WWE’s Netflix debut is fast approaching, and a new report has uncovered just how big of a splash the company plans to make from the off.
Come the new year, viewers in the U.S. will see WWE’s flagship weekly television show, Monday Night Raw, aired on the streaming platform, moving it away from linear TV for the first time in its 30-plus-year history.
The Rock is back in WWE just months shy of the company’s switch to NetflixWWE
Netflix will also be the exclusive home of major shows like WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series come 2025, with the overall deal thought to be worth in excess of an eye-watering $5b.
Here in the UK the switch is even more significant – all of WWE’s programming will move over to the streaming giant, with Raw joined by SmackDown and other top wrestling shows.
It brings to an end the deal WWE enjoyed with BT Sport and, prior to that, Sky Sports, who previously carried the company’s exploits for decades.
Reflecting the mammoth significance of the deal, Mark Shapiro – president of WWE’s parent company, TKO – said: “This deal is transformative.
“It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years.
“Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”
There has already been plenty of speculation as to what WWE will look like moving forward. Many fans expect a more raw, edgier product akin to the Attitude Era, although Head of Creative Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has since dampened those expectations a little.
Now, a new report from Fightful has confirmed the company is looking to hit the ground running with its new broadcast partner, and is aiming to make the first edition of Raw one on a par with a blockbuster pay-per-view.
Sean Ross Sapp of the outlet noted via ‘a longtime WWE employee’ that: “The show is likely to be one of the biggest episodes of Raw in history.
“They cited that Netflix could end up being one of the biggest deals in the history of the company. The way that sources within WWE described to Fightful was that it was being talked about early on as being of the quality of a PLE.”[WWE’s term for a pay per view event].
Logan Paul has made no secret of his desire to make big waves in WWE in 2025WWE
John Cena will kick off his WWE retirement year with an appearance on NetflixWWE
Sapp would go on to say: “WWE views the move to Netflix as their next leap in popularity, we’re told. While we haven’t been told of specific plans, WWE sources had indicated to expect a major show. It was said to expect talent from Smackdown booked for the show as well, though that hasn’t been factored in yet.”
Though the report gave no further names, given the cameos made by megastars at previous such shows, it’s no major leap to consider whether the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker and Bret Hart could be among those to feature. The Rock is also a strong contender given his recent WWE return, in addition to WWE’s regular stars of today like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns and a Logan Paul.
One name definitely slated to be a part of the Netflix magashow is John Cena, who begins his final year in WWE in 2025 before hanging up his jorts.
Cena was adamant he’d be a part of the epic, telling Complex: “I can tell you I’ll be there for the debut… it’s a history-making day for WWE.
“I’m so very proud of WWE. Man, I’m such a fan of the merger. I love the two companies, WWE and Netflix, and it’s an event that I will not miss. I will be there.”
WWE’s first Monday Night Raw on Netflix will take place on January 6th.
