Does WWE’s ESPN Deal Affect Its Netflix Contract?

Media rights are a huge deal in the world of sports, and they’re constantly shifting. Every year it feels like another league or franchise inks a massive contract with a new broadcaster, leaving fans scrambling to figure out where to watch their favorite events.

Now, with WWE making headlines for its new deal with ESPN, the big question is: what does this mean for its existing agreement with Netflix? If you’ve been wondering where to catch your favorite WWE superstars in action going forward, here’s how these two major deals fit together and what it means for viewers.

An announcement shared on X confirmed the deal signed between the WWE and ESPN. The report said, “ESPN and WWE have 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, 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 WWE is now choosing the ESPN networks for its PLEs like WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series, but only in the U.S. 

Until now, these events were available on Peacock for American viewers. Meanwhile, nothing changes for fans outside the U.S., as international viewers will still catch all PLEs on Netflix. Plus, Raw and SmackDown will continue streaming on Netflix as planned.