We are just weeks away from WWE Raw’s debut on Netflix. As WWE embarks on its multi-billion-dollar deal with the streaming juggernaut, all eyes will be on the promotion to get things right and kick off this new era with a strong start.
Star Power
For such a historic episode of Raw, WWE is certainly not shying away from bringing in the stars, with John Cena, Cody Rhodes, and Roman Reigns all confirmed. One name fans will also see is rap artist Travis Scott, whose role was confirmed this week alongside WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.
New Theme by Travis Scott
Not only will Scott be live at the show, but he will also provide the new theme song for the brand, so it was only fitting that ‘Cactus Jack’ was recently gifted a custom Hardcore title.
Scott’s involvement is the latest example of WWE’s ongoing momentum in appealing to the mainstream. Megan Thee Stallion and RM of BTS have provided the theme to WWE SmackDown, while Cardi B has been promoting SummerSlam 2025 with Bianca Belair.
The Netflix Effect
With over 60 million households tuning in to the recent Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, Netflix certainly has the edge when it comes to attracting a global audience compared to Raw’s current broadcast partner, USA Network.
Though Tyson vs. Paul had streaming issues, WWE has reportedly been informed this won’t be the case for Raw. One WWE source is reported to have said that WWE would hardly be against tens of millions of fans tuning in each week, even if it leads to technical issues.
TV-14
This week, Raw was listed as TV-14 on Netflix, which allows for cruder dialogue, greater violence, and more suggestive themes compared to what fans receive today. WWE changed to TV-PG in 2008 in a move that, while financially sound, led to criticism from many fans who took issue with the ‘toning down’ of the product. AEW Dynamite has been TV-14 since the show’s inception in late 2019.
Stay tuned for more news on WWE Raw as the wrestling world prepares for the red brand’s premiere on Netflix on January 6.