Netflix Partners with WWE for Collaborative Project
Netflix has been mulling over the concept of live-streaming shows for a while now, and it's like getting walloped with a chair - the company casually dropped the bomb that they've secured a deal to live-stream WWE Raw for the next decade.
The streaming behemoth's deal with WWE's mumbo jumbo parent company, TKO Holdings, is rumored to be worth over $5 billion, according to CNBC. Starting January 2025, Netflix will broadcast the weekly Raw show for ten years, with the option to extend it for another decade or axe the show after five years.
Raw currently airs on the USA Network for three hours every Monday night. The show has been on the network for almost its entire 31-year run, except for five years when the WWE moved the show to TNN/Spike TV, now known as the Paramount Network.
Netflix doesn't just stop at streaming WWE's flagship show. They'll also be hosting other Wrestling Entertainment shows for subscribers outside of the U.S. This includes SmackDown and NXT, along with Premium Live Events such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and the Royal Rumble. Additionally, documentaries, original series, and other projects will also be available on Netflix.
WWE confirmed that its Friday night weekly show, SmackDown, will transition to the USA Network next year. NXT, its show featuring newbies, will also move to the CW next year.
This Netflix deal seems like a Tombstone Piledriver for Peacock. The streaming service has been grappling to avoid a submission hold lately as it faces challenges in growing subscriber numbers. There have been attempts to boost subscriber numbers by airing NFL games live, but last week's playoff game of the Miami Dolphins facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs seemed to draw decent numbers. It's uncertain if this will ultimately translate into a big win for Peacock.
Interestingly, Netflix has other live-streaming ventures brewing, such as the weekly talk show, "Everybody's Live with John Mulaney," which premiered on March 12, 2025. This live series is part of Netflix's ongoing endeavor to incorporate more live programming into its selection[1][2]. As of now, no specific plans for live-streaming WWE or similar wrestling events have been announced by Netflix.
- The future of technology in the world of entertainment appears to be shifting towards live-streaming shows, with tech giant Netflix exploring this avenue for quite some time.
- In a significant move that could shape the raw landscape of streaming services, Netflix is expected to start live-streaming WWE Raw from January 2025 for a decade, as per reports from CNBC.
- As Netflix strengthens its position in the streaming market, rivals like Peacock might find it challenging to keep up, given the potential impact of the WWE deal rumored to be worth over $5 billion.
- Meanwhile, Netflix is also looking beyond the WWE deal, with plans to incorporate more live programming into its selection, such as the weekly talk show "Everybody's Live with John Mulaney," which premiered in 2025.
