WWE-ESPN Partnership Begins Early with Wrestlepalooza, Headlined by Cena-Lesnar, Competing with AEW All Out

WWE is launching its first premium live event on ESPN's new direct-to-consumer streaming service earlier than planned, with Wrestlepalooza set for September 20 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This event will go head-to-head with All Elite Wrestling's All Out pay-per-view, continuing WWE's strategy of counterprogramming AEW. John Cena is announced to headline Wrestlepalooza, likely facing Brock Lesnar, with other top stars like Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre also featured. The ESPN deal, originally starting in 2026, now begins with this event and includes all WWE premium live events, such as WrestleMania and SummerSlam, available through ESPN's streaming plans and select cable channels. WWE's move aims to leverage ESPN's broad distribution, including existing customers on services like DirecTV and Hulu + LiveTV, while offering fans ticket and premium hospitality packages. The rivalry between WWE and AEW is intensifying as both companies schedule major events on the same dates to capture wrestling audiences.