WWE joins NFL as part of this new service. There was a lot of excitement from WWE. Understandable so as this deal is worth 1.6 billion dollars over 5 years. That comes down to $325 a year. Peacock was given the option to match this offer but declined.
Now this new partnership does not include the WWE Network of all the massive wrestling library. WWE Library includes documentaries, programs from other wrestling promotions as WCW, ECW, AWA, World Class Championship Wrestling, Smokey Mountain Wrestling, Mid-South Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, Stampede Wrestling, Ohio Valley Wrestling, Florida Championship Wrestling, and many more.
Many are wondering what is going to happen to the "WWE Network". Will another streaming service snatch up the rights for these shows. Or will they just end up as part of the WWE Vault, WCW and maybe new Youtube Channels.
The real question now is what does this mean for WWE fans in the United States. Hold on to your hats, it means more money out of your pocket. If you want to watch all of WWE Programing past and present you will need these services.
* Nettflix for Monday Night Raw
* USA Network (Cable) for Friday Night Smackdown
* CW Network (Cable or Free App) for NXT
* Tubi (Free) for WWE Evolve
* ESPN Unlimited for PLEs
* Saturday Night's Main Event (Cable, Antenna or Peacock)
* WWE Network on Peacock or a new streaming service
ESPN Unlimited will be $30 a month for those you don't subscribe to a certain Cable provider, Sling TV the cheapest on the market is not included. So, to get everything on a low end you are looking at over $100 a month.
Now even worse news is that this new deal with ESPN announces 10 PLEs a year. This doesn't include the NXT PLEs. What streaming service will get these?
I have had a few days to sit back and digest this whole situation and now I can safely say I believe that WWE is a money hunger corrupt corporation. That has no interest in the US Fans. Why do I say this? All over the world people get everything under one banner of Netflix. But here in the US we have to have almost 10 different services to watch the WWE product!
Why is this the case? Why are they are making it hard for American fans? Of course they spin this as such a great thing. "The Worldwide leader or sports partnering with the leader of Sports Entertainment." It's a match made in heaven. Unless you are not a sports fan. What if you don't watch football, baseball, basketball ect. And yes, there are quite a few people who watch wrestling that do not watch sports.
For all of its problems that people had with it. The official WWE Network for $9.99 was still the best. No fuss no muss everything in one place. But alas because of greed the American fans suffer greatly.
So, if March 2026 (When Peacock's contract ends) is the end for many watching WWE PLEs (including me). Well, it's been fun. But I refuse to be dictated to how much I have to spend just to watch something.
This overreaching greed gives other smaller companies like NWA, TNA Wrestling, MLW Wrestling and more a chance to thrive as there will be many turning off WWE subscriptions and tuning in to other organizations for 'sports entertainment'.
Good luck to these smaller companies. Competition is great! I would love to see them grow their audience and see wrestling become a boom like in the 90s again! Here's to hoping!
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