WWE Premium Live Events Move From Peacock to ESPN on September 20, John Cena’s Final Match Set for December 13
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is changing where fans will watch its biggest matches. Starting September 20, WWE’s monthly Premium Live Events — a term the company originally coined to replace the traditional “pay-per-view” label — will move from Peacock to ESPN’s new streaming service in a blockbuster deal valued at $1.6 billion.
The transition begins with Wrestle Palooza, a special event headlined by John Cena and Brock Lesnar. For viewers, this means a new home for all of WWE’s marquee Premium Live Events, including long-running franchises like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble.
Peacock will keep WWE’s massive archive of past matches and shows through the end of the year, giving fans access to decades of wrestling history. It will also serve as the new home for Saturday Night’s Main Event, a classic WWE series that originally aired on NBC in the 1980s. That program will feature John Cena’s farewell match on December 13 in Boston, marking the end of an era for one of WWE’s most recognizable stars.
The move to ESPN comes with a price change. The new service will cost $29.99 per month, more expensive than Peacock’s subscription. However, unlike UFC, where major fights often cost extra on top of a subscription, ESPN’s WWE package will include all Premium Live Events at no additional charge. In some cases, existing ESPN subscribers or cable customers may even get access to the service for free.
Industry observers say the deal highlights how streaming platforms are competing for live sports and entertainment to attract subscribers. WWE content helped Peacock boost its audience when it first launched, and now ESPN is hoping to do the same.
For WWE, the payoff is substantial. The new arrangement earns the company $325 million annually, up from the $275 million it reportedly received under its previous deal with Peacock. With millions of fans worldwide, WWE remains one of the most valuable properties in live entertainment, and its move to ESPN marks another milestone in the battle for streaming dominance.
What Are Premium Live Events?
Premium Live Events (often shortened to PLEs) are WWE’s biggest shows, typically held once a month. These events were historically called pay-per-views because fans had to buy them individually through cable or satellite TV. WWE rebranded them as Premium Live Events when they moved to streaming services, emphasizing that they are included with a subscription rather than sold separately. Popular examples include WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam.
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