ESPN and the WWE

It’s seems like the WWE has developed a rather cozy relationship with ESPN (and to a smaller extent, Sports Illustrated) over the last three years or so. They’ve done multiple online and tv interviews with wrestlers, along with a couple of "30 for 30" episodes. Yet, as far as I know, ESPN has no plans to air any WWE programming on any of their channels. I know Coachman works there, but there has to be more to the relationship than that, I assume.

​It’s essentially a paid sponsorship that somehow circumvents the usual need to put "This is a paid advertisement for WWE" that you’d normally need on a serious news show, according to Dave. ​