Big 12 Kicking Off Expanded Partnership with WWE This Fall

Do you smell what the Big 12 and the WWE are cooking? The Big 12 and World Wrestling Entertainment have been partners for several years, but it now appears as if they are taking their relationship to a new level.

As first reported by Chris Vannini of the Athletic, the WWE’s partnership with the Power Four conference will become even more visible when the 2025 season kicks off in the fall. This will mean the WWE will hold several episodes of their Friday Night SmackDown show in Big 12 markets on the night before football games.

Sources: The Big 12 and WWE are expanding their partnership this fall. WWE will hold several episodes of Friday Night SmackDown in Big 12 markets, the night before football games.

Includes a Week 0 show in Ireland before KSU/ISU and an Orlando show before UCF/UNC. pic.twitter.com/ukrGZ23S07

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) May 29, 2025

A couple noted shows will be Week 0 in Ireland before Kansas State and Iowa State and a show in Orlando, Fla. leading up to UCF hosting Bill Belichick and North Carolina in a non conference showdown.

Starting in 2024, the WWE unveiled custom championship belts for major college programs, including WVU in the initial rotation. Arizona State then had a title belt presented to them on stage after winning the 2024 Big 12 Championship Game.

Find more coverage of the Big 12 at WV Sports Now.

For a related story, the Big 12 released the kickoff times and broadcast partners for select WVU football games.