Nick Khan Breaks Down What ESPN’s $1.6 Billion WWE Deal Really Buys

WWE fans are still reeling from the news that Premium Live Events are jumping to ESPN’s new $29.99-per-month platform — but now we’re getting a clearer picture of what the network actually paid for.

In a new interview on The Varsity podcast, WWE President Nick Khan revealed that ESPN shelled out for exclusive domestic rights to WWE’s biggest shows starting in 2026. That includes WrestleMania and SummerSlam — both of which are now two-night events — and eight other major Premium Live Events spread across the calendar.

“What Disney is getting is our biggest events domestically in the United States. It’s 10 events, but it’s over the course of twelve nights. As I mentioned earlier, WrestleMania is a 2-night event, SummerSlam now a 2-night event…”

Khan made it clear WWE still controls its schedule, but they’re more than willing to collaborate with ESPN and Disney to find the best dates for viewership. He even brought up how WWE avoids scheduling around juggernauts like the Super Bowl, relying on data to maximize audience reach.

“We always pick the right dates for us. So of course, we’re not going to go up against the Super Bowl—nor would anyone… But if you look at some of the date placement for our events, we think we found the ideal dates for our audience. And of course, we’re going to be receptive to our new partners at Disney and ESPN in terms of what they think might be good for viewership.”

The $1.625 billion deal didn’t take long to finalize — and Khan says that’s because both sides were on the same page from the jump. The clarity around goals, subscriber growth, and target audiences helped the deal come together without the usual drawn-out negotiations seen in sports media.

“The WWE–ESPN deal, as you mentioned, did not take as long. It was sort of clear: here’s the subscriber base, here’s how we think we can grow it together, and hey, this is the perfect platform for us and our consumer.”

Khan also pointed to the streamlined structure at TKO, WWE’s parent company, saying decisions happen fast because it only takes a few aligned voices at the top to push things forward.

With this ESPN deal locking in WWE’s premium events for years to come, the strategy is simple: deliver their biggest shows to a premium audience, on a premium platform, at a premium price.

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