Credit: ESPN/X
Wrestlepalooza, the first WWE Premium Live Event under the partnership with ESPN, revives the name of a classic Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) pay-per-view, reportedly reimagined as a WWE spectacle. Originally slated to begin in 2026, the ESPN deal was fast-tracked to launch with this event, highlighting WWE’s strategic push to elevate its global reach through ESPN’s robust streaming infrastructure. The event, airing at 7 p.m. ET exclusively on the ESPN App for unlimited plan subscribers in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally, reportedly promises a card stacked with marquee matches and high-profile returns, setting a high bar for WWE’s new era.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has set the stage for a monumental night, promising fans “spectacle” and “surprises” at the inaugural WWE Wrestlepalooza, streaming live Saturday, September 20, from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, Triple H reportedly hyped the event as a landmark moment in WWE’s new five-year media rights deal with ESPN, marking the debut of WWE’s Premium Live Events (PLEs) on the ESPN Unlimited streaming platform. “Nobody does big events like WWE, with possibly the exception of ESPN,” Triple H declared, emphasising the synergy between WWE’s high-octane entertainment and ESPN’s unmatched event-building prowess. “Expect spectacle, expect surprises, expect to have a lot of fun, and ESPN is going to deliver,” he further added.
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Wrestlepalooza’s headlining clash could be between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre
Headlining the WWE Wrestlepalooza card could a clash of titans as Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends his title against Drew McIntyre. The feud reignited after McIntyre’s Claymore Kick sent Rhodes through an announce table, sidelining him temporarily. Rhodes returned on the September 12 SmackDown, thwarting McIntyre’s attack on Randy Orton and challenging him to this title bout.
Rhodes, who has reportedly noted McIntyre as one of only four wrestlers to defeat him since his 2022 WWE return, faces a formidable challenge. Another highlight is the Women’s World Championship match, where Iyo Sky battles Stephanie Vaquer for the vacant title. The championship was relinquished by Naomi due to her pregnancy, announced after her Money in the Bank cash-in at WWE Evolution. Vaquer earned her shot by winning a 20-woman Battle Royal at Evolution, while SKY was slated to challenge Naomi before the title became vacant.
At WWE Wrestlepalooza, The Usos (Jey and Jimmy) reunite for their first Premium Live Event match since 2023, facing The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, who, backed by Paul Heyman, attacked Roman Reigns at Clash in Paris. Jimmy’s rescue of Jey sparked this tag team clash. Brock Lesnar returns after two years to face John Cena, on his 2025 retirement tour, in a grudge match rooted in their Ohio Valley Wrestling rivalry. AJ Lee’s decade-long absence ends as she teams with CM Punk against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, fueled by Rollins’ SummerSlam cash-in and Lynch’s Clash in Paris attack.
