August 12, 2025

ESPN Buys WWE PLEs: What It REALLY Means for Wrestling Fans & the Biz | Coach & Bro August 7th

53 minutes

Full Podcast Summary / Notes (Timestamped):

00:00 – 00:03 – Opening Banter

Coach introduces the special “emergency” episode, sets the scene for why this is a must-see, and teases big news from co-host Vince Russo.

00:03 – 00:12 – Behind-the-Scenes Fun & “Castrating the Marks”

Vince surprises Coach with the revelation that Coach's infamous Tajiri mist-selling clip was on "Castrating the Marks."

Coach recalls the backstory of filming the segment, and both discuss the importance of entertainment in wrestling.

00:12 – 00:29 – Super Stickers, Live Shows, & Audience Engagement

Coach explains live show schedule changes, huge growth in audience numbers, and new policies for super sticker shoutouts.

00:29 – 00:39 – ESPN’s Mega Deal: The Facts

Coach reveals he’s technically part of the new ESPN deal through his projects and gives the rundown:

Starting August 21, ESPN will offer a $30/month app featuring WWE PLEs, amounting to $516/year for hardcore fans.

Debate on fan willingness to pay, value perceptions, and business motivations.

00:39 – 00:55 – Who Really Wins? The Fan or the Biz?

Vince emphasizes that the move is pure business: maximize revenue, no company ever thinks they’ve made “enough.”

Coach dives deep into the cable vs. app landscape, challenging “access” messaging and warning fans about misleading terms.

00:55 – 01:25 – Strategic Content Moves: WWE, Streaming, & the Future

Discussion of ESPN’s likely approach: exclusive PLE content, library moves (“the Vault”), Peacock hiking prices, and the coming battles between platforms for wrestling eyeballs.

01:25 – 01:45 – Fan Reaction, Value, and FOMO

Addressing fans who feel priced out. They calculate annual spending, reference detractors who threaten to leave—but always come back for big events.

Elaborate on how streaming providers manipulate consumer habits and revenues.

01:45 – 02:23 – The Rock’s Mystery Absence & Backstage Politics

Deep dive on Paul Heyman’s Ariel Helwani interview: evasive answers about The Rock at WrestleMania, the real power dynamics, and whether booking can ever be planned years in advance.

Vince and Coach discuss wrestling “politics,” the creative chaos that comes with injuries and power plays, and why Heyman is the ultimate survivor in WWE.

02:23 – 02:52 – How the Big Money Actually Gets Split

Who really benefits from the ESPN and Netflix deals?

Coach advocates for a trickle-down approach: should WWE talent and staff receive bonuses?

Vince ponders whether AEW could capitalize if WWE talent get underpaid.

UFC pay structures discussed by Coach, with a comparison to WWE salaries—major reality check on earnings for top-to-mid level wrestlers and fighters.

02:52 – 03:00 – Closing Thoughts & What’s Next

Teasers for upcoming live shows, thanks to an interactive audience, and reminders of the ever-changing landscape in sports entertainment business.

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By Bleav

4.3

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