We're just a few days away from WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas and WWE has been hoping to get YouTube TV subscribers to tune in through the ESPN Unlimited program and give their ratings a major shot in the arm. Unfortunately, time has run out.
According to Austin Karp of the Sports Business Journal, YouTube TV will not be synergized with ESPN Unlimited until August. Per the report, Google is dealing with tech issues related to authentication, and the issues should be resolved in time for WWE's annual SummerSlam event.
"ESPN is set to air its first WrestleMania this weekend under the new pact with WWE, but sources tell SBJ that YouTube TV subscribers will still not be able to authenticate on the ESPN app in time for the event. Google is working through tech issues related to the authentication, sources added, and there remains an expectation that the problems should be solved ahead of SummerSlam," Karp reported.
Bad Deal?
The Disney-YouTube TV deal that was struck in November 2025 and ended a now-infamous blackout has been nothing short of nightmarish for WWE fans in particular, who have frequently had to shell out extra money to watch their favorite events despite pledges that the deal would put an end to that.
Needless to say, there's been no shortage of outraged fan ready to take all of the parties to task over this latest snafu:
"WWE and TKO are clown organizations," one user remarked.
"Really should have a class action lawsuit against them for how long this is taking," wrote another.
"When they came to a deal with Disney did it not include ESPN Unlimited?" a third asked.
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"How hard would it be for the authentication to be turned on? No one needs it to be built into the (YouTube TV) app."
"Guess I won’t be watching Wrestlemania."
"Leaving Peacock for ESPN unlimited for WWE’s PPV rights has been a disaster."
Someone really needs to prioritize making their apps more stable before advertising and selling them as products.
