Topeka, KS – Longtime WWE fan Bradley Afzal has signed up for yet another streaming service to watch wrestling. This development follows the news that ESPN and WWE have teamed up for a new streaming platform.
The sports programming giant reached a landmark 5-year deal with the wrestling company to become the exclusive home for PLEs and other live events. While the deal doesn’t take effect until 2026, grumbles have already begun from fans and industry insiders.
Scrolling past Netflix, Peacock, Hulu, Tubi, and the WWE Network apps on his Smart TV, Afzal pre-downloaded ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. He sighed, looking down at the $9.99 t-shirt he was wearing. The diehard fan first bought the shirt from the company when the Network was first announced.
“Here we go again,” said Afzal, shaking his head, longing for the days of calling his cable provider to order a pay-per-view event. Stepping past bookshelves filled with VHS tapes and DVDs, the diehard fan grabbed his credit card to buy next year’s Wrestlemania in advance.
With the deal lasting until 2031, fans have a few years before being forced to purchase another service to watch sports entertainment.