WWE Raw will officially enter a new era in January 2025 when the flagship show moves to Netflix.
After more than 30 years on the air, WWE Raw will become an exclusive streaming property worldwide as the show will be broadcast on Netflix in multiple markets. While previous years have seen multiple international networks gain exclusive rights to Raw, this will be the first time that the show will be streamlined internationally. Additionally, fans outside the United States will see SmackDown, NXT and Premium Live Events included as part of their subscription.
With fans still having many questions about what will happen next year, here is everything known about the switch based on official releases and reports.
When Will WWE Raw Move To Netflix?
The all-important first episode of Raw on Netflix will air on January 6th at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles California. However, as seen on the Netflix app, classic content will be available to stream from January 1st ahead of the debut episode. As has been the case over the past 30 years, new episodes will air on Netflix every Monday and will continue to do so for at least the next 5 years based on the current agreement.
What Time Will The Show Air?
As has been the case with previous shows, Raw will air at 8 pm East Coast time in the United States. However, in one of many changes expected for the Raw, the show will air at 8 pm local time regardless of where the show will air. This means that the upcoming Raw taping in London in March 2025 will be broadcast live at 8 pm as opposed to being taped ahead of time and airing at 1 am UK time. For viewers in the United States, that episode of Raw will air at 3 pm on the East Coast and 12 noon on the West Coast. The show will be available on demand immediately after the show ends.
How Long Will WWE Raw Episodes Be?
Although Raw has been 2 hours since October, the show is expected to be back to its regular runtime of 3 hours in January. However, unlike previous network Raws that saw a strict 3 hour limit, there is expected to be some leeway the side of that 3 hour time limit. Much like 1 hour Netflix shows range from 55 to 65 minutes, Raw could range from just under to just over 3 hours depending on the story that is required to tell.
What’s Happening With Commercial Breaks?
So this one is not quite as straightforward as fans and WWE has a different definition of what a commercial break is. As has been seen on “commercial-free” WWE shows in the past, promotional videos for WWE Shop and upcoming events have been broadcast, which are technically ads for the show and services. For those on ad-free Netflix tiers, this is expected to continue to break up the show and allow the crew to make adjustments for talk show segments or set up stipulation matches. In terms of adverts in between matches, this is likely set to come to an end. Previous press releases have noted that those on the tier with ads will see a similar experience to what is currently seen on network TV. For those on the ad-free tier, that portion of the match is expected to be slowed down and with reduced action. For anyone who has watched a picture-in-picture ad break, they will be aware that the portion of the match that takes place during the ad break is not the most exciting.
Will The Rock Be On The Debut WWE Raw On Netflix?
Given the importance of the January 6th show, fans are expecting WWE to load up the card to make the show as big time as possible. While John Cena, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes have all been advertised ahead of time, fans are still expecting some surprises such as the return of Becky Lynch or even The Rock making his return following his cameo appearance at Bad Blood. However, despite the rumours and fan wishes, there has been no official word that The Rock will be appearing at the show.
What Will The Age Rating Be?
The big question on many fans’ minds ahead of the switch. With Netflix known for producing more adult-orientated content and with some fans frustrated at the PG presentation, there has been some speculation that the show would revert back to TV-14 and produce edgier content in the process. However, at a recent media event at Netflix HQ, Triple H confirmed that the show would remain family-friendly.
What’s Happening Outside The United States?
As previously mentioned, fans in markets such as the UK and Canada will see Raw, SmackDown, NXT and Premium Live Events all available to stream on the platform moving forward. While the WWE content being included on Netflix for no extra cost has been welcomed, this does mean the end of the WWE Network, which has been the home for content for the past decade. Subscribers have been informed that the service will close down on January 1st.
What’s Being Moved From The WWE Network To Netflix?
Ahead of the switch, past shows have started to appear on the Netflix app. While some shows such as SummerSlam will drop on January 1st, others are advertised to appear later in the year. Based on app searches, just about every WWE PPV looks to be coming to the app, but there are some uncertainties that won’t be known until the launch. For example, some shows are missing from the line up, including Money in the Bank. Unfortunately, there is some bad news for those who love the classic content as all WCW and territory shows will not be moved over based on current searches. For ECW fans, only the WWE produced PPVs will make their way over, meaning that fans will miss out on Bash at the Beach and Starrcade, but they will get One Night Stand and December to Dismember. Documentaries and talk shows also appear to be not moving over, but many documentaries have been uploaded to the WWE Vault YouTube channel and it appears there will be more to come.
Featured image: WWE
