WWE reverses streaming policy, allowing its stars to return to Twitch

The WWE is letting its personalities back onto Twitch. The wrestling media company has reportedly reached a deal that will permit its stars to stream on the Amazon-owned service.

Several WWE wrestlers have established themselves as popular creators and streamers. Xavier Woods shares his video game adventures with millions of subscribers on the UpUpDownDown channel, while the WWE star formerly known as Paige reaches more than 230,000 followers on her Twitch account (where she uses her real-life first name Saraya).

Those wrestlers were forced to adjust their creative careers when the WWE prohibited all Twitch activity from members of its talent roster. At the time, WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon sent a letter to wrestlers in which he described their streams as “detrimental” to his company. “I understand if they’re like, ‘you’re wrestling every day and doing shows every day,’ but I’m an injured wrestler,” Saraya said in response to the decision. “Twitch was my escape.”

Saraya stopped using the in-ring pseudonym Paige after moving from the WWE to AEW in 2022.

Two years after enacting its Twitch prohibition, the WWE has reversed course. According to wrestling publication Fightful Select

, the WWE and Twitch have come to an agreement. Revenue will be split three ways, and wrestlers will not be able to stream with talent from other companies unless they get the WWE’s approval first.

“I can’t wait to be able to stream with all of you again!” wrote WWE star Zelina Vega (pictured above) on Twitter. “Now, not only can you see every EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT on SMACKDOWN…but a #Twitch screen coming soon!” Vega reaches about 82,000 followers on Twitch.

As professional wrestlers elbow-drop their way into the creator economy, other personalities are moving in the opposite direction. Specifically, Logan Paul recently re-upped his contract with WWE after making his official debut for the organization a year prior.

The WWE also maintains its own channels across major social platforms. It has a particularly big presence on YouTube, where it regularly cracks out U.S. Top 50 charts. Its following on Twitch is comparatively modest, but the wrestling org seems primed for a big push into the streaming world.