Stephanie McMahon Promotes VPN for WWE Streaming Amid ESPN Deal Backlash

Stephanie McMahon sparked controversy by promoting the use of a VPN on her podcast to access WWE content on Netflix internationally, circumventing ESPN's exclusive U.S. rights to WWE premium live events. This ad read, which encouraged fans to bypass ESPN's $30-per-month pay-per-view model, drew criticism from at least one ESPN insider who was displeased with the suggestion. The VPN workaround highlights ongoing frustrations among U.S. WWE viewers who must subscribe to multiple services, unlike international fans who can access all WWE programming and live events on Netflix. Despite ESPN's concerns, sources do not expect the issue to escalate significantly. Meanwhile, WWE is experimenting with scheduling changes for its RAW show to air earlier on select September dates, aiming to avoid competition with Monday Night Football. These developments occur amid WWE's broader restructuring efforts, including recent staff layoffs.