EXCLUSIVE: Wrestling fans are set to get a new round of bouts to watch on streaming after Billy Corgan’s National Wrestling Alliance struck a deal with Roku.
The deal will see matches airing on The Roku Channel in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, starting on July 29.
It marks the first significant first-run deal for the association in more than 25 years.
The league was originally founded in 1948 by wrestling promoters Paul “Pinkie” George, Al Haft, Tony Stecher, Harry Light, Orville Brown, Don Owen and Sam Muchnick as a way to consolidate the championships of a number of regional companies into one.
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Corgan, a big wrestling fan, bought the league in 2017.
The move will see NWA matches streaming for free every Tuesday at 8pm ET. The NWA has expanded its programing over recently years with Ten Pounds Of Gold as well as weekly broadcasts of NWA Powerrr on The CW’s app.
It is the latest sports deal for Roku, which also airs MLB Sunday Leadoff, NBA G-League, Formula E, Pro Volleyball Federation, and Bassmaster.
“When I purchased the National Wrestling Alliance in 2017, it was understood we were inheriting the history and legacy of the most storied brand in all combat sports, so to announce today we have now partnered with the number one TV streaming platform in North America is indeed a moment to be proud of,” said Corgan. “I look forward to sharing new episodes of ‘NWA Powerrr’ with the incredible audience that Roku brings.”
“We’re thrilled to call The Roku Channel the streaming home of the National Wrestling Alliance, and as Billy and his team continue to excite audiences, we look forward to tapping into the scale of our platform to bring this historic and storied promotion to millions of viewers,” added Joe Franzetta, Head of Sports, Roku Media.
The Streaming Wars is intentionally ad-free
We don’t run display ads. Not because we can’t, but because we don’t believe in them.
They interrupt the reading experience. They cheapen the work. And they burn advertisers’ money on impressions nobody actually wants.
So we chose a different model.
We say the things people in this industry are already thinking but don’t say out loud. We connect the dots beyond the headline and focus on explaining why things matter to the people working in this business.
If you believe industry coverage can exist without clutter and interruption, you can support it here → SUPPORT TSW.
Support is optional. But it directly funds research and continued coverage — and helps prove this model can work.
Support TSW →
