ESPN trims AEW coverage as WWE deal expands on ESPN

ESPN has removed dedicated listings for All Elite Wrestling from its website while continuing to publish select news about the promotion, a shift that has drawn attention because it follows a new multi-platform agreement between ESPN and WWE. Industry observers say the decision reflects a complex mix of preexisting tensions between ESPN and AEW, concerns about editorial handling of a 2023 interview, and the commercial reality that some AEW events are too large to ignore.

The change in ESPN's web presentation came as WWE reached a major deal to bring WWE Premium Live Events to ESPN platforms. The timing prompted speculation that the network was reducing AEW's visibility to avoid promoting a rival. Commentators close to the situation, however, say the relationship between ESPN and AEW had already cooled following a contentious 2023 interview with CM Punk. In that interview, CM Punk made remarks described as highly negative about AEW World Champion Adam "Hangman" Page. It is alleged the interview was circulated internally within AEW and that portions appeared on wrestling websites before ESPN published the piece, a development that reportedly frustrated ESPN editorial staff.