WWE content is coming to the main ESPN broadcast channel this weekend. WrestleVotes Radio reports that ESPN will air a condensed version of the 2026 Royal Rumble this Sunday, February 22. The decision is part of a broader effort to promote upcoming WWE Premium Live Events and allows ESPN to evaluate viewership data for an over-the-air presentation of the product.
The 2026 Royal Rumble originally aired on ESPN Unlimited on January 31, live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Under the current domestic rights agreement, all WWE Premium Live Events air on the ESPN Unlimited streaming service in the United States. This Sunday’s broadcast marks a rare instance of a major event being showcased on the primary cable network.
The event was headlined by Roman Reigns and Liv Morgan winning their respective Royal Rumble matches to punch their tickets to WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. The show also featured the debut of Royce Keys, who made a name as Powerhouse Hobbs in AEW, AJ Styles’ WWE retirement match, and a successful Undisputed WWE Title defense by Drew McIntyre against Sami Zayn
ESPN and TKO Group Holdings have been working closer together since the merger of WWE and UFC. The 2026 Royal Rumble reportedly had the highest domestic viewership in the event’s history.
Current plans for the broadcast involve a two-hour window to showcase the key highlights and finishes from the nearly four-hour event. This serves as a way to raise awareness of the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event, which takes place next Saturday, February 28, in Chicago.
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