WWE Just Handed The CW Its Biggest Wrestling Move Yet: 20 Straight NXT Premium Live Events Starting This Summer

WWE dropped a bomb on Tuesday that's going to reshape how wrestling fans consume NXT. The company just inked a major deal with The CW to broadcast all NXT premium live events exclusively on the network going forward. We're talking about the next 20 PLEs over the next several years, all airing live and simultaneous across the country. This isn't some behind-a-paywall streaming thing either. This is broadcast television.

The Great American Bash this summer kicks off the whole thing, which means NXT's biggest moments are about to hit primetime on a network millions of people already have. Think about that for a second. NXT premium live events have never been on broadcast television before. Ever. The CW is getting the exclusive rights to all of them, which is a serious power move in the wrestling space.

The CW Is Betting Big on NXT's Momentum

Here's the thing: The CW already airs the weekly NXT show every Tuesday night. Now they're doubling down by adding the premium live events to their schedule. Brad Schwartz, president of The CW, basically said this was the natural next step. "WWE NXT has energized our Tuesday nights by consistently delivering a loyal and passionate fanbase to The CW every week," Schwartz said. "Adding WWE NXT Premium Live Events to our schedule is a natural fit, providing one broadcast destination for audiences to watch all their favorite Superstars, storylines and championship matches."

The weekly NXT show has been running since 2012, and The CW signed on to broadcast it less than two years ago as part of a five-year deal that locked in back in October 2024. This premium live event deal builds on top of that commitment, giving fans everything they need in one place.

NXT's Rising Star Power Gets a Platform

The whole point of NXT is to showcase WWE's hottest up-and-coming talent, and this deal gives those Superstars a massive stage. Shawn Michaels, WWE senior vice president of talent development creative, made that clear in his statement. "The CW has played an integral role in raising the profile of our up-and-coming Superstars, and we are excited to bring NXT Premium Live Events to broadcast television for the first time ever."

Wrestling fans in the Pacific Northwest are about to have easier access to the next generation of WWE stars. No premium subscription needed. Just turn on The CW and catch the action.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.