WWE kicks off Netflix era with return of big stars

WWE has officially launched its new era by bringing its flagship show, Raw, to Netflix. This exciting event took place in Los Angeles and featured the return of several iconic wrestlers, including John Cena, The Rock, and The Undertaker. Fans were thrilled to see these big names back in action during the three-hour event. For over three decades, Raw was broadcasted on traditional television, but now it has transitioned to a streaming-only format. This change came after WWE merged with UFC to form a new company called TKO. It is reported that Raw attracts around 17. 5 million viewers each week in the United States, and WWE boasts an impressive one billion followers across various social media platforms. The initial reviews of the first show on Netflix were mixed; while some viewers noted that there were many special moments, others criticized the repetitive nature of the promos delivered by stars like Triple H, The Rock, and John Cena. The in-ring action received praise, but there was a notable moment when Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan was met with loud boos from the California crowd during his appearance. The show also marked the beginning of John Cena's farewell tour, as he announced that 2025 would be his final year in the ring. Cena is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, having achieved world champion status a record 16 times since joining WWE in 2001. He expressed to the cheering fans that he could not think of a better place to kick off his goodbye tour than in Los Angeles, while also stating his goal to win the Royal Rumble event scheduled for February. Fans were also delighted to see Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson return, who is now a director of TKO. The Rock, who has previously played the role of a villain, took the opportunity to discuss the significance of the night and surprised many by praising and embracing his former rival Cody Rhodes. He later appeared at the end of the Tribal Combat Match between Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, celebrating Reigns' victory. The night also featured a brief return of The Undertaker at the conclusion of the Women's World Championship match between Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley, which was the climax of a long-term storyline that saw Ripley win the championship. The action concluded with a highly praised match between CM Punk and Seth Rollins, which was recognized as the highlight of the evening's in-ring action, with Punk emerging victorious. The Undertaker made a dramatic entrance on his motorbike to support Rhea Ripley, creating a memorable moment for fans. The deal with Netflix is a significant milestone for WWE, as the streaming service agreed to pay over $5 billion for the rights to broadcast Raw and other WWE programming, including archival content. Viewers outside the United States will also have access to all weekly shows, such as SmackDown, NXT, and live events on the platform. This deal will include pay-per-view specials like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble. Initially, the agreement will impact fans in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Latin America, with plans to expand to other countries in the future. Brandon Thurston, the editor of a wrestling site called Wrestlenomics, believes that many people who use Netflix will discover WWE prominently featured on the platform, which could have a positive impact on the business. With the rise of streaming services and a decline in traditional television viewership, WWE has a unique opportunity to reach more households worldwide and attract a younger audience. The shift to streaming allows WWE to have more flexibility with their show timings, which is a significant change from the constraints of traditional TV schedules. Brandon also believes that this flexibility could influence the style of content produced, allowing for more variety from week to week. While there are many advantages to this deal, there is a potential downside in relying heavily on the streaming service. If Netflix were to experience a decline in subscribers for any reason, it could pose challenges for WWE. Nevertheless, Brandon emphasizes that WWE is currently ahead of its competitors in the streaming market, which bodes well for its future.