The blockbuster deal that brought WWE to ESPN was the result of a multi-year pursuit, according to ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus. The partnership’s first major outing was Wrestlepalooza, held this past Saturday.
Speaking on the SI Media Podcast, Magnus detailed his long-standing interest in WWE, noting prior attempts to secure packages such as Raw, SmackDown, and even the WWE Network. He also recalled bringing classic WrestleMania events to ESPN during the pandemic, highlighting his personal history with the brand.
Magnus, a self-professed childhood fan, described his appreciation for WWE’s entertainment value:
“When I was over in programming, I got the old WrestleManias during the pandemic to put on ESPN. I took a couple of runs at the Raw and SmackDown packages, and the WWE Network, previously. I’ve had a great appreciation of this content for a long time. This goes all the way back to when I was a kid in New Jersey. I loved it. I’m not too familiar with the storylines today, but I have a full appreciation for what they’ve built over there in terms of a great form of entertainment, and clearly, the results speak for themselves in terms of how many fans they pack in arenas and stadiums. It’s remarkable.”
This long pursuit culminated in WWE’s premium live event debut on ESPN with Wrestlepalooza, which took place September 20 in Indianapolis.
Despite executive enthusiasm, the event received mixed reviews from ESPN’s own analysts. In a post-show review published two days ago, Andreas Hale delivered a lukewarm assessment of the card.
Several marquee bouts drew heavy criticism. The opener, with Brock Lesnar dominating John Cena through multiple F-5s, scored the night’s lowest grade at C-. The highly promoted in-ring return of AJ Lee, teaming with CM Punk against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, was graded C, as was Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship defense against Drew McIntyre.
The standout match, according to Hale, was Stephanie Vaquer’s Women’s World Championship victory over Iyo Sky, which earned a B+. Hale concluded that the show felt more like setup for future events than a spectacle in its own right, echoing fan disappointment over the lack of surprises.