Jeanie Buss To Take Bigger On-Screen Role For WOW Season 5

Jeanie Buss is stepping in front of the cameras for WOW Women of Wrestling. The co-owner and promoter of the all-women’s promotion will take on an expanded on-screen presence when the promotion’s fifth season begins broadcasting live from Downtown Live in Los Angeles.

Buss, best known as the controlling owner and governor of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, has been part of WOW’s ownership group for years, but her move to a regular on-camera role marks a notable shift for the company. In comments tied to the announcement, Buss described the upcoming season as personal for her in a new way, signaling that fans should expect her to be a visible part of the show’s presentation rather than strictly a behind-the-scenes figure.

WOW Women of Wrestling has carved out a unique lane in the industry, built around a colorful, character-driven presentation that traces back to its original run in the early 2000s before its modern relaunch. The promotion has leaned into live event production and syndicated television as a way to differentiate itself from the bigger national players, and putting a recognizable name and face like Buss’s into the on-air mix fits that strategy. Her profile as a prominent sports executive gives WOW a mainstream hook that few independent wrestling companies can claim, and it suggests the promotion wants to lean into that credibility as it pushes for a higher industry profile.

The timing is worth watching, too. Women’s wrestling has never had more visibility across the wider landscape, with WWE and AEW both building marquee women’s divisions and NJPW STRONG, STARDOM and other companies expanding their footprint in North America. A promotion like WOW occupies different creative territory than those companies, but a bigger spotlight on ownership can still help raise its visibility with fans who might not otherwise be tuning in. Filming live from Downtown Los Angeles also puts WOW in a major media market, giving the company a chance to draw local crowds and additional press attention as season five gets underway.

It remains to be seen exactly what form Buss’s increased role will take — whether she’ll be doing color commentary, appearing in storyline segments, or serving some hybrid authority-figure function familiar to wrestling audiences. But her willingness to step into the spotlight suggests WOW’s ownership sees this season as a chance to raise the promotion’s public profile beyond its existing fanbase.

More details on WOW season five, including a premiere date and full creative direction, are expected to follow as the promotion ramps up promotion for its Los Angeles broadcasts. For now, the headline is clear: one of the more recognizable names in North American sports ownership is about to become a familiar face on WOW’s screen presentation, and the promotion is banking on that crossover appeal to help the new season stand out.