WWE Rumored to Test ESPN Partnership With Surprise September Event
World Wrestling Entertainment could be preparing to make its ESPN debut earlier than expected. According to multiple reports, company executives are exploring the possibility of holding a Premium Live Event (PLE) in September that would be broadcast on ESPN platforms, months before the network’s long-term agreement with WWE is set to officially begin.
The tentative date being discussed is Saturday, September 20, and sources suggest the show would serve as a trial run of sorts for the collaboration between the sports giant and the wrestling promotion. If confirmed, it would offer fans an early preview of what WWE programming might look like once ESPN takes over full distribution of Premium Live Events in 2026.
Currently, WWE’s major events stream domestically through NBCUniversal’s Peacock service, while the new rights deal signed with ESPN earlier this summer will shift those broadcasts exclusively to ESPN’s platforms in the United States. That agreement includes the company’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service, which is expected to play a key role in delivering live WWE content.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the rumored September special would run head-to-head with one of All Elite Wrestling’s biggest cards of the year. AEW’s All Out is scheduled for the same weekend, which has raised speculation that WWE is deliberately positioning its surprise event as direct competition to its rival promotion.
While WWE and ESPN have yet to issue official confirmation, industry insiders have already circulated possible details. Wrestling news outlet WrestleVotes hinted that the event may be branded “Wrestlepalooza,” reviving a name originally used by the now-defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1995 and 2000. Whether this branding will be used remains to be seen, but the idea has generated plenty of buzz among longtime fans.
Reports also point to a blockbuster main event being considered for the card. Brock Lesnar and John Cena, two of the company’s most recognizable stars, are rumored to headline. Their rivalry was reignited at this year’s SummerSlam when Lesnar returned after a two-year absence to deliver an F5 to Cena following the show’s closing bout. Since then, Lesnar has not appeared on WWE television, which has only fueled speculation that the September event will mark his official return to action. Cena, meanwhile, is already scheduled to face Logan Paul at WWE Clash in Paris on August 31, making a quick turnaround plausible but ambitious.
The proposed event also raises logistical questions for ESPN. September is a prime month for college football, which traditionally dominates Saturday night programming across ESPN’s family of networks. Should WWE’s PLE take place on September 20, the broadcast could be relegated to ESPN2 or shifted to ESPN’s streaming service, ESPN+, to avoid conflicts with live football coverage.
The potential move comes at a time of transition in WWE’s media landscape. Raw, the company’s flagship weekly program, is scheduled to migrate to Netflix in January 2025, while SmackDown is preparing to return to USA Network later this fall. Adding a surprise ESPN showcase before the rights deal officially kicks in would signal WWE’s intent to expand its reach across multiple major platforms while also giving ESPN a chance to gauge interest among its audience.
With details still unconfirmed, fans and analysts alike are waiting to see whether the rumored “Wrestlepalooza” becomes reality. If so, the event could set the tone for WWE’s future with ESPN and establish a new battleground in the ongoing rivalry with AEW. Official announcements regarding the show’s location and broadcast details are expected soon, making the coming weeks pivotal for WWE’s next media chapter.