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ESPN (under Disney’s umbrella) is securing a landmark $1.6 billion, five-year deal to exclusively stream WWE’s Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble, starting in 2026 – a major pivot from WWE’s previous agreement with Peacock.
Though Disney isn’t purchasing WWE outright, reports suggest it considered acquisition offers against competitors like Comcast and Endeavor.
Meanwhile, Orlando continues to stand at the heart of pro wrestling’s infrastructure and event strategy. Since the WWE Performance Center opened in 2013, the city has become a training and production hub for the company, hosting NXT tapings, WrestleMania during the pandemic, and most recently, handling WWE’s custom content for their LFG and Evolve shows.
The Greater Orlando Sports Commission has also committed nearly $30 million in incentives to lure marquee wrestling and MMA events, calling for WrestleMania 2031 and Royal Rumble 2028, among others, to return to Orlando’s Camping World Stadium and Kia Center.
