ESPN Wants to Acquire WWE’s Entire Content Library

WWE signed a $1.625 billion deal with ESPN to move all of its Premium Live Events to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service starting in 2026. This led to questions about ESPN getting access to WWE’s library, and now it appears ESPN is actually interested in acquiring the right to WWE’s library as well.

Speaking on The Ringer’s Press Box podcast, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said ESPN would be interested in bidding when the rights become available. He added that ESPN will already have archival rights for the events it airs under its new agreement with WWE but would also like access to the full library.

“Yeah, we’re always interested in content of that quality. I will tell you that we will have the archival rights for the events that we are airing, but yes, in terms of their library, we certainly would be interested if and when those rights are available.”

Pitaro described the agreement between WWE and ESPN as a strategic move to help fill gaps in ESPN’s sports calendar and reduce subscriber cancellations. He also mentioned that WWE is expected to be flexible with scheduling to fit ESPN’s programming needs.

“One of the things that we are focused on from a direct-to-consumer perspective is churn and minimizing churn.”

The new agreement will end WWE’s partnership with Peacock, which has streamed Premium Live Events since 2021. Starting in 2026, these events will be available only on ESPN’s upcoming streaming service. WWE believes the move will help them reach a wider audience and improve the viewing experience through ESPN’s technology and coverage.

If ESPN acquires WWE’s full library, fans could have access to decades of iconic matches, storylines, and historic moments in one place. This could change how WWE’s history is enjoyed and preserved, making it easier for future generations to explore the company’s past. Therefore, we’ll have to see if ESPN ends up getting the full library eventually.

Should ESPN secure the full WWE library, or should WWE keep those rights in-house for future business opportunities? Sound off in the comments.