Since its inception in 1953 as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, World Wrestling Entertainment has grown from a National Wrestling Alliance territory to an international powerhouse in sports and entertainment.
WWE has seen its fair share of stars become fan favorites and icons, from Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, John Cena, and more. The future is also bright, with current generation stars Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Kevin Owens, and more leading the way.
Those stars have been featured on various platforms, from TV, PPV, late-night talk shows, and movies. With TKO Group’s investment, international touring, and more, WWE’s influence is all over.
BUY NOW: Best tickets for WWE WrestleMania 41 on StubHub
There are various ways to watch WWE talent compete nowadays. Over the years, massive deals have ensured a way to catch every match or segment. The Sporting News brings you all you need to know about how to watch every aspect of WWE programming.
How to watch WWE in USA 2024/25: TV channel, live stream
- TV channels (English): USA Network, The CW, X (formerly Twitter)
- Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, WWE Network
WWE programming is available on USA Network, The CW, and X, formerly Twitter. Events available on USA and The CW can be watched on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
The WWE's PLE events are available on Peacock. You can also watch past events in WWE history on Peacock. From Wrestlemania 1 to last year's event. Old WCW matches and ECW pay-per-views, Peacock has it all.
How to watch WWE RAW for free
- TV channels (English): USA Network
- Streaming: Fubo, Netflix (beginning in January 2025)
For years, WWE RAW was on the USA Network. It will continue to air on the platform until 2025. The USA Network is available via Fubo which offers a free trial to new subscribers so they can try before they buy.
WWE RAW heads to Netflix in January 2025. WWE signed a 10-year, $5 billion deal with Netflix to air its top wrestling show on the streaming platform.
“This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”
How to watch WWE SmackDown for free
- TV channels (English): USA Network
- Streaming: Fubo
WWE SmackDown will now air on the USA Network, which it previously aired from 2016 to 2019. Fans can also watch SmackDown via Fubo which offers a free trial.
The move to USA Network is part of a massive shakeup in WWE programming. Variety and CNBC, among others, reported the new TV deal is valued at roughly $1.4 billion for five years.
“NBCUniversal has been a tremendous partner of WWE for decades,” said WWE President Nick Khan. “We are excited to extend this longstanding relationship by bringing SmackDown to USA Network on Friday nights and look forward to debuting multiple WWE special events annually on NBC.”
How to watch WWE NXT for free
- TV channels (English): USA Network, The CW
- Streaming: Fubo
WWE NXT initially aired on the USA Network in 2024. The program, featuring the future of pro wrestling, will now air on The CW starting on October 1. The CW is available via Fubo, as is the USA Network and of course offers a free trial.
The partnership is worth about $20-$25 million for five years. NXT features young stars like Roxanne Perez and Oba Femi, and WWE just signed Giulia, one of the best wrestlers to come from Japan.
“We are thrilled to welcome the WWE brand into the CW Sports portfolio as they play an integral role in our mission to bring live sporting events to the network year-round,” said CW Network President Dennis Miller. “WWE NXT is a perfect fit for The CW thanks to its dynamic young talent featuring the hottest rising stars in the sport and exhilarating, unpredictable weekly events.
"The passion and engagement of WWE’s fanbase is unmatched, and we are eager to grow that audience as WWE NXT’s new home on broadcast television.”
How to watch WWE PLE events for free
- Streaming: Peacock, WWE Network
The best way to watch WWE PLE events in the U.S. is via Peacock, which offers all content from the WWE Network. Peacock does not offer a free trial at the moment so there is no way to watch WWE PLEs for free, but they don't come as an extra cost as they are included in your Peacock subscription.
PLE events include the Royal Rumble, Backlash, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and more.
How much does it cost to watch WWE on Peacock?
| Option | Monthly | Yearly |
| Peacock Premium | $7.99/month | $79.99/year |
| Peacock Premium Plus | $13.99/month | $139.99/year |
Past WWE weekly shows and previous and current PLE events will be available to watch on the streaming service Peacock.
Peacock is offered in both a monthly and yearly subscription. The annual service with ads offers a discount of around $16 for the year or around 17 percent. There is also a premium option to secure ad-free programming.
Student discount for WWE on Peacock
Peacock does currently offer a significant student discount, allowing current college students to sign up for an annual base plan with ads for just $1.99 per month, a 75 percent discount from the regular price.
When signing up for the service, Peacock redirects users to SheerID to verify student status.
How to watch WWE on other cable or streaming services
While Fubo and Peacock serve as options to watch WWE programming, there is certainly more than one option to enjoy the weekly programming the E has to offer. Sling, YouTube TV and other streaming platforms offer alternate means to watch pro wrestling without cable.
Sling TV
| Plan | Monthly | Channels |
| Blue | $40/month* | USA Network, SyFy |
| Orange and Blue | $55/month* | USA Network |
Sling splits its channels into Blue, and Orange and Blue plans for WWE programming. That includes the USA Network and SyFy, which occasionally hosts WWE events.
YouTube TV
| Plan | Monthly | Channels |
| Base Plan | $72.99/month | USA Network |
YouTube TV's base plan includes all NBC channels, including the USA Network.
DirecTV
| Plan | Monthly | Channels |
| Entertainment | $59.99/month | USA Network, SyFy |
| Choice | $74.99/month | USA Network, SyFy |
| Ultimate | 104.99/month | USA Network, SyFy |
| Premier | $149.99/month | USA Network, SyFy |
If WWE fans are looking to secure more traditional cable, DirecTV is a less flexible option using a satellite. Customers are locked into a year-long contract, but it does add the ease of one home for all channels.
Looking to watch WWE SmackDown on the USA Network or SyFy? What about RAW for the rest of the year? The base Entertainment package, as well as Choice, Ultimate, and Premier, holds the USA Network and SyFy.
WWE facts & figures
Current WWE champions
| Title | Wrestler | Date title was won |
| Undisputed WWE Championship | Cody Rhodes | April 7, 2024 |
| World Heavyweight Champion | Gunther | August 3, 2024 |
| Women's World Champion | Liv Morgan | May 25, 2024 |
| WWE Women's Championship | Nia Jax | August 3, 2024 |
| WWE Intercontinental Championship | Bron Breakker | August 3, 2024 |
| WWE United States Championship | LA Knight | August 3, 2024 |
| World Tag Team Championship | Finn Balor and JD McDonagh | June 24, 2024 |
WWE Tag Team Championship | Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa | August 2, 2024 |
| WWE Women's Tag Team Championship | Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill | August 31, 2024 |
List of upcoming WWE PLE events
| Date | Event | Venue | Location |
| October 5, 2024 | Bad Blood | State Farm Arena | Atlanta, Georgia |
| November 2, 2024 | Crown Jewel | Kingdom Arena | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| November 30, 2024 | Survivor Series: WarGames | Rogers Arena | Vancouver, British, Columbia, Canada |
| February 1, 2025 | Royal Rumble | Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| April 19-20 | WrestleMania 41 | Allegiant Stadium | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Who has won the men's WWE Royal Rumble match?
No one has more Rumble wins than Stone Cold Steve Austin who has the record at three.
Here's the complete list of men's Rumble winners.
| Year | Winner |
| 1988 | Jim Duggan |
| 1989 | Big John Studd |
| 1990 | Hulk Hogan |
| 1991 | Hulk Hogan |
| 1992 | Ric Flair |
| 1993 | Yokozuna |
| 1994 | Lex Luger and Bret Hart |
| 1995 | Shawn Michaels |
| 1996 | Shawn Michaels |
| 1997 | "Stone Cold" Steve Austin |
| 1998 | "Stone Cold" Steve Austin |
| 1999 | Mr. McMahon |
| 2000 | The Rock |
| 2001 | "Stone Cold" Steve Austin |
| 2002 | Triple H |
| 2003 | Brock Lesnar |
| 2004 | Chris Benoit |
| 2005 | Batista |
| 2006 | Rey Mysterio |
| 2007 | The Undertaker |
| 2008 | John Cena |
| 2009 | Randy Orton |
| 2010 | Edge |
| 2011 | Alberto Del Rio |
| 2012 | Sheamus |
| 2013 | John Cena |
| 2014 | Batista |
| 2015 | Roman Reigns |
| 2016 | Triple H |
| 2017 | Randy Orton |
| 2018 | Shinsuke Nakamura |
| 2019 | Seth Rollins |
| 2020 | Drew McIntyre |
| 2021 | Edge |
| 2022 | Brock Lesnar |
| 2023 | Cody Rhodes |
| 2024 | Cody Rhodes |
Who has won the women's WWE Royal Rumble match?
The women's Royal Rumble match began with a bang when Asuka won the inaugural edition in 2018. Since then a list of future Hall of Famers have conquered the WWE's most intriguing match.
Here's the complete list of women's Rumble winners.
| Date | Winner |
| 2018 | Asuka |
| 2019 | Becky Lynch |
| 2020 | Charlotte Flair |
| 2021 | Bianca Belair |
| 2022 | Ronda Rousey |
| 2023 | Rhea Ripley |
| 2024 | Bayley |
WWE WrestleMania attendance, gate history
- WrestleMania 32 surpassed WM 3 as the highest-attended pro wrestling event in the U.S. with 101,763 fans.
- In 2019, Forbes named WrestleMania the sixth most valuable sports brand in the world.
- The only time no fans attended a WrestleMania was in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- WrestleMania 40 broke WrestleMania 39's ($21.6 million) all-time gate record in one day. Over 90,000 tickets were sold on the first day of ticket sales.
| Year | WrestleMania | Attendance (per WWE) | Main Event |
| 1985 | 1 | 19,121 | Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff |
| 1986 | 2 | 40,085 (combined) | Hulk Hogan (c) vs. King Kong Bundy in a Steel Cage match for the WWF Title |
| 1987 | 3 | 78,000 | Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Andre the Giant for the WWF Title |
| 1988 | 4 | 19,199 | Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase for the vacant WWF Title |
| 1989 | 5 | 18,946 | Randy Savage (c) vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF Title |
| 1990 | 6 | 67,678 | Hulk Hogan (c) vs. The Ultimate Warrior (c) for the WWF and Intercontinental Titles |
| 1991 | 7 | 16,158 | Sgt. Slaughter (c) vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF Title |
| 1992 | 8 | 62,167 | Ric Flair (c) vs. Randy Savage for the WWF Title |
| 1993 | 9 | 16,891 | Bret Hart (c) vs. Yokozuna for the WWF Title |
| 1994 | 10 | 18,065 | Yokozuna (c) vs. Bret Hart for the WWF Title |
| 1995 | 11 | 16,305 | Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Lawrence Taylor |
| 1996 | 12 | 18,853 | Bret Hart (c) vs. Shawn Michaels in a 60-minute Iron Man match for the WWF Title |
| 1997 | 13 | 18,197 | Sycho Sid (c) vs. The Undertaker in a No DQ match for the WWF Title |
| 1998 | 14 | 19,028 | Shawn Michaels (c) vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for the WWF Title |
| 1999 | 15 | 20,276 | The Rock (c) vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a No DQ match for the WWF Title |
| 2000 | 16 | 19,776 | Triple H (c) vs. The Rock vs. Big Show vs. Mick Foley in an Elimination match for the WWF Title |
| 2001 | 17 | 67,925 | The Rock (c) vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a No DQ match for the WWF Title |
| 2002 | 18 | 68,237 | Chris Jericho (c) vs. Triple H for the Undisputed WWF Title |
| 2003 | 19 | 54,097 | Kurt Angle (c) vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title |
| 2004 | 20 | 20,000 | Triple H (c) vs. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Title |
| 2005 | 21 | 20,193 | Triple H (c) vs. Batista for the World Heavyweight Title |
| 2006 | 22 | 17,155 | John Cena (c) vs. Triple H for the WWE Title |
| 2007 | 23 | 74,287 | John Cena (c) vs. Shawn Michaels for the WWE Title |
| 2008 | 24 | 74,635 | Edge (c) vs. The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title |
| 2009 | 25 | 72,744 | Triple H (c) vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Title |
| 2010 | 26 | 72,219 | The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels in a No DQ Streak vs. Career match |
| 2011 | 27 | 71,617 | The Miz (c) vs. John Cena for the WWE Title |
| 2012 | 28 | 78,363 | John Cena vs. The Rock |
| 2013 | 29 | 74,300 | The Rock (c) vs. John Cena for the WWE Title |
| 2014 | 30 | 60,000-65,000 | Randy Orton (c) vs. Batista vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE World Heavyweight Title |
| 2015 | 31 | 67,000 | Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Title |
| 2016 | 32 | 80,709 | Triple H (c) vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Title |
| 2017 | 33 | 64,900 | The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns in a No Holds Barred match |
| 2018 | 34 | 78,133 | Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Title |
| 2019 | 35 | 68,000–70,000 | Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Becky Lynch WWE Raw and SmackDown Women's Titles |
| 2020 | 36 | 0 | Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Title |
| 2021 | 37 | - Night 1: 17,946 - Night 2: 18,501 | - Sasha Banks (c) vs. Bianca Belair for the WWE SmackDown Women's Title - Roman Reigns (c) vs. Edge vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Universal Title |
| 2022 | 38 | - Night 1: 65,719 - Night 2: 65,653 | - Kevin Owens vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a No Holds Barred match - Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (c) for the WWE and Universal Titles |
| 2023 | 39 | - Night 1: 67,303 - Night 2: 67,553 | - The Usos (c) vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles - Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title |
| 2024 | 40 | - Night 1: 60,036 - Night 2: 60,203 | - The Rock and Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin'" Rollins - Roman Reigns (c) Cody Rhodes in a Bloodline Rules match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title |
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