WWE Fans React to Price Spike in Major ESPN Deal
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
New details have emerged regarding WWE's massive new streaming rights deal with ESPN, which is set to begin in 2026. Clarifications on the pricing structure for the new ESPN-based platform have ignited a massive and passionate debate among the WWE Universe on social media.
Initial reports of a $29.99 monthly price point were met with concern, but new information has shed light on what that cost includes and who will have to pay it.
The New Price and What It Includes
A new report from Alex Sherman of CNBC has clarified the details of the new subscription model. He confirmed that the $29.99 monthly fee for the new ESPN direct-to-consumer product will include all WWE Premium Live Events, with no additional charges for major shows like WrestleMania or SummerSlam.
Crucially, Sherman also reported that existing cable and satellite subscribers who receive ESPN as part of their package will likely be able to access the new WWE streaming content at no additional cost through authentication. This is similar to how the current ESPN app works.
The Fan Reaction
The news has been met with a wide range of reactions from WWE fans online. The initial sticker shock of the $29.99 price point, a significant increase from the current Peacock model, was a major point of discussion.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: (L-R) Roman Reigns wrestles Cody Rhodes for Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 02, 2023 in Inglewood, California.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: (L-R) Roman Reigns wrestles Cody Rhodes for Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 02, 2023 in Inglewood, California.More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match
However, the clarification that current cable subscribers may not have to pay the extra fee has been a point of relief for many, though it has also raised new questions.
Overall, the move is being seen as a major shift in how fans will consume the WWE product.
Remember the WWE Network? We had it so good back then. — PatrickDamnHarris (@HarrisDamn) August 6, 2025
WWE to ESPN?? Huge move — Ahmad Aziz (@pakistan_proudi) August 6, 2025
We need to get this back. pic.twitter.com/tdwPz59Rqj — Dustin Bowen (@dbowen7) August 6, 2025
BREAKING: Crackstreams becomes the largest provider for all PLEs in the US — Thechek182 (@thechek182) August 6, 2025
Def in on buying the $299 a year if it has Redzone + espn+ and wwe ple's
That's a really good deal — Xavier LaFlamme (@xlaflammer) August 6, 2025
Woah woah woah. We all use peacock for WWE. How are they gonna lose it and not have it go to Netflix like it is for everyone outside the US? — Mort (@amort9924) August 6, 2025
Youtube TV 70/mo - Smackdown
Netflix 30/mo - Raw
Peacock 10/mo - PLE
Now ESPN triple then price.
Ridiculous. — Yoshi (@shibtoshi) August 6, 2025
$30 per month for just PLE is insane 😭 Unless you're into other sports they offer too.
otherwise, VPN + Netflix is the easier and cheaper way. — Samir | WWE fan🇧🇩 (@SamirParvez) August 6, 2025
Well, it was fun while it lasted.
I'm out @WWE — Joe Russo (@joerussotweets) August 6, 2025
A History Of WWE Streaming
This is the third major evolution of WWE's streaming strategy in the United States. In 2014, the company launched the groundbreaking WWE Network, a revolutionary direct-to-consumer service for $9.99 a month that included all pay-per-views. In 2021, WWE licensed its US streaming rights to NBC's Peacock in a billion-dollar deal, which lowered the price for most consumers but was met with criticism for its user interface.
This new move to ESPN is part of parent company TKO's strategy to align WWE's distribution model with that of the UFC. The UFC's partnership with ESPN+ has been a massive success, integrating the sport into ESPN's daily programming and growing its mainstream audience. WWE is clearly hoping to replicate that success, using ESPN's massive reach to attract new, casual sports fans to the product.
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