WWE Shifts 'Monday Night Raw' to Netflix for New Era

WWE Shifts 'Monday Night Raw' to Netflix for New Era.

Nick Khan's forecast materializes on Monday evening.

The World Wrestling Entertainment executive previously expressed during earnings calls his belief that Netflix would eventually adapt and venture into live programming, a notion that raised concerns among Netflix officials.

Nonetheless, Khan recognized the strategic hires being made by Netflix, as well as the streaming service's offerings designed to attract a diverse family audience.

One of these offerings is the WWE.

The 1,650th episode of “Monday Night Raw,” taking place at the Intuit Dome near Los Angeles, marks the official commencement of WWE's decade-long partnership with Netflix. This agreement, finalized last January, exceeds $5 billion and includes an option for Netflix to extend the partnership for an additional ten years or to withdraw after five.

“We try to appeal the WWE to all 50 states and to countries globally. We think Netflix does the same thing," said Khan, who is WWE’s president.

Netflix, boasting 282.3 million subscribers across over 190 countries, will serve as the exclusive platform for "Raw" in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Latin America, with plans to expand to additional countries in the future. A significant aspect of this partnership is that Netflix will also host all of the company's international programming, including "Smackdown" and "NXT," along with major live events such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble.

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In the United States, "Smackdown" transitioned from Fox to USA Network, while "NXT" moved from USA to the CW three months ago. Additionally, Peacock holds a contract to broadcast WWE's premium live events until March 2026.

"Raw" premiered on January 11, 1993, and has since become the longest-running weekly episodic series on television, primarily airing on USA Network, with a previous stint on Spike TV, now known as Paramount Network.

“It has great storytelling, characters along with memorable and surprising stories. And the idea of combining this kind of intense fandom with these characters and our reach globally just seemed like such a great opportunity,” said Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer. “What we also love is the multigenerational fan base. At the end of the day, we have great things that our members love and this totally delivers on all of the things that we want. And to do it 52 weeks a year is super exciting."

WWE has significantly broadened its international presence over the past year, with almost 50% of its premium live events occurring outside the United States. Additionally, the organization is set to undertake an extensive tour across Europe in March to generate excitement for WrestleMania 41, scheduled for April 19 and 20 in Las Vegas.

Khan indicated that WWE initially approached Netflix regarding its broadcasting rights in 2018; however, at that time, Netflix was not prepared to host live events. Over the past year, the streaming platform has intensified its initiatives, not only in the realm of sports but also with the release of Chris Rock's comedy special and the roast of Tom Brady.

Brandon Riegg, the vice president of nonfiction series and sports at Netflix, stated that the weekly social media engagement surrounding "Raw," along with the consistent viewership that WWE offers, made it a logical choice for collaboration when the company reached out to Netflix last year.

Riegg believes that Netflix has the potential to broaden WWE's audience in a manner similar to its success with Formula 1 and the "Drive to Survive" series.

“It really was just fitting in to the whole picture of we’re going to do these big events like the Tyson-Paul fight and the NFL on Christmas," he said. "But then throughout the year, if we can have a steady drumbeat of those amazing live moments and live action and spectacle, that’s what we’re going to get with WWE.”

Nielsen reports that the concluding episode of "Raw" on USA Network attracted an average of 1.6 million viewers, even while competing with the "Monday Night Football" game featuring the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers.

Both Khan and WWE chief content officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque have emphasized that the three-hour weekly program will not negatively impact its ratings due to its availability on a streaming platform. Historically, "Raw" was recognized for its provocative content during the late 1990s, a period referred to by WWE as the "Attitude Era," but this approach has evolved over time.

“It’s not pushing anybody away of what they want. It’s a safe place for families and everybody to be able to view. That will not change, but you don’t have to change that to expand and improve what you do,” Levesque said.

WWE's narrative and character development remain strong despite facing external challenges. Former chairman Vince McMahon stepped down last January following a lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct. In 2023, WWE was acquired by Endeavor and subsequently merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, forming TKO Group Holdings.

As reported by WWE, there were 44 sellouts for television shows and a total of 66 sellouts, which included house shows and premium live events, in 2024.

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes acknowledged the contributions of Khan and Levesque in maintaining the company's direction, as well as their decision to reduce the number of non-televised live events to prevent top talent from experiencing burnout throughout the year.

Levesque indicated that the upcoming Monday show will be comparable to a premium live event. John Cena, who plans to retire from WWE at the end of the year, is set to commence his farewell tour with three main event matches scheduled. Additionally, it would not be surprising if Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson makes a special appearance.

Roman Reigns, who is slated to participate in one of the main event matches, expressed his commitment to delivering his best performance, while also recognizing the significance of Monday night for the organization.

“There’s no hiding that this is Netflix and this is huge and this is going to be on a global platform with a lot of people watching. I’m not sure exactly what that audience is going to look like. It’s going to be crazy, I know that."

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The partnership between WWE and Netflix marks an exciting new chapter for both brands, ushering in a new era of live programming that will engage millions of fans worldwide. With WWE’s global appeal and Netflix’s massive subscriber base, this collaboration promises to expand the reach of "Monday Night Raw" and other WWE content, bringing thrilling live action to a broader audience.

The shift to Netflix not only strengthens WWE's international presence but also aligns with Netflix’s strategy to diversify its offerings. As both platforms grow together, fans can look forward to a more dynamic and accessible wrestling experience in the years ahead.