As the calendar flips to a new year, the world of professional wrestling is on the cusp of a revolution. WWE RAW, the longest-running and most iconic television program in the history of the sport, is poised to undergo a transformation of monumental proportions. Beginning in January 2025, the vaunted red brand will bid adieu to the USA Network and take up residence on the vast expanse of Netflix, bringing an unprecedented level of flexibility and accessibility to fans worldwide.
For the first time in its storied history, RAW will air live, regardless of the show’s tape location. This means that fans in Europe and beyond will no longer be forced to endure frustrating tape delays, sacrificing precious moments of live wrestling action for the sake of a domestic television schedule. Instead, they will be able to watch the action unfold in real-time, just like their American counterparts. This seismic shift has sent suprisewaves through the wrestling community, leaving even the most seasoned veterans struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the change.
“RAW will be live on Netflix, no matter what time it’s being taped,” revealed a trusted source, before elaborating, “If the company is doing a show in Europe, fans will be able to stream it on Netflix at the same time. The red brand will be available live in the United States, despite any time zone differences.” The implications are staggering, rewriting the very fabric of the wrestling terrain.
This seismic shift in programming strategy is not mere embellishment; it is a harbinger of a new era, one that promises to upend decades of tradition. The tried-and-true formula of live events broadcast on a fixed schedule, dictated by the whims of broadcast networks, is being supplanted by something fresh, dynamic, and more in tune with the modern viewer’s expectations.
Triple H, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, has been instrumental in driving this change, and his enthusiasm is palpable. During an interview with Deadline, he proclaimed, “There was no doubt in my mind. As soon as that conversation happened and the first time [streaming] was brought up, in my mind, I was like, ‘Oh, my God! That’s a game changer for us.’ Not only because of the environment, like the reach and how much that can expand our base, but just look at the shows they do. Look at the things that they do and the freedom that they have within that. It’s a game changer for us.”
As the curtain rises on this brave new world, the question on everyone’s mind is: what does the future hold? Will the reverberations of this seismic shift reshape the very terrain of professional wrestling? Only time will tell. One thing is certain, however: the wrestling world will never be the same again.
