Report: ESPN dropped letter grades from PLE reviews after WWE objections
WWE seems to have influenced ESPN to drop letter grades from their PLE reviews.
Post Wrestling reported that multiple sources had confirmed to them that ESPN dropped letter grades after the company objected to them. This story originated in last week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, with Dave Meltzer reporting that someone on WWE’s side had gotten the grades “killed.”
It was also mentioned that “one source with knowledge of ESPN’s approach” said that the decision to drop letter grades was something that ESPN did on their own and WWE didn’t request the change. When pressed, the source provided no further details. Both ESPN and WWE declined to issue a statement for Post Wrestling’s report.
WWE and ESPN officially began their relationship back in September when Wrestlepalooza aired on the network’s Unlimited streaming service. Following the show, ESPN writer Andreas Hale gave the show a C, creating a stir online. After giving Crown Jewel a B, the grades were dropped.
ESPN’s networks will air one hour from both days of WrestleMania 42 next month, and will stream in full on ESPN Unlimited in the United States.
Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.