Class action lawsuit accuses WWE, ESPN of deceptive marketing over PLE streaming access
The lawsuit centers around the recent move of WWE PLEs to ESPN.
A new report from Post Wrestling‘s Brandon Thurston revealed that a class action complaint was filed late Thursday in federal court in Connecticut, which alleges WWE is engaging in misleading promotional practices connected to the recent shift of its Premium Live Events (PLEs) to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform.
The first-ever Wrestlepalooza, which emanated on September 20, 2025, at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, kicked off the ESPN era for WWE PLEs as they found a new home.
What does the lawsuit say?
The filing argues that certain fans who already had access to ESPN through cable or other television providers were required to purchase a separate subscription to ESPN’s streaming service to watch the PLEs.
According to the plaintiffs, this requirement conflicted with marketing messages from the Stamford-based promotion and ESPN that they say implied existing ESPN customers would automatically receive access to the premium live events.
The proposed class includes U.S. consumers who paid for ESPN’s direct-to-consumer offering ahead of Wrestlepalooza on Sept. 20 despite already receiving ESPN through traditional distribution channels.
Notably, the lawsuit lists WWE as the sole defendant, excluding ESPN and its parent company, Disney. The plaintiffs state this approach was taken to sidestep arbitration clauses and class action waivers contained in Disney’s subscriber terms.
The complaint estimates damages exceeding $5 million, and if the plaintiffs succeed, qualifying consumers could be eligible for refunds or partial compensation. The lawsuit details the timeline leading up to the announcement.
A press release dated August 6, 2025, claimed that the new app’s features 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.”
The plaintiffs argue that this messaging was misleading. They highlight this statement, along with similar language in ESPN’s promotional materials, which suggested that all ESPN subscribers, regardless of how they access the service, would be able to watch PLEs on the ESPN app.
The complaint also references comments from WWE President Nick Khan during an episode of The Varsity podcast.
During the appearance, Khan recounted the promotion’s transition of major events from PPV to the WWE Network, then to Peacock, and now to ESPN’s platform. He noted that when WWE left PPV, subscribers could watch the company’s biggest shows for $9.99 with no additional fees.
“When we did the Peacock deal in 2020, same thing, no upcharge for what were pay-per-views, Same thing here with what has been referred to as ‘ESPN Flagship.’ You subscribe to that product, you get WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, all of our other premium live events, with no upcharge.” Khan said during the appearance.
The plaintiffs claim that Khan’s remarks gave existing ESPN subscribers the false impression that no additional payment would be required to view WWE’s premium live events. Post Wrestling reports that ESPN declined to comment, and WWE did not respond to inquiries.
The lawsuit is filed by Michael Diesa of New Jersey and Rebecca Toback of New York. The promotion has yet to file a response in court.
What is the class action lawsuit about?
The lawsuit claims WWE engaged in deceptive marketing when moving its PLEs to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. Plaintiffs allege that existing ESPN subscribers were misled into thinking they wouldn’t have to pay extra to access the PLEs.
How much is the WWE–ESPN rights deal worth?
The deal is a five‑year agreement valued at about $1.6 billion, a number significantly higher than WWE’s previous PLE rights deal with Peacock.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.