Word is that behind the scenes, the tag team of the WWE and ESPN may be going the way of The Rockers.
According to sports business reporter Blake “Axe” Avignon, the two sides already have major issues with one another.
“Sources: Inside @ESPN, there’s chatter that @WWE’s transition into the network’s ecosystem hasn’t been seamless. One person described it as a “DNA mismatch”, adding that WWE leadership has yet to make a unified push to correct the shortcomings,” he wrote.
ESPN and WWE signed a five-year rights agreement when it comes to U.S. domestic broadcasting through 2026-2031. The deal is worth approximately $1.6 billion total or around $325 million per year. Unlike international, Canadian and Mexican viewers who can watch all WWE content on Netflix, American viewers can only watch WWE PLEs on ESPN now.
“That unease, according to another source, extends beyond distribution. Early #WrestleMania42 ticket movement hasn’t inspired confidence, they said, viewing it as a sign the current strategy may not be landing as intended. ESPN and WWE also announced that the first hour of WrestleMania 42 will air live on ESPN’s linear channels before shifting to #ESPNUnlimited, a move designed to broaden exposure but one that also underscores the evolving nature of the new distribution model,” Avignon continued.
It seems ESPN is not pleased with the WWE’s decision to restrict watch party broadcasts in Las Vegas, the site of WrestleMania, either.
“Separately, @TKOGrp’s reported restriction on nearby venue watch-party broadcasts was characterized by one source as a self-inflicted deterrent. The source argued the policy undercuts the very FOMO effect live events thrive on. If price-sensitive fans opted to watch Night 1 locally and the show delivered, the thinking goes, organic buzz and fear of missing out could have driven incremental ticket sales for Night 2. Instead, limiting nearby broadcasts may suppress that spillover demand. The same person also pointed to the rising cost of WWE fandom and what they described as Mark Shapiro’s growing disconnect from the everyday WWE consumer,” reports Avignon.
There has been no comment from WWE or ESPN concerning Avignon’s report.
