Disney Forking Over $1.6B For WWE Rights

Disney’s ESPN has secured a five-year agreement worth more than $1.6 billion for exclusive U.S. rights to many of WWE’s marquee events.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the pact is set to begin in 2026 and is valued at approximately $325 million annually. The package covers top premium live events—including WrestleMania and SummerSlam—and positions WWE as a key pillar of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer push.

Under the deal, WWE events will stream on ESPN’s new standalone service, set to launch this fall at $29.99 per month. Select programming will also appear on ESPN’s linear channels via simulcasts, bringing WWE to both cord-cutters and traditional cable viewers. The agreement marks a significant step up from WWE’s current five-year arrangement with Peacock, which was valued at about $900 million.

This move builds on WWE’s broader rights strategy. Last year, the company signed a 10-year deal with Netflix—valued at over $5 billion—to carry Raw, which has since become a steady performer on the platform. Together, the Netflix and ESPN agreements distribute WWE’s flagship content across two of the largest streaming ecosystems.

For ESPN, the WWE rights arrive amid a busy run of dealmaking ahead of its streaming service launch. ESPN already partners with TKO through its UFC rights agreement, paying approximately $300 million per year under a contract that expires at the end of 2025 and is expected to increase upon renewal.

Separately, Disney unveiled a wide-reaching NFL partnership in which the league will take a 10% equity stake in ESPN while assuming control of select media assets, including NFL Network.

ESPN is also in discussions with Major League Baseball about a refreshed package after exercising an option to exit the final three years of its $550 million-per-year MLB deal following the 2025 season. With the new WWE arrangement slated to begin in 2026, ESPN’s upcoming streamer will have a slate of high-profile live events at launch and beyond.