Mark Shapiro says the companies are exploring ways to bring their family audiences together.
Summary
– WWE and Disney are discussing special events for 2027
– Mark Shapiro believes the companies share a strong family audience
– No event names, dates, or formats have been announced
WWE and The Walt Disney Company could expand their relationship in 2027 through a series of special events.
TKO President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro revealed the discussions during the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology Conference on September 8.
Shapiro made the comments while discussing WWE’s advertising and sponsorship business. Revenue in that area was down year over year, which he attributed partly to WWE holding more events outside the United States.
Despite the decline, Shapiro said he expects WWE’s advertising and sponsorship revenue to finish the year approximately 20 percent higher than the previous year.
The TKO executive then revealed that WWE is working with Disney on possible events for 2027. Shapiro said both companies appeal heavily to families and could benefit from bringing those audiences together.
No details were provided about what the special events could include. Neither WWE nor Disney has announced any names, dates, locations, or broadcast plans.
The discussions come as WWE continues its media partnership with Disney-owned ESPN. Under the five-year agreement, WWE’s main-roster premium live events stream domestically through ESPN Unlimited.
Shapiro also addressed WWE’s early viewership on the platform. He expects the numbers to improve as ESPN Unlimited becomes available to more customers through existing television subscriptions.
YouTube TV subscribers now have access to ESPN Unlimited as part of the platform’s agreement with Disney. That expansion gives more viewers direct access to WWE premium live events without requiring a separate subscription.
The nature of the proposed Disney and WWE events remains unknown. They could involve programming, live attractions, or promotional crossovers, but Shapiro did not confirm any particular format.
For now, the discussions show that WWE and Disney are interested in expanding beyond their existing ESPN agreement and finding additional ways to reach families in 2027.
