The landscape of how you watch major WWE events is changing, and it’s happening a lot sooner than anyone expected.

In a landmark announcement, WWE and ESPN revealed that their new exclusive partnership for Premium Live Events in the United States will kick off next month on Saturday, September 20. The first event under this new deal will be a brand new spectacle: Wrestlepalooza.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSCgfyww5uQ

A New Era Kicks Off with Wrestlepalooza

Get ready, because this is a big one. Wrestlepalooza will emanate live from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The event is set to stream live on the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, which officially launches this Thursday, August 21.

WWE is loading up the card to make sure this debut is unforgettable. The blockbuster main event will feature the legendary John Cena, in what is being billed as his final match in Indianapolis. While his opponent has not been officially announced, rumors are circulating that he could be facing the returning Brock Lesnar. Also scheduled for the show are the Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque summed it up, saying:

“On September 20, WWE and ESPN are coming together for a can’t-miss event to kick off our new partnership. The biggest Superstars in WWE. The biggest brand in sports media. Are you ready?”

For WWE fans looking to be there live, tickets for Wrestlepalooza go on sale this Friday, August 22, at 10 am ET, with a presale happening tomorrow, Thursday, August 21.

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What Happens to Peacock?

This massive announcement left many wondering about the status of WWE‘s deal with Peacock. According to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live, the agreement for Premium Live Events is wrapping up much earlier than its 2026 expiration date.

Alvarez explained that WWE had a contract for a specific number of PLEs. Due to adding a second night for SummerSlam and bringing back the Evolution event this year, they’ve fulfilled their quota.

This means that the upcoming Clash In Paris event will be the final WWE PLE to stream on Peacock. After that, everything moves over to ESPN. This leaves a lot of questions unanswered. The future of the vast WWE library is a huge one, with Alvarez noting there have been discussions about it potentially moving to YouTube. The Saturday Night’s Main Event specials will still be simulcast on Peacock as part of their current rights deal. It’s unclear what this means for other content like NXT, which could possibly remain on Peacock until the full deal expires. For now, what we know for sure is that the major monthly events are finding a new home.

A September Showdown

One of the most significant pieces of this puzzle is the date. Saturday, September 20, is also the date of AEW‘s All Out pay-per-view. WWE is making an aggressive move, scheduling its debut event on the ESPN platform directly opposite a major show from its biggest competitor. This sets up a massive head-to-head showdown and marks a new, fiery chapter in the competition between the two companies.

The move to ESPN represents a monumental shift for WWE, placing its biggest shows on the premier platform in sports media. The new era begins with a bang on September 20.