The WWE Universe recently announced its agreement with ESPN, signing a five-year, $1.6 billion deal for the platform.
Starting from 2026, all WWE Premium Live Events will move exclusively to ESPN’s new streaming service 2026.
Following this latest agreement, the newly formed Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes was seen on the ESPN SportsCenter with Matt Barrie to discuss the details.
Wednesday, @CodyRhodes joins @SportsCenter to discuss @WWE's landmark agreement – making ESPN the exclusive U.S. home of all Premium Live Events starting in 2026
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) August 6, 2025
💥 Noon & 6p ET | ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/nVNSNsSEW0
During his time with Matt at the SportCenter, Rhodes talked about the excitement of the ESPN and WWE Collab and the potential future for both platforms.
Now, only about the news, but Matt and Cody also talked about the SummerSlam matches, and John Cena‘s legendary impact on WWE.
While reflecting on the SummerSlam Match with Cena, Cody on the SportCenter said;
I’d say it was pretty apt in that match with just some incredible bumps. To see John go at the pace he went at this point in his career, really just leaving his mark behind. this final run with him is is really really special.
As per Cody Rhodes, being part of John Cena’s Retirement tour was a highlight for him; he felt pretty special to be a part of his final days in WWE.
During his time with ESPN journalist Matt, he continued to reflect on John’s impact in WWE, saying;
Well, I think over the weekend, one of the special things with John is John was with WWE, the face of WWE, the quarterback of it all throughout a period of time where things like this weren’t happening. And he really just carried it almost through the wilderness. And now the fact that he can be there when we’re doing our first twoight SummerSlam, when a few days later we’re announcing this wonderful connection with ESPN, I’m glad he gets to see all that because he always put it all in his hands. And for him to be able to know, hey, it’s okay. They’re growing. It’s getting even bigger and I can I can walk away at peace is a great thing for someone like him for all that he did tonight.
In his time with the ESPN journalist, Cody Rhodes expressed a lot of things. The most exciting was his respect for the 17-time world champion John Cena.
Lastly, Cody was seen to be quite excited about the WWE journey through ESPN streaming services, as he was happy about the main events like WrestleMania and Royal Rumble finally getting the sports platform they deserved from the beginning.