth transition for fans accustomed to Peacock’s WWE coverage. The feeling among insiders is that splitting WrestleMania and SummerSlam into two-night events allowed WWE to fulfill its PLE obligations to Peacock ahead of schedule, clearing the way for ESPN’s early takeover.
For fans eager to attend Wrestlepalooza in person, the excitement is palpable. This event will not only showcase WWE’s biggest stars but also serve as a symbolic passing of the torch as the company’s premium events move to a new streaming home. With John Cena making his final wrestling appearance in Indianapolis, anticipation is at a fever pitch. According to ESPN, “This is a can’t-miss night for WWE and sports fans alike.”
As the September 20 launch date approaches, all eyes are on Indianapolis and the new ESPN app. The move signals a new era for WWE, with expanded streaming options and unprecedented access for fans. Whether you’re tuning in for the spectacle of Wrestlepalooza, the drama of Survivor Series, or the nostalgia of Saturday Night’s Main Event, there’s never been a better time to be a WWE fan.
With tickets about to go on sale and streaming options multiplying, the countdown to Wrestlepalooza is officially on. The partnership between ESPN and WWE promises to reshape the wrestling landscape—and fans are ready to witness history in the making.
