First Hour of WrestleMania 42 to Air on ESPN Networks

WWE pay-per-view event to be broadcast live on ESPN for the first time

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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WWE has announced that the first hour of WrestleMania 42 on both Saturday and Sunday will air live on ESPN2 and ESPN respectively. This marks the first time a WWE pay-per-view event will be broadcast live on ESPN television, as WWE pay-per-view events typically stream on ESPN Unlimited.

Why it matters

This move to air a portion of WrestleMania on ESPN's linear television networks represents a significant partnership between WWE and ESPN, allowing the wrestling event to reach a wider audience beyond just the WWE Network and streaming platforms.

The details

WrestleMania 42 is scheduled to take place on April 18-19, 2026 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. So far, two matches have been confirmed for the event: Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer for the WWE Women's World Championship. Additionally, musician Jelly Roll, who made his WWE in-ring debut at SummerSlam in 2025, is set to appear on the broadcast.

  • WrestleMania 42 will take place on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, 2026.
  • The first hour of WrestleMania 42 on Saturday will air live on ESPN2.
  • The first hour of WrestleMania 42 on Sunday will air live on ESPN.

The players

Roman Reigns

A professional wrestler signed to WWE, currently the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

CM Punk

A professional wrestler and former WWE Champion who is challenging Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42.

Liv Morgan

A professional wrestler signed to WWE, currently the WWE Women's World Champion.

Stephanie Vaquer

A professional wrestler challenging Liv Morgan for the WWE Women's World Championship at WrestleMania 42.

Jelly Roll

A Grammy Award-winning musician who made his WWE in-ring debut at SummerSlam in 2025 and is set to appear on the WrestleMania 42 broadcast.

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What’s next

Fans will need to tune in to ESPN2 on Saturday and ESPN on Sunday to catch the first hour of WrestleMania 42 live, as this marks the first time a portion of a WWE pay-per-view event will air on ESPN's linear television networks.

The takeaway

The decision to air a portion of WrestleMania 42 on ESPN's main television channels represents a significant partnership between WWE and ESPN, allowing the wrestling event to reach a wider audience beyond just dedicated WWE fans and streaming platforms. This move could help introduce the WWE product to new viewers and further expand the sport's mainstream popularity.