ESPN and WWE reached a five-year, $1.6 billion agreement that includes exclusive rights to air the wrestling company’s premier live events (PLE) beginning in 2026, according to the Wall Street Journal, as part of the Worldwide Leader’s new direct-to-consumers streaming service launching later this month.

ESPN and WWE are about to get each other in tighter holds. Under a new five-year deal, ESPN’s soon-to-launch streaming outlet will, starting in 2026, become the exclusive U.S. home of all of the WWE's top live events,