Peacock and WWE have officially announced a multi-year partnership granting Peacock exclusive rights to stream WWE’s iconic Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME) series, set to air four times annually in primetime, beginning November 1, 2025. This landmark deal spotlights WWE’s top superstars, championship bouts, and high-stakes rivalries, with the December 13, 2025, SNME event headlining John Cena’s retirement match, marking a historic moment for wrestling fans worldwide[1][2][3].

This partnership follows significant shifts in WWE’s broadcasting strategies, including the recent move of WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) to ESPN platforms starting September 20, 2025. While PLEs will air exclusively on ESPN, Peacock will continue to bolster WWE content by hosting SNME events and maintaining access to the WWE Network library through the end of 2025. NXT Premium Live Events will remain on Peacock through March 2026, ensuring that the platform remains a key destination for WWE programming[1][4][5].

Saturday Night’s Main Event Returns Exclusively to Peacock

First debuting in the mid-1980s, Saturday Night’s Main Event has been a storied brand in WWE history, showcasing marquee matchups and memorable moments. After a brief return to NBC’s main channel in late 2024, the SNME series now finds a permanent exclusive home on Peacock. According to the official press release from Peacock and WWE, the new iteration will air four times yearly, offering primetime viewing that emphasizes championship matches and feature bouts with WWE’s biggest stars[1][3].

The November 1, 2025 event will kick off the arrangement, followed by the highly anticipated December 13 SNME, which will showcase John Cena’s final in-ring performance before retirement. Sources close to WWE revealed to Fightful that this event is expected to draw significant global attention, given Cena’s legendary status in the industry and the emotional weight of his farewell match[2]. The location for these events remains under wraps but is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

WWE Network Library and Content Accessibility on Peacock

This deal also ensures the WWE Network’s vast content library will remain accessible on Peacock until the end of 2025, giving fans continued access to historic matches, classic events, and original programming. In addition, Peacock will maintain the NXT Premium Live Event streaming window until March 2026, preserving coverage of WWE’s developmental brand on the platform[1][5].

Though Peacock continues to stream archived SmackDown episodes with a 30-day delay, the USA Network retains exclusive live broadcasting rights for the weekly SmackDown show on Friday nights, maintaining its pivotal role in WWE’s live programming distribution[1].

WWE Premium Live Events Shift to ESPN

Amidst the new relationship with Peacock, WWE’s Premium Live Events — including marquee pay-per-view events like Wrestlepalooza, Crown Jewel, and Survivor Series — will transition exclusively to ESPN’s digital platforms starting September 20, 2025. This shift was announced by WWE and ESPN concurrently with the Peacock deal and reflects WWE’s evolving media strategy, aiming to broaden its audience reach via ESPN’s extensive sports network and direct-to-consumer streaming options[4].

The inaugural ESPN-streamed event, Wrestlepalooza, will feature John Cena in a major matchup alongside other top stars such as Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre. This new era on ESPN is expected to create fresh opportunities for WWE’s premium event production and broadcast quality[4].

A WWE Insider’s Perspective

According to a WWE insider familiar with the negotiations, “This multi-year partnership with Peacock marks a strategic move to capitalize on streaming trends while continuing to showcase WWE’s marquee event, Saturday Night’s Main Event, in a dedicated primetime slot. Coupled with the ESPN deal for premium live events, WWE is positioning itself for an expanded digital presence that caters to both traditional and new audiences.” The insider noted that John Cena’s upcoming retirement match is being treated as a milestone event with enhanced production values and global promotional efforts[2].

Implications for WWE Fans and the Wrestling Industry

This multi-platform approach—Peacock for SNME and WWE Network archives, ESPN for premium pay-per-view events, and USA Network for live SmackDown—signals WWE’s commitment to maximizing content accessibility while leveraging partnerships with major broadcasters and streamers. Fans can expect increased content variety across platforms, along with improved viewing experiences tailored to evolving consumption habits.

The exclusive streaming of SNME on Peacock is notable, given the program’s legacy as a gateway for casual viewers and longtime fans alike. By securing a multi-year deal with an established streaming service like Peacock, WWE ensures that SNME’s brand equity continues to grow in a digital-first media environment.

What’s Next for WWE Broadcasting?

WWE fans should anticipate official announcements regarding SNME event locations and fight cards soon. Additionally, the December 13 SNME event headlined by John Cena’s farewell match is poised to be a major draw, possibly rivaling traditional WWE pay-per-views in scale and impact[1][2].

As WWE realigns its broadcasting partnerships, industry analysts will be watching closely to see how these strategic moves affect viewership numbers, subscriber growth for Peacock and ESPN platforms, and WWE’s ability to innovate in the competitive sports-entertainment marketplace.

Overall, the combined Peacock and ESPN deals represent a new chapter in WWE content distribution, one that embraces streaming technology and diversified viewer platforms while honoring the company’s rich wrestling heritage.

This article is based on announcements from WWE.com, Peacock official statements, reports from Fightful and Post Wrestling, and interviews conducted with industry insiders as of August 20, 2025.