WWE NXT PLEs Currently Not Included in ESPN Deal

While WWE’s $1.625 billion deal with ESPN is set to bring all Premium Live Events to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer platform starting after Clash in Paris, it looks like NXT’s events won’t be part of that package—for now.

During a Q&A on Fightful Select, Sean Ross Sapp confirmed that NXT Premium Live Events are not currently set to move to ESPN along with the main roster shows.

“As of now, I’m told that they won’t be. WWE is probably going to start shopping those, the library, as well as potential AAA rights soon as well. They could also end up being added, but that’s not the plan.”

This update comes after Bryan Alvarez reported on Wrestling Observer Live that Clash in Paris will be the final WWE PLE streaming on Peacock. WWE had a fixed number of events contracted with Peacock, and that quota was met earlier than expected due to the addition of a second night of SummerSlam and the return of Evolution.

“The final show on Peacock is Clash In Paris — and then everything’s going to be moving to ESPN.”

That leaves a lot of uncertainty for fans of NXT, which has delivered several strong PLEs in recent years. WWE could explore other options to broadcast those events separately, or they could eventually be folded into ESPN’s platform, but for now, they’re reportedly looking at different avenues.

As for WWE’s massive library and other legacy content, those rights are also in limbo. There’s chatter that the archive could end up on YouTube, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Do you think WWE should keep NXT PLEs on a separate platform, or bundle everything into ESPN’s new service? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you’d prefer.