• WWE’s ESPN Numbers For Wrestlepalooza Revealed — Network Might Already Regret The Deal
ESPN’s deal with WWE may not be paying off as planned. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, early numbers from the ESPN Unlimited platform show that while WWE helped drive short-term subscriber growth, the financial return falls far short of justifying the network’s $325 million-per-year investment ($1.6 billion over 5 years).
The platform reportedly peaked at 2.1 million total subscribers, with Wrestlepalooza weekend accounting for an additional 100,000 to 125,000 sign-ups. However, Meltzer calculated that if each month performs at a similar level, the deal would only generate around $35 million annually in revenue – less than one-tenth of ESPN’s annual payout to WWE.
Meltzer noted that the service’s growth is misleading because the majority of ESPN’s 30 million users are bundled through cable packages and aren’t directly paying for ESPN Unlimited. That leaves only a small segment of paying WWE fans contributing real revenue. He explained that ESPN’s business model is a long-term gamble, banking on the idea that future subscriber growth will eventually cover massive short-term losses.
So far, however, the numbers suggest the strategy is unsustainable. Meltzer compared the deal to other major sports streaming investments, such as UFC’s billion-dollar partnership with Paramount and WWE’s previous Peacock deal – both of which he said resulted in heavy financial losses for the platforms, despite boosting brand visibility.
In the end, Meltzer emphasized that WWE remains the clear winner in these partnerships. The company continues to secure massive licensing deals that guarantee profit, while streaming services like ESPN shoulder the financial risk.
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• WWE Refused To Pay For Sir Mo’s Kidney Transplant
Former WWF Tag Team Champion Sir Mo (real name: Bobby Horne) has passed away at 58 after a long battle with blood infection and pneumonia. Before his death, Horne reportedly asked WWE for financial help to afford a kidney transplant, but the company turned him down.
According to Dave Meltzer, Horne needed around $30,000 for the procedure and reached out to WWE, pointing out that the company regularly offers to pay for rehab for former wrestlers. WWE declined, as its policy only covers drug rehabilitation programs, not organ transplants or cancer treatments.
Horne eventually raised the money himself and underwent the transplant, but his health continued to decline in the following years. He also battled liver issues, dialysis treatments, and severe complications from COVID-19.
Sir Mo was best known for being part of Men on a Mission with Mabel (Viscera / Big Daddy V) and Oscar in the World Wrestling Federation.
