WWE Premium Live Events Set to Leave Peacock Early, Will Air on ESPN’s Direct-To-Consumer App After Clash in Paris

WWE and ESPN will be moving up their date by a year early.

Announced on September 20th, the WWE posted to their socials that their September 20th Premium Live Event was set to be named after the former ECW PPV, Wrestlepalooza. The show is set to air on the same date as All Elite Wrestling’s All Out PPV event in Toronto, Ontario. Now, there is more news to report on the first show set to air on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer app.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the WWE fulfilled most of their PLE dates when they held two-night events such as WrestleMania 41, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, and SummerSlam, which was the first time the event was held as a two-night spectacle. Both events, to the WWE, were successful and they are reportedly looking to run more of their big shows in two-night formats.

ESPN were originally set to start their media-rights takeover of WWE premium live events starting in 2026; however, ESPN did not buy out Peacock’s remaining rights with the WWE.

The Hollywood Reporter had reported. Instead, the arrangement for WWE’s premium live events to exit Peacock was brokered between WWE and Peacock and then brought to ESPN, owned by Disney.

Also listed in the deals remaining with Peacock; In the multiyear deal, Peacock will still be getting at least four primetime WWE Saturday Night Main Events per year. Two will take place this year with one on Nov. 1 and the other being on Dec. 13. The latter will feature John Cena’s retirement match.

Lucas Oil Stadium was the home to this year’s Royal Rumble premium live event, and now, it will be the home to Wrestlepalooza, the WWE’s counter product to All Out, which is set to be the first pro wrestling event set to air on ESPN’s new app, set to come out on August 21st.

This event was first reported by WrestleVotes on August 17th. Many believe that the headliner to this first show with ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer app will be between John Cena, who is in his retirement year with the WWE, against the returning Brock Lesnar.

Lesnar was named forty-four times in a lawsuit by former WWE employee, Janel Grant, who alleges she was sexually assaulted and trafficked by Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and the WWE while allegedly being forced to send disturbing images and videos to Lesnar, under orders by McMahon to get him to sign an extension with the WWE.

BodySlam will continue to monitor this story and report any updates.

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