WWE Main Event
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| WWE Main Event | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Vince McMahon |
| Starring |
|
| Opening theme | "I Can't Lose" by def rebel feat. Justin Starling |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 15 |
| No. of episodes | 762 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Paul Levesque Lee Fitting |
| Producer | Bruce Prichard |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera setup |
| Running time | 55 minutes (2012-2015), 30 minutes (2026-present) |
| Production company | WWE |
| Original release | |
| Network | Ion Television |
| Release | October 3, 2012 – 2014 |
| Network | Hulu |
| Release | 2012 – 2024 |
| Network | WWE.com |
| Release | 2013 – 2014 |
| Network | WWE Network[nb 1] |
| Release | 2014 – 2024 |
| Network | Peacock |
| Release | 2021 – 2025 |
| Network | YouTube |
| Release | January 8, 2026 – present |
| Related | |
WWE Main Event is an American professional wrestling streaming television program produced by WWE. Premiering on October 3, 2012, the hour-long program features mid-to-low-card wrestlers from WWE's main roster, while also occasionally featuring wrestlers from the NXT developmental brand. As of January 8, 2026, Main Event streams on YouTube in the United States.
Main Event is currently taped on Friday nights prior to WWE SmackDown. Episodes generally feature two matches (typically one men's match and one women's match). The program was initially carried by Ion Television until April 2014. It is also carried by WWE's international television partners.
The series first aired in the United States on Ion Television, originally premiering October 3, 2012 and airing on Wednesday nights. WWE considered the show to be a spiritual replacement for WWE Superstars (which previously aired on WGN America until 2011, and transitioned to WWE's digital platforms in the United States afterward). Hulu acquired rights to the series as well, as part of a larger pact that included video on-demand rights for WWE's main weekly programs.[1][2]
Ion Television dropped the series in April 2014; following the cancellation, WWE streamed a live episode of Main Event from Detroit on its then-new subscription service WWE Network. It was reported to be a stress test for live events on the service in preparation for WrestleMania XXX.[3]
Prior to November 28, 2016, Main Event was taped prior to SmackDown. Its tapings were then moved to Raw after the premiere of WWE Network's 205 Live, which was broadcast live after SmackDown from the same venue.[4]
Main Event was initially positioned as a non-branded show, featuring performers from both the Raw and SmackDown rosters.[2] Following the 2016 WWE Draft, the program became exclusive to SmackDown. After the cancellation of WWE Superstars, Main Event became exclusive to Raw.
In late-2022, under changes made by Triple H after being promoted to WWE's chief content officer, NXT wrestlers began to increasingly appear on Main Event to evaluate their performance and audience reception when performing with members of the main roster.[5][6]. At the beginning of 2026 Main Event started airing on YouTube in the United States; and on January 15 2026 Main Event changed its format, showing 2 to 3 exclusive matches in a 30 minute runtime removing the usual Raw and SmackDown highlights.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | October 3, 2012 | December 26, 2012 |
| 2 | 52 | January 2, 2013 | December 25, 2013 |
| 3 | 53 | January 1, 2014 | December 30, 2014 |
| 4 | 52 | January 6, 2015 | December 30, 2015 |
| 5 | 52 | January 6, 2016 | December 29, 2016 |
| 6 | 52 | January 5, 2017 | December 28, 2017 |
| 7 | 52 | January 4, 2018 | December 27, 2018 |
| 8 | 52 | January 3, 2019 | December 26, 2019 |
| 9 | 53 | January 2, 2020 | December 31, 2020 |
| 10 | 52 | January 7, 2021 | December 30, 2021 |
| 11 | 52 | January 6, 2022 | December 29, 2022 |
| 12 | 52 | January 5, 2023 | December 28, 2023 |
| 13 | 53 | January 4, 2024 | December 26, 2024 |
| 14 | 52 | January 2, 2025 | December 25, 2025 |
| 15 | 6 | January 1, 2026 | present |
- ^ While the WWE Network once aired new first-run episodes of the program, Peacock's WWE Network channel only aired replays of new episodes with a delay.
- ^ Graser, Marc (September 24, 2012). "Hulu Plus pacts with WWE". Variety. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- ^ a b Graser, Marc (June 25, 2012). "ION pins down 'WWE Main Event'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- ^ Harris, Keith (March 2, 2014). "Main Event moving from ION TV to the WWE Network?". Cageside Seats. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- ^ Davis, Brad (March 5, 2014). "UPDATE ON NXT & MAIN EVENT ON THE WWE NETWORK, SUMMERSLAM TRAVEL PACKAGES". SEScoops.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
- ^ Heydorn, Zack (December 21, 2022). "NXT talent appearing on Main Event strategy update". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Fight, Jonie (December 21, 2022). "NXT talent excited about WWE Main Event". Superluchas. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.