The presentation of WrestleMania 42 is set to feature a massive new broadcast strategy. During the latest episode of SmackDown, WWE officially announced that the opening portions of their biggest event of the year will air on traditional cable television via ESPN’s network of channels.
Unprecedented Cable Exposure for the “Show of Shows”
According to the announcement, the first hour of WrestleMania 42 Night One, scheduled for April 18, will be broadcast live on ESPN 2. The following evening, the first hour of Night Two will air on the flagship ESPN network. For fans in the United States wishing to watch the complete, unedited events, both nights will stream in full exclusively on the ESPN Unlimited platform, while international audiences will access the shows via Netflix.
This strategic broadcast plan represents an expansion of the partnership between WWE and ESPN that initiated last September when Wrestlepalooza became the first premium live event to stream on ESPN Unlimited. The relationship continued to grow when a specially condensed version of the 2026 Royal Rumble aired on ESPN television just last weekend. To accommodate the growing streaming demand, ESPN Unlimited became available for Xfinity users this week and is slated to launch for YouTube TV subscribers later in the fall.
The card for the Las Vegas spectacle at Allegiant Stadium is already shaping up to be historic. Confirmed marquee matchups include CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns, and Drew McIntyre putting his WWE Championship on the line against the winner of the Men’s Elimination Chamber. The women’s division will see Stephanie Vaquer defend her World Championship against Liv Morgan, while Jade Cargill awaits the victor of the Women’s Elimination Chamber. Furthermore, the legendary Brock Lesnar has issued an open challenge for the event.