ESPN is pushing back against a report that it has already decided to end its WWE premium live event partnership when the current agreement expires in 2030.
BJ Bethel of SEScoops reported Tuesday that ESPN would not renew the five-year contract. F4WOnline subsequently cited a source familiar with the situation who described that claim as baseless before receiving a formal response from the network.
“There is no truth to the report that we have decided not to renew,” ESPN said.
The network added that SEScoops did not contact ESPN for comment before publishing the report and would have been told the claim was false. F4W’s Josh Nason reported a similar item earlier.
“Regarding the story circulating today stating ESPN has already chosen to not renew the WWE deal that expires in four years, I am told by someone that would know that claim is ‘completely baseless,'” wrote Nason.
Bethel’s story attributed the alleged decision to challenges involving the media marketplace, coordination between WWE and ESPN, and the number of television providers offering ESPN Unlimited to customers without an additional subscription charge. The report also acknowledged that increased subscriptions or improved distribution agreements could change ESPN’s position over the remaining years of the contract.
The partnership, reportedly valued at approximately $1.6 billion, began earlier than originally announced. Wrestlepalooza became the first WWE premium live event carried by ESPN on Sept. 20, 2025.
WWE events stream in full through ESPN Unlimited in the United States, with portions of selected shows also appearing on ESPN or ESPN2. The companies have supported the arrangement through crossover promotion, including regular appearances by WWE talent across ESPN programming.
Distribution of ESPN Unlimited has also continued to expand. YouTube TV subscribers recently gained access to the service through their existing plans without an additional monthly charge.
ESPN’s response does not mean a renewal has been agreed upon. With approximately four years remaining on the contract, future negotiations would depend on the partnership’s performance and the media-rights market closer to 2030.
For now, however, ESPN is unequivocally denying that it has already decided to walk away.
