Top WWE Figures Were Kept in the Dark on ESPN Deal Until It Went Public

WWE’s $1.625 billion move to ESPN caught more than just fans by surprise — it blindsided some of the company’s own high-ranking names.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed that the decision to take all Premium Live Events to ESPN in 2026 was kept so tight-lipped at the top that even people “higher on the food chain” only learned about it when the rest of the world did.

One well-placed WWE source told Meltzer they had been rooting for ESPN all along, not because of the extra money — ESPN is paying $325 million annually compared to Peacock’s reported $275 million — but because of what they believe the sports giant offers in visibility across the U.S. market.

“I know the only thing I heard from someone that I would say higher on the food chain was that they didn’t know literally until the announcement was made. But they were — one person told me that he was hoping for ESPN because he thought of all the possibilities as far as the U.S. market… that ESPN was the best for exposure. And I completely agree with that. I think that for WWE, if the money is even or even a little lower… ESPN is the better deal.”

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The revelation shows just how closely WWE guarded the negotiations, keeping the circle so small that the majority of internal staff — and even some with influence — were completely out of the loop until the news broke publicly.

Were WWE right to keep the deal under such tight wraps, or should top talent and staff have been told sooner? Share your thoughts below.

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