WWE’s Premium Live Events have become known for featuring smaller match cards in recent years, but a new report suggests one of the company’s broadcast partners would like to see more action included on future shows.
According to WrestleVotes via Fightful Select, ESPN requested that WWE add more matches to Night of Champions, which took place last month in Saudi Arabia. The report states that ESPN wanted the event’s main broadcast to feature six matches, leading WWE to expand the card beyond the four- and five-match format that has become common for many PLEs.
The request reportedly focused on the paid portion of the broadcast, not the free first hour that airs on ESPN before the main show begins.
Night of Champions ultimately featured six matches on the main card, making it one of the more stacked PLE lineups WWE has presented this year. The event included both the men’s and women’s King of the Ring tournament finals, several championship matches, and a historic main event that saw Sami Zayn capture the Undisputed WWE Championship for the first time in his career.
The report is notable because WWE has largely moved away from lengthy PLE cards outside of its biggest annual events. In 2026, only Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, Backlash, and Clash in Italy featured between four and five matches, while WrestleMania and Night of Champions were the only events to include six or more bouts.
Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber traditionally dedicate significant portions of their runtime to the signature matches that give the events their names, which naturally limits the number of additional contests that can be featured. However, WWE’s overall trend toward shorter cards has been a noticeable shift compared to previous eras.
The report could indicate that ESPN sees value in presenting more matches during the premium portion of WWE events, particularly as the partnership between the two companies continues to grow.
Over the last year, WWE and ESPN have worked closely together on a variety of promotional initiatives. Numerous WWE stars have appeared across ESPN programming to promote upcoming events, while crossover appearances have become increasingly common. One recent example saw Danhausen become involved in ESPN coverage surrounding the New York Knicks’ NBA Championship pursuit.
It remains to be seen whether WWE will continue expanding its PLE cards moving forward, but if ESPN’s request carries weight, fans could see more matches featured on future premium live event broadcasts.
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