ESPN raised eyebrows when it struck a deal with TKO that gave it the rights to show WWE premium live events including “WrestleMania.” Now, the Disney sports giant may surprise further: it’s launching some of its own bespoke programing to accompany the professional-wrestling antics.
ESPN will produce two pre-event shows for the looming “Wrestlepalooza” event slated to take place September 20. An “ESPN Wrestlepalooza Special” will air Friday, September 19 at 3 p.m. on ESPN2 and the ESPN App and a “Road to Wrestlepalooza” show will be available on September 20 at 4 p.m. on ESPN’s social media feeds as well as on the ESPN app.
“Wrestlepalooza” is a new WWE event crafted for ESPN after the two entities struck a new five-year deal that had ESPN getting the rights to all of WWE’s live spectaculars in 2026. But the deal is starting earlier than expected. ESPN will also show WWE’s “Crown Jewel” on October 11, and “Survivor Series” on November 29.
The “Wrestlepalooza” card includes a main event that features John Cena squaring off against Brock Lesnar, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes taking on Drew McIntyre. The event starts at 7 p.m. on September 20 from Indianapolis, and can be seen by ESPN streaming subscribers with an “unlimited” tier subscription and also on the ESPN App.
The new pre-show events give ESPN a chance to meld its talent with WWE performers. Peter Rosenberg will host the “ESPN Wrestlepalooza Special” alongside guest analyst and Indiana Pacer Tyrese Haliburton. Various WWE personalities will also appear. The “Road” show will be co-hosted by actor and musician O’Shea Jackson, Jr. and TJ Jefferson, who host “No Contest Wrestling.” They will be joined by various ESPN and WWE personalities. “Road” will lead into pre-event coverage for the new WWE special.
Even “SportsCenter” will be dispatched. SportsCenter with Elle Duncan hits the road. Anchor Elle Duncan will be on site in Indianapolis ,and her segments covering “Wrestlepalooza” will feature meet-ups with WWE stars.
Katie Feeney, who joined ESPN in August as a sports and lifestyle creator, will offer her own perspective on the event as he attends her first WWE live spectacular.
Meanwhile, WWE personalities are expected to appear on ESPN programs throughout the week leading up the to “Wrestlepalooza.” Among those scheduled to turn up are WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, AJ Lee, CM Punk, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso, Drew McIntyre and Bron Breakker.
Careful ESPN viewers may have already noticed some activity. Jey Urso appeared on ESPN’s regulary Sunday-night baseball coverage, tossing out a ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park, live on ESPN before a telecast of the New York Yankees taking on the Boston Red Sox.