By: Luis Angel Perez Martinez
In today’s world, where inflation is on the rise and everything is getting expensive, professional wrestling fans have to reconsider where their money goes. When wanting to go to any show, whether it’s a concert or a theatrical performance, the cost of attending live events is at an all-time high.
This is especially true for pro wrestling fans in 2026, as most ways to watch the product involve spending money outside of cable, such as streaming subscriptions, pay-per-view events, tickets to live shows, and other exclusive content.
To briefly describe how to watch the current mainstream pro-wrestling products, such as All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), you will need access to many streaming services.
Services include Netflix for Monday Night Raw, ESPN Unlimited tier for WWE’s Premium Live Events, and Peacock for NXT Premium Live Events. This also requires basic cable to watch shows like WWE’s developmental show NXT and Friday Night SmackDown on the USA Network.
To watch AEW, you need either basic cable or HBO Max to watch their weekly shows, and if you want to watch their pay-per-views, it will cost roughly $40 on HBO Max. Altogether, the services will cost around $80 per month, not including cable.
The cost is a lot for a fan who only wants to follow one sport or entertainment product. This is one reason some fans, or people in general, may not want to continue watching, as it is a lot of money to pay for just a single type of content.
All of these changes have happened over the past six years, whereas in the 2010s, things were cheaper and simpler. The launch of the WWE Network, WWE’s streaming service at $9.99 a month, was praised for years as very affordable for consumers. At the time, the WWE Network, live event sales, and other services made up a major portion of the company’s business. But with the deals involving Netflix, NBC, Saudi Arabia, and FOX, worth billions of dollars, the main business practice has shifted to whatever billion-dollar deals they can get into.
This is all business, and everything is a business, but in this case, it affects consumers who pay a lot of money to watch a product that doesn’t guarantee the best value. The viewers are no longer the customer; we are now the consumer. From a customer’s perspective, one of the biggest issues is ticket prices to even attend these shows.
Ticket prices for wrestling shows nowadays are very high, especially for WWE shows. An example is WWE hosting Monday Night Raw at Madison Square Garden on March 31. Ticket sales for the event have not been strong, yet prices remain high.
Prices start at the very back, with a resale price of $133.55 for section 400. If fans want a closer view, it can cost upwards of $250 to more than $1000 per ticket, all for a three-hour show. Prices like these can instantly turn some fans away, yet others are still willing to buy those tickets.
Many have criticized these prices since WWE merged with the UFC to form TKO Group Holdings Inc. Ticket prices, in general, have doubled or more compared to previous years, according to Dave Clerk from Wrestlenomics.
Currently, these prices may also be pushing back against WWE’s efforts, as its biggest show of the year, WrestleMania, has not sold out or even come close to selling out, despite lowering ticket prices. Day-one prices for seats in the back of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas were about $700; now they are closer to $400.
Another reason some people may not want to attend these shows, aside from the prices, is that WWE’s product itself has not been performing strongly in weekly viewership. Some fans say they are becoming less interested in the product for various reasons, such as creative decisions and weekly shows that feel formulaic.
This differs from the alternative of AEW, which runs smaller venues with capacities of around 5,000 or more and often sells them out to create a louder atmosphere. The company itself has been growing since its start in 2019.
In terms of ticket prices, AEW’s upcoming show in New York City in late May has already sold over 8,000 tickets, with the cheapest ticket priced at around $35. Throughout its history, ticket prices have usually been around $75 per ticket for their shows. It also tends to sell well whenever they are in town.
Overall, being a pro wrestling fan in 2026 involves many financial considerations, from steep ticket prices to streaming subscriptions. It’s no longer just about being a fan; it’s about investing in the experience of being part of a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Ultimately, every fan must decide what’s truly worth it to them, whether that’s attending live shows, keeping up with weekly content, or supporting their favorite superstars. But how would you choose to spend your money as a wrestling fan? Because today, being a wrestling fan isn’t just a hobby – it’s an investment, and it’s up to you to decide what to invest in for the best experience and to show what kind of fan you are.