In January 2024, WWE programming announced ambitions to expand their content internationally, planning to move Monday Night Raw from traditional television to Netflix via mxdwn. “As part of WWE’s hopes to reach international audiences, their Bash in Berlin live event took place on August 31, 2024. According to Comicbook.com, wrestler Cody Rhodes (Arrow, WWE Smackdown!) announced that fans should anticipate Monday, January 6, 2025, for Monday Night Raw’s move to Netflix, as WWE previously announced the change to take place sometime in January.
According to Comicbook.com, WWE president Nick Khan (WrestleMania XL, WrestleMania XL: Behind the Curtain) praised their move to Netflix by saying, “In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling. We believe Netflix, as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands, is the ideal long-term home for Raw’s live, loyal, and ever-growing fan base.”
Additionally, president and COO of WWE parent company TKO Mark Shapiro (Valkyrie, This Happened) commented, “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” via mxdwn.
Bela Bajaria, the Chief Content Officer at the streamer, shares her enthusiasm for the deal between WWE and Netflix. Bajaria said, “We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix. By combining our reach, recommendations and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE” via mxdwn.
Monday Night Raw’s move to Netflix is only one change WWE is making. According to Comicbook.com, WWE SmackDown will move to the USA Network in September.