Speculating on the Future of WWE Library Post-Peacock Deal Expiry
In a recent segment on “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Dave Meltzer delved into the intricacies of WWE’s streaming platform partnerships. While Netflix gears up to start airing “WWE Raw” in January, all eyes are on the WWE-Peacock deal, slated to end in 2026. This partnership currently houses WWE’s extensive video library, prompting questions about its future destination. Meltzer addressed the uncertainty but expressed confidence that eventually, everything would find a home on Netflix.
According to Meltzer, both NXT and WWE PLEs are under Peacock’s contract, while NXT itself is contracted to CW. This setup will likely remain until 2026, at which point a shift to Netflix could be on the horizon. Additionally, the return of “Saturday Night’s Main Event,” originally an NBC property, is expected to stay on Peacock. NBC recently acquired the broadcast rights for “WWE SmackDown,” moving the show from FOX starting in September, leading Meltzer to ponder its implications on the impending Netflix deal.
Meltzer hinted that Peacock might retain “SmackDown” due to previous ties with the show. However, once contracts end, negotiations with separate entities might lead to a shift to Netflix down the line. So, while changes may be brewing, it seems like WWE’s library will eventually find its way onto Netflix in the coming years.
