ESPN’s Wrestlepalooza: Who Can Watch, Who Can’t & Why?

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, I know Wrestlepalooza is coming up but I’m not sure if we can watch it using the ESPN app. I have Comcast. Can you do a breakdown on this for us? Thank you in advance! – Paul, Boston.

Paul, ESPN’s first WWE Premium Live event, Wrestlepalooza, will stream this Saturday (September 20, 2025) at 7 p.m. ET on the new ESPN Unlimited app. (Pre-show coverage starts at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday.) The event, the first in a new partnership between ESPN and the WWE, will feature John Cena in his retirement match against Brock Lesnar. Other wrestlers scheduled to perform include CM Punk, Cody Rhodes and AJ Lee.

Who Can Watch Wrestlepalooza?
The new ESPN Unlimited app, which costs $29.99 a month and does NOT include a free trial, offers live feeds of all ESPN-operated channels plus select ABC sports. If you have a subscription to the service, you will be able to watch Wrestlepalooza. In addition, DIRECTV (streaming only), Hulu Live, Verizon and Fubo customers can access the app for free with their pay TV user name and password and watch the premium event.

Who Can’t Watch Wrestlepalooza?
Subscribers to other pay TV services, such as Comcast, Dish, Cox Cable, and YouTube TV, can access the ESPN app for free with their user name and password. But they can’t access premium events on the app, which includes Wrestlepalooza. This is also the case for DIRECTV’s satellite customers; DIRECTV says they won’t get full access to the ESPN app until sometime this fall.

Why Can’t Some Pay TV Subscribers Watch Wrestlepalooza?
Several pay TV services, such as Comcast, have not negotiated new agreements with ESPN that would allow full and free access to the new app. It’s possible that deals could be reached before Saturday. But as of now, they are on the outside looking in. Subscribers to those services will have to purchase a separate subscription to ESPN Unlimited if they want to watch Wrestlepalooza.

Paul, I hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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