TKO President Mark Shapiro Says WWE Elimination Chamber Viewership Rose Significantly

TKO Group Holdings President Mark Shapiro says early data shows “significant” audience growth for WWE premium live events under the new ESPN distribution model. Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, Shapiro pointed to an increase in viewership for WWE Elimination Chamber compared to September’s Wrestlepalooza, which launched the current ESPN partnership.

Elimination Chamber streamed in the United States on the ESPN App through the ESPN Unlimited tier, part of a five-year agreement that made the platform the home for WWE’s main roster premium live events. While ESPN has not publicly released official viewership totals, Shapiro described the numbers as encouraging. He noted that WWE President Nick Khan was sharing hourly updates during the event weekend (via Fightful).

“We saw a significant increase in audience from the first event, which was Wrestlepalooza. They’re already making strides. Are they where Netflix was and where Peacock was? Not yet, but I’m super encouraged by the numbers Nick Khan was sending me by the hour this past weekend,” Shapiro said at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference.

Shapiro acknowledged that the new distribution model comes with transitional challenges. He cited the $29.99 price point for ESPN Unlimited could be “prohibitive” for some fans. He also referenced limited availability through major streaming distributors such as YouTube TV and Dish.

Internationally, WWE premium live events continue to stream on Netflix, creating a dual-platform distribution structure. In the U.S., ESPN Unlimited now anchors WWE’s streaming strategy.

The Top 10 Moments from Elimination Chamber! 🙌

Presented by @USAFrecruiting #AIMHIGH#WWETop10 ▶️ https://t.co/Obh2JdqH0V pic.twitter.com/wcWDNG1UJV

— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2026