Internal WWE Reaction to ESPN’s “C” Rating for WrestlePalooza Revealed

WrestlePalooza 2025 was supposed to be a landmark moment for WWE, marking its first-ever premium live event broadcast on ESPN. Instead, the fallout has taken an unexpected turn after ESPN’s official website gave the show a disappointing “C” rating. The review quickly went viral, and it wasn’t just fans who were taken aback—WWE itself was reportedly surprised by the harsh grade.

According to WrestleVotes Radio on WrestleBinge, people within WWE didn’t expect ESPN to go out of its way to publish such a low rating for the event, especially since this was the debut PLE on their platform. Backstage, the feeling was that WrestlePalooza was no different from any other premium live event, making the “C” grade from their own broadcast partner feel unusually critical.

The backstage reaction highlighted a sense of confusion, as many in WWE assumed ESPN would treat the show more favorably given the significance of the partnership. Instead, the review created a wave of discussion online, with fans and critics debating whether the grade was too harsh or an honest assessment of the event.

While the rating does nothing to change WrestlePalooza’s viewership numbers, it has raised questions about the nature of WWE’s relationship with ESPN moving forward. If the very network airing their shows is willing to criticize them so openly, it could set the tone for more blunt coverage in the future.