WWE and The Walt Disney Company are working together on special events for 2027. TKO Group Holdings president and COO Mark Shapiro revealed the plans on Tuesday, September 8.
Shapiro discussed the partnership during the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco while outlining WWE’s business strategy and the value of the family audience for growing advertising and sponsorship revenue.
“Remember, WWE is a different audience than the UFC, and when it comes to going after families, that’s our audience, and I think advertisers are starting to see that. Frankly, I’m excited for 2027 because we’re working with The Walt Disney Company on some special events around Disney and WWE and bringing those two audiences together since, of course, what do they have in common? Family,” Shapiro said.
Fightful Wrestling @Fightful Follow “Remember, WWE is a different audience than the UFC, and when it comes to going after families, that’s our audience, and I think advertisers are starting to see that. Frankly, I’m excited for 2027… Show more
1:48 AM · Sep 9, 2026Shapiro didn’t share any names, dates, locations, or details on the format of the events. His comments confirm only that WWE and Disney are already working on special projects for next year, with the goal of bringing the two audiences together.
The relationship between the two companies has grown in recent years through WWE’s presence on ESPN, a Disney subsidiary. In September 2025, Wrestlepalooza kicked off a five-year deal ahead of schedule, making ESPN the exclusive home of WWE’s premium live events in the United States.
Beyond the events themselves, the partnership allows for greater WWE integration with ESPN’s programming.