Game Changer: WWE PLEs Jump to ESPN Early, First-Ever WrestlePalooza Headlined by Cena

By Mahima Chauhan

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WrestlePalooza

Stop everything, WWE Universe. The wrestling landscape just shifted in a major way, and if you’re a fan, you need to know about it. The much-anticipated move of WWE Premium Live Events from Peacock to ESPN? It’s happening way sooner than anyone expected WrestlePalooza.

That’s right. The new five-year deal is kicking off not in 2026, but next month. And it’s launching with a brand-new, can’t-miss event that’s already generating seismic levels of hype: the first-ever WWE WrestlePalooza.

The Big Switch: Why ESPN, and Why Now?

If you missed the headlines, here’s the scoop. ESPN and WWE have officially moved up their start date. The last Premium Live Event on Peacock will be Clash at the Castle from France on August 31st. After that, the ESPN era begins.

So, why the early jump? Industry whispers suggest that by splitting its two biggest events, WrestleMania and SummerSlam, into two-night spectacles, WWE effectively delivered more content to Peacock than originally planned. This opened the door for an early exit and a blockbuster launch on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming platform.

This is a massive power play for ESPN. By bringing the globally popular WWE product exclusively to its platform, it’s aiming to attract a massive, passionate audience that might not traditionally subscribe for classic sports.

WrestlePalooza: The Must-See Kickoff Event

Forget what you thought the fall schedule looked like. On Saturday, September 20th, all eyes will be on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for WrestlePalooza.

This isn’t just another event; it’s the inaugural celebration of the new ESPN-WWE partnership, and the card is stacked with star power:

  • John Cena is set to headline. Even more significant, this will officially be Cena’s last wrestling appearance in Indianapolis. You know that means he’s going to bring everything he has.
  • He’ll be joined by a roster of top-tier talent, including Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins, and WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch.
  • And that’s not all. The announced lineup also includes major players like CM Punk and Drew McIntyre, promising major matches throughout the night.

Indianapolis is the perfect host city, fresh off shattering the attendance record for the 2025 Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium. The energy in that city is electric for WWE right now.

Tickets go on sale Friday, August 22nd at 10 AM ET on Ticketmaster.com, with a presale starting Thursday. For the ultimate fan experience, official WrestlePalooza Priority Pass packages are already available through On Location, offering premium seats, meet-and-greets, and more.

What This Means for You: How to Watch

This is the most important part for fans. Starting September 20th, ESPN becomes the exclusive U.S. home for all WWE Premium Live Events.

To watch WrestlePaloozaCrown Jewel (Oct. 11), Survivor Series (Nov. 29), and even the two-night spectacles of WrestleMania and SummerSlam, you’ll need to subscribe to ESPN’s new DTC service.

The service launches THIS THURSDAY, August 21st. The “Unlimited Plan” will cost $25.99 per month and will include every WWE PLE as part of the package, along with live feeds of all ESPN TV channels.

But What About Peacock?

Don’t worry, your WWE content hasn’t completely vanished from Peacock. In a interesting twist, as part of the multi-platform deal:

  • The vast WWE Network library will remain on Peacock through the end of 2025.
  • WWE’s weekly flagship show, SmackDown, will continue to stream on Peacock.
  • Peacock will also get four new, original WWE specials per year, including one on November 1st and another on December 13th—the latter rumored to be built around John Cena’s official retirement match.

The bottom line? The future of watching WWE has just gotten more interesting. With a new streaming home, a new mega-event, and the same incredible in-ring action, September can’t come soon enough.mments below!

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