The strained relationship between ESPN and All Elite Wrestling reportedly predates the network’s recent partnership with WWE, stemming from a 2023 interview with CM Punk, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Tensions allegedly arose after details from an interview, in which Punk made “highly negative” remarks toward ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, were distributed internally by AEW and appeared on other wrestling news sites before ESPN could publish its story. The incident is said to have caused ESPN to cool its interest in prominently featuring the promotion.
This report provides new context for ESPN’s recent decision to remove AEW’s dedicated landing page from its website. The removal occurred shortly after ESPN announced a major, accelerated broadcast rights deal with WWE, which establishes WWE as the network’s exclusive professional wrestling partner.
Despite the alleged cooling of relations following the interview leak, the network continued to cover major AEW events, such as All In at Wembley Stadium, which were deemed “too big to ignore.” The report further clarifies that the current shift in ESPN’s coverage is almost certainly an internal decision and not a demand made by WWE. WWE is considered unlikely to exert such pressure due to a previous $20 million settlement in an antitrust lawsuit filed by MLW, making direct interference with rival promotions a delicate issue.
The new partnership between ESPN and WWE will now launch on September 20, 2025, a significant acceleration from the original early 2026 start date. WWE Premium Live Events will move from Peacock to a new standalone ESPN streaming app. The first event on the new platform will be a new PLE titled “Wrestlepalooza,” broadcast live from Indianapolis and set to feature one of the final matches for the retiring John Cena.
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