With no live sports or studio shows for the foreseeable future, ESPN is turning to WWE to help fill its programming.
Variety reports ESPN will air classic WrestleMania events beginning on Sunday, Mar. 22 with WrestleMania 30. The event will air on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.
“This unique opportunity is a byproduct of the terrific working relationship we’ve enjoyed with WWE over the years and the unprecedented circumstances we all find ourselves in,” said Burke Magnus, executive vice president, programming, ESPN, in a prepared statement. “WrestleMania is one of the most popular global events in sports and entertainment and the spectacular content it provides will be a treat for fans.”
ESPN to air encore presentations of @WWE @WrestleMania
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) March 20, 2020
-- WrestleMania 30
March 22 7 p.m. ET ESPN
-- WrestleMania 32
March 29 7 p.m. ET ESPN
-- WrestleMania 35
April 5 3 p.m. ET ESPN
More: https://t.co/nrYq8sVTpk pic.twitter.com/3pYvBKjNli
ESPN today, in collaboration with WWE, announced it is airing encore presentations of historic WrestleMania events over the next three Sundays on ESPN and streaming via the ESPN App.
The special content initiative begins this Sunday, March 22, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT with the airing of WrestleMania 30. The full schedule is below:
WrestleMania 30 (airs Sunday, March 22, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT) – from April 6, 2014
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hulk Hogan and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin kick off the 30th anniversary of The Showcase of the Immortals before a record-breaking crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar attempts to end the most celebrated streak in WWE history, Undertaker’s 21 consecutive victories at WrestleMania; witness the emotional culmination of Daniel Bryan’s “Yes! movement” in a championship Triple Threat Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Title against Randy Orton and Batista.
WrestleMania 32 (airs Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT) – from April 3, 2016
The largest crowd in WWE history filled Jerry World at AT&T Stadium for WrestleMania 32, as more than 101,000 fans witnessed The Show of Shows. Roman Reigns takes on Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the main event; Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks in a match to crown the first-ever WWE Women’s Champion; the world famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders welcome The Rock to AT&T Stadium; and Shane McMahon stuns the WWE Universe with a death-defying leap in his Hell in a Cell Match against The Undertaker.
WrestleMania 35 (airs Sunday, April 5, 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT) – from April 7, 2019
WrestleMania at MetLife Stadium features a significant moment in WWE’s Women’s Evolution as The Baddest Woman on the Planet Ronda Rousey takes on Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in a Winner Take All Triple Threat Match for the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships, marking the first time women were the main event at WrestleMania; Kofi Kingston finally gets a shot at realizing his lifelong dream of becoming WWE Champion when he takes on Daniel Bryan; and Batista faces his one-time friend and mentor Triple H in a No Holds Barred Match.
“This unique opportunity is a byproduct of the terrific working relationship we’ve enjoyed with WWE over the years and the unprecedented circumstances we all find ourselves in,” said Burke Magnus, executive vice president, programming, ESPN. “WrestleMania is one of the most popular global events in sports and entertainment and the spectacular content it provides will be a treat for fans.”“It is a privilege for us to deliver historic WrestleMania content to our world-class partners at ESPN and provide more premium programming to our fans; putting smiles on their faces particularly during this trying time,” said Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer, WWE. “We look forward to celebrating WrestleMania history with ESPN as we head into our two-night pop culture extravaganza on April 4 and 5.”
These three encore presentations will air in advance of this year’s WrestleMania. which for the first time ever will be held as a two-night event streaming on Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on WWE Network and available on pay-per-view. WrestleMania will be hosted by three-time Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski. As WWE previously announced, only essential personnel will be on closed sets at multiple locations, including WWE's training facility in Orlando, during the production of WrestleMania.
WrestleMania 36 is scheduled to take place across two nights, beginning on Apr. 4 and finishing on Apr. 5. The event will be shot at multiple locations on a closed set with Rob Gronkowski serving as the host for both nights.
