ESPN denies report of ending WWE contract after first year

On August 25, 2026, ESPN officially refuted claims made by BJ Bethel regarding the non-renewal of its five-year contract with WWE. Bethel's report suggested a lack of discussions between the two organizations, indicating issues with the current deal. ESPN's Ben Cafardo clarified that there is no truth to the claims and stated that Bethel did not consult ESPN before publishing. The partnership, established last year, involves airing WWE events on ESPN's Unlimited app. Despite some concerns over viewership and profitability, ESPN continues to support WWE programming. With four years remaining in the contract, the future of the partnership remains to be seen.

• 9:40 PMYahoo Sports — ESPN Debunks False Report About Contract With WWE