WWE News - August 2025

[Dolfan in NYC]

The September PLE will be called Wrestlepalooza.

The last show called this was ECW Wrestlepalooza in 2000

[Peck]

If they bring in Chris Chetti for the night, I'll allow it.

[Niners Fan in CT]

Was Joel Gertner still around then? 

[odessasteps]

Speaking of 

 

[Gorman]

7 hours ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

Was Joel Gertner still around then? 

That was a TV taping, and the Dudleys were in the WWF, so he wasn't managing. He might have been on commentary.

[twiztor]

13 hours ago, Dolfan in NYC said:

The September PLE will be called Wrestlepalooza.

boo.

On 8/16/2025 at 6:55 PM, Curt McGirt said:

why settle for one?

[Technico Support]

13 hours ago, Dolfan in NYC said:

The September PLE will be called Wrestlepalooza.

The last show called this was ECW Wrestlepalooza in 2000

You can tell Vince is no longer there, as using "palooza" on something indicates that their knowledge of pop culture is only 35 years behind the times instead of 60.

[Niners Fan in CT]

Apparently Alvarez is saying that they are trying to get Cena vs. Lesnar PLE on ESPN?  Not sure how that works with college football or how it works with the Peacock deal.  Then Alvarez said that they are trying to get more PLEs on ESPN as well.  

Keep in mind they still haven't officially announced this PLE yet.  I don't know what's going on but they are bending over backwards to try to counterprogram instead of booking good shows.  

[Ziggy]

That would still be months before the ESPN deal goes into effect. I don't know why they just didn't make last match for this upcoming WrestleMania weekend instead. 

Even from the beginning WWE is never really fun to watch in December so it made no point for them to book his last match in December.

[username]

I mean, if Cena wanted to work through April instead of December I'm sure WWE would have absolutely loved that but I don't get the impression that was their call to make.

[Niners Fan in CT]

They can't just name it 'Fall Brawl'?  I'd love to see some new tank graphics.  

[Cliff Hanger]

6 hours ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

Apparently Alvarez is saying that they are trying to get Cena vs. Lesnar PLE on ESPN?  Not sure how that works with college football or how it works with the Peacock deal.  Then Alvarez said that they are trying to get more PLEs on ESPN as well.  

 

They said something at either the Summerslam press conference or the last earnings call about Clash, Survivor Series and the Q4 SNME being enough content to meet their obligations to Peacock for 2025. At the time my thought was "this better not mean no Iron Survivor this year" but I guess it was a hint that they were free to take "extra" events to other buyers?

[The Natural]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNZGduovyiG/?l=1

Chelsea Green is a treasure. She lost the WWE Women's United States Championship way too soon.

[Niners Fan in CT]

12 hours ago, Cliff Hanger said:

They said something at either the Summerslam press conference or the last earnings call about Clash, Survivor Series and the Q4 SNME being enough content to meet their obligations to Peacock for 2025. At the time my thought was "this better not mean no Iron Survivor this year" but I guess it was a hint that they were free to take "extra" events to other buyers?

That makes sense.  I see that Florida vs. Miami is on the same night as this PLE but maybe that airs on ABC.  I don't think it makes much of a difference in terms of counterprogramming.  The SNME's are on broadcast TV airing on NBC and they are doing like 1.5 million viewers or something and that was before college football.  Maybe Cena and Lesnar can give it a bump but I'd be assuming that it would be chalk full of commercials?  Sounds like an idea that doesn't make much sense if your lone goal is to counter a PPV. 

[NoFistsJustFlips]

Of all the trademarks they have access to (WWE, NXT, WCW, ECW, AWA) why in the world would they pick the worst one? Wrestlepalooza? Gross lol. Even The Wrestle-Rock Rumble is a better name than that.

[Niners Fan in CT]

I wouldn't say "worst" as 'Barely Legal' is still out there 

[twiztor]

1 hour ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

I wouldn't say "worst" as 'Barely Legal' is still out there 

more pay-per-views and home videos have been sold with the name "barely legal" than all of the others, combined. 

[Curt McGirt]

Don't forget magazines

[DreamBroken]

Apparently it's come up that F1RST Wrestling out of Minnesota have a trademark on "Wrestlepalooza" since 2016 and have been using it for events since 2013 as well as a title named after it.

[twiztor]

14 hours ago, DreamBroken said:

Apparently it's come up that F1RST Wrestling out of Minnesota have a trademark on "Wrestlepalooza" since 2016 and have been using it for events since 2013 as well as a title named after it.

well, let's hope that "Barbed Wire, Hoodies & Chokeslams" is still available then

[Niners Fan in CT]

Sports Business Journal is reporting that this event will be named 'Wrestlepalooza' so maybe they paid them off. They also reported that the deal with ESPN is beginning immediately and that includes 'Crown Jewel' and 'Survivor Series.'   It's not clear if Peacock will also be showing those or not.  

It's also unclear if this will be airing on linear ESPN.  They reported that "select" PLE's will air on ESPN but did not specify if that means this one. 

[Niners Fan in CT]

And now here is the official release from ESPN PR. Sounds like Peacock is done. 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/08/wwe-premium-live-events-to-debut-on-espn-platforms-in-the-u-s-beginning-september-20-with-first-ever-wrestlepalooza/

 

John Cena to Headline Massive Main Event at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

Tickets for Wrestlepalooza On Sale Friday, August 22 at 10am ET/7am PT
Presale Access for Wrestlepalooza Begins Tomorrow at 10am ET/7am PT

August 20, 2025 – ESPN and WWE today announced that WWE Premium Live Events will debut on ESPN platforms beginning September 20, earlier than previously announced.

The first WWE PLE to kick off the ESPN partnership will be the first-ever Wrestlepalooza on Saturday, September 20, live from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis – host city of the 2025 Royal Rumble^®, which set the event’s all-time attendance record. Wrestlepalooza will stream live on the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

On September 20, ESPN becomes the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE PLEs, with all PLEs available to ESPN DTC subscribers with the unlimited plan. Additional upcoming WWE PLEs this year include Crown Jewel^® on Saturday, October 11, and Survivor Series^® on Saturday, November 29.

Wrestlepalooza will feature a blockbuster headline attraction with John Cena, as well as Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre in major matches throughout the night. This event, held in partnership with Indiana Sports Corp, will mark the last time Cena wrestles in Indianapolis.

“On September 20, WWE and ESPN are coming together for a can’t-miss event to kick off our new partnership,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “The biggest Superstars in WWE. The biggest brand in sports media. Are you ready?”

Tickets for Wrestlepalooza will go on sale starting Friday, August 22 at 10am ET/7am PT via Ticketmaster.com. Presale for Wrestlepalooza tickets will begin tomorrow/Thursday at 10am ET/7am PT.

Additionally, official Wrestlepalooza Priority Pass packages are now available through WWE’s exclusive partner, On Location, offering fans premium seating, hospitality events featuring Superstar appearances, exclusive photo opportunities, and more. Fans can buy packages now to secure access before the general public. To learn more about Wrestlepalooza Priority Pass packages or to purchase, please visit: https://onlocationexp.com/wweindy.

The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms. Marquee PLEs include WrestleMania^® and SummerSlam^® – both two-night events – as well as Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank^®, among others. WWE PLEs will be available to all ESPN DTC subscribers with the unlimited plan.

ESPN will launch its new DTC streaming service and a set of new features on an enhanced ESPN App on Thursday, August 21. Fans can visit http://stream.espn.com/ for more information on ESPN DTC options and pricing.

Edited August 20, 2025 by Niners Fan in CT

[odessasteps]

Hey Arik Cannon, would you like a guest trainer spot in NXT for a few weeks? 

[Niners Fan in CT]

Interesting to note.  They didn't include Lesnar in the press release.  This is going to be on the ESPN platform,  you'd think they'd want to advertise their biggest draw with sports fans.  

[RazorbladeKiss87]

1 hour ago, twiztor said:

well, let's hope that "Barbed Wire, Hoodies & Chokeslams" is still available then

Could always bring back "It Ain't Seinfeld "