After locking in a deal for WWE’s live programming, ESPN is now looking to the past. Chairman Jimmy Pitaro confirmed the network’s interest in securing the rights to WWE’s complete historical library when they go on the market.
Speaking on The Ringer’s Press Box podcast, Pitaro noted that the current agreement only covers future events. Still, WWE’s archives remain a clear target.
“Yeah, we’re always interested in content of that quality. I will tell you that we will have the archival rights for the events that we are airing, but yes, in terms of their library, we certainly would be interested if and when those rights are available.”
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This follows a $1.625 billion, five-year deal that will bring all WWE Premium Live Events exclusively to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming platform in 2026. The move will end WWE’s run on Peacock, which has hosted domestic PLEs since 2021.
For ESPN, the partnership fills more than just live event slots. Pitaro pointed out that WWE’s scheduling flexibility will help cover programming gaps, especially outside of the NFL season, which is key to keeping subscribers from leaving.
“One of the things that we are focused on from a direct-to-consumer perspective is churn and minimizing churn.”
The loss of WWE’s live events is another hit for Peacock, which recently lost WWE RAW to Netflix.
If ESPN secures the full library, decades of WWE history could sit alongside its biggest upcoming shows, offering fans one place to watch everything from classic moments to the newest main events.
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