The world of pro wrestling in 2025 continues to keep fans on its toes.
In breaking news announced this afternoon, WWE has announced that beginning on September 20, WWE Premium Live Events will debut on ESPN platforms — earlier than previously announced earlier this month.
According, to press release the September PLE will be the first-ever WWE Wrestlepalooza, emanating from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. This venue was home to this year’s Royal Rumble. The event will begin at 7 p.m.
The PLE will air on the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service which officially debuts tomorrow Thursday August 21. The launch will include a “set of new features on an enhanced ESPN App.”
You can check out the service at http://stream.espn.com/ for info and pricing options.
According to a press release issued by WWE:
“On September 20, ESPN becomes the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE PLEs, with all PLEs available to ESPN DTC subscribers with the unlimited plan. Additional upcoming WWE PLEs this year include Crown Jewel® on Saturday, October 11, and Survivor Series® on Saturday, November 29.”
The release also stated, “Wrestlepalooza will feature a blockbuster headline attraction with John Cena, as well as Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre in major matches throughout the night. This event, held in partnership with Indiana Sports Corp, will mark the last time Cena wrestles in Indianapolis. ”
Tickets for Wrestlepalooza go on sale starting Friday, August 22 at 10am ET/7am PT via Ticketmaster.com. Presale for Wrestlepalooza tickets will begin tomorrow/Thursday at 10am ET/7am PT.
WWE is currently airing Premium Live Events on Peacock, so it looks like Clash in Paris (which airs August 31) will be the final WWE PLE to air on the NBCUniversal streaming service. The future of the WWE back catalog/vault is unknown at this time. The contract between WWE and Peacock runs till 2026.
Updated: According to a report by the Hollywood Reporter’s Tony Maglio WWE and Peacock have worked out a deal that includes a “new main-roster WWE programming to stream on the NBCUniversal digital platform.” In the same report it states that sources close to the deal believe that by splitting Wrestlemania and SummerSlam into two nights, WWE was able to fulfill their PLE commitment to Peacock, and thus approach ESPN for a deal.
