WWE RAW on Netflix update following drastic change to the show - Reports
WWE RAW will be debuting on Netflix in 2025. The Stamford-based wrestling promotion’s premier weekly show is reportedly set to undergo a massive change later this year.
RAW is the only three-hour weekly show produced by WWE. The other two weekly shows, SmackDown and NXT, are two hours long.
However, a major change is set to hit the red brand in the coming month. RAW will be cut down to a two-hour show in the final three months of 2024.
USA Network has pushed for two-hour-long episodes of RAW starting from October 7, 2024. The change will reportedly allow the USA Network to prepare for life after the red brand as the show is set to migrate to Netflix in 2025.
PWTorch has provided a further update on what life could look like with the Monday night show on the streaming service. A report by PWTorch states that a decision on the length of the show on Netflix is not official at this time. The report states that a change of time duration on the USA Network should not have any indication of what the duration of the show would be on the streaming service.
WWE wants RAW to have a big impact on the new network in 2025. The network seems to have paid big money to TKO for broadcasting rights, and it would expect the best possible product from the show in return.
The length of each week’s show could also vary depending on the weekly content as Netflix is not a linear show. Unlike USA Network, where one show follows another, the world's largest streaming service does not have to worry about filling the same time spots.
The reported WWE RAW change could affect the build-up of major storylines ahead of its Netflix debut
The red brand will undergo a massive change in 2025 once it moves to Netflix. Monday night’s show will look to steam up some rivalries heading into the new year.
However, many superstars and storylines could be left out of weekly television following the big change on the USA Network. Two hours of programming will restrict the company from booking many upcoming superstars regularly for at least three months.
It will be interesting to see what effect the reported change could have on the company’s product heading into next year. John Cena’s return in 2025 on the red brand could prompt the show to move back to its original duration.