Bart Winkler critiques ESPN’s extensive WWE coverage amid SummerSlam events
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 12, 2026, 1:00 PM
Last updated Aug 12, 2026
Bart Winkler and co-hosts discussed the excessive focus on WWE in ESPN programming, particularly surrounding SummerSlam. Despite ESPN’s significant financial investment in airing WWE's Premium Live Events, viewers express frustration with the network's prioritization of wrestling content over traditional sports. Winkler noted that increased exposure does not necessarily attract non-fans, highlighting the discontent among audiences who favor other sports coverage. Discussions on ESPN's daily shows have seen wrestling overshadow other major sports events, which has raised concerns about the impact on viewership satisfaction.
- •ESPN pays $325 million annually for WWE Premium Live Events.
- •Discussion prior to SummerSlam showed WWE dominating ESPN programming.
- •Winkler argues that increased WWE coverage alienates some sports fans.
- •Viewers expressed frustration over wrestling overshadowing other sports content.
- •Critics believe WWE's growth strategy may not resonate with broader audiences.
- 1:00 PMYahoo Sports — Bart Winkler questions intensity of ESPN’s WWE coverage: ‘If you don’t like it, more exposure will not help’
"Last year, ESPN signed a deal to become the exclusive U.S. home of all WWE Premium Live Events. As part of the deal, which reportedly sees the Worldwide Leader pay WWE $325 million annually, WWE’s PLEs will air live on the ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, with select events also simulcasting on linear ESPN platforms. While…
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
WWE•Oct 3, 2026, 5:00 PMMustafa Ali’s TNA faction breaks up with a swerve
WWE•Oct 3, 2026, 4:30 PMBully Ray On WWE's Roman Reigns: 'He Does Everything As Perfectly As Can Be'
WWE•Oct 3, 2026, 4:26 PMWWE's Roman Reigns: 'We All Got A Little Bit Of Body Dysmorphia'
WWE•Oct 3, 2026, 4:00 PMMJF Contemplates Lessons Learned During First AEW World Title Run
WWE•Oct 3, 2026, 3:44 PMKam Stout 'saw the green grass,' didn't look back in 7th Claymont win
WWE•Oct 3, 2026, 3:33 PMWhy WWE officials are now ‘unhappy’ with The Rock after his comments on AEW this week