Network reportedly pushed for more exclusive Night of Champions matches
Summary
– ESPN reportedly influenced WWE Night of Champions by pushing for a larger match card
– Dave Meltzer noted ESPN wanted enough exclusive matches to help sell ESPN Unlimited subscriptions
– The report suggests ESPN has become an active creative partner for WWE premium live events
ESPN’s role with WWE premium live events appears to go beyond simply carrying the broadcast.
Dave Meltzer reported through the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE Night of Champions featured six matches, partly because ESPN wanted more exclusive content behind the paywall. The goal was to give ESPN Unlimited subscribers enough value while encouraging non-subscribers to sign up.
WrestleVotes first reported that the show grew from five matches to six due to ESPN’s interest. Meltzer later noted that the claim was largely confirmed and added that ESPN has not been a silent partner since joining WWE’s premium live event business.
That detail may matter more than the extra match itself. ESPN is reportedly offering ideas and looking for ways to shape how WWE presents major events on its platform.
Night of Champions already had several major results, including Sami Zayn winning the Undisputed WWE Championship, Oba Femi and IYO SKY winning their tournament finals, and Seth Rollins defeating Bron Breakker in a Steel Cage match.
The bigger takeaway is that WWE’s new media partner may have a real voice behind the scenes. Fans could see more cards shaped by subscription value as ESPN continues to work closely with WWE.
