WWE Is Facing a Class-Action Lawsuit Over New ESPN Deal
Last August, ahead of the launch of the new ESPN app, Disney and the WWE reached a blockbuster deal that saw wrestling’s biggest events move to The Worldwide Leader in Sports.
Revealed just hours after ESPN and the NFL announced their new television deal, the WWE agreement meant premier events like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam moved from Peacock to ESPN.
WWE/ESPN. Photo: ESPN
Initially, it was reported that the ESPN WWE broadcasts would begin in 2026. The two parties accelerated that timeline, however, and Wrestlepalooza debuted on the new ESPN streaming app on September 20.
Confusion Surrounding the Launch of ESPN’s New App
In the aftermath of the ESPN app launch, confusion arose over who would have access to the new streamer.
Photo: ESPN
An August press release from Disney initially seemed to indicate that customers who subscribed to ESPN through their television package would also be given access to the new ESPN app.
The app-exclusive premier events, ESPN said, would “be available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package.”
ESPN streaming. Photo: ESPN
That, however, turned out not to be the case.
Linear Subscribers Did Not Get App Access
While Disney subsequently reached deals with major television providers to include the ESPN app in their packages, it was not a blanket migration.
ESPN. Photo: Disney
For example, customers who pay for ESPN through their Xfinity package still do not have access to the app-exclusive events.
Whether Disney misstated its policy in the original press release or changed it prior to launch, many traditional ESPN viewers were understandably disappointed and confused.
That confusion has now led to a class-action lawsuit.
The Lawsuit
As first reported by Post Wrestling, a class-action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut earlier this month, accusing WWE and ESPN of deceptive marketing practices.
Photo: cba.cj
Specifically, the lawsuit contends that wrestling fans who already had access to ESPN through their cable provider were forced to sign up for the new ESPN app to watch WWE events.
Photo: Miriam-Webster
This, the plaintiffs argue, contradicts marketing communications from both WWE and ESPN, which suggested that linear ESPN subscribers would have access to the WWE events on the app.
ESPN Is Not Named in the Suit
According to the lawsuit, which was initially brought by plaintiffs Michael Diesa and Rebecca Toback, WWE content led to 95,000 to 125,000 signups. The plaintiffs are seeking restitution for fans who had to essentially sign up for ESPN twice in order to watch WWE events. In total, more than $5 million could hang in the balance.
It is important to note, however, that the class action lawsuit names only the WWE as a defendant, not ESPN.
To this point, neither the WWE nor Disney has responded.
Photo: MickeyBlog
