On January 6, 2025, Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix as part of a decade-long, blockbuster deal estimated at $5 billion. With months to go before the move, expectations are high, and WWE plans on providing an episode of the red brand unlike any other, according to Fightful Select.
One source told the outlet “The show is likely to be one of the biggest episodes of RAW in history, from the standpoint of buzz.” They added that the Netflix deal could be among the most significant in WWE’s history and compared Raw’s debut on Netflix as akin to a Premium Live Event. WWE is opting not to host a PLE in January 2025, with the first major event of the new year coming on February 1, with the annual Royal Rumble.
WWE Raw on Netflix: What Do We Know?
With just under two months before Raw goes live on Netflix, little has been confirmed for the much-anticipated show. John Cena has confirmed his role on Raw as the WWE icon will be kicking off his retirement tour. There still remains questions about how long Raw on Netflix will be, with Paul Levesque saying it’s still yet to be decided when asked during the post-Bad Blood press conference.
Those outside the United States will get much more for their buck when Raw moves to Netflix. In addition to the red brand, international viewers will receive SmackDown, WWE NXT, PLES, documentaries, and original projects. WWE has already hosted its first PLE on Netflix, and that trend will continue very soon for fans outside the States.
Triple H says the length of Raw on Netflix is not fixed and they’re still working out the details of what the company’s flagship show will look like on the streaming platform.
The Red Branded Show is set to revert back to two hours after 12 years this coming Monday. The show will continue with the format for its final three months on USA Network before moving to the streaming giant in January next year.
The WWE Chief Content officer was asked about this change and what to expect from the show when it crosses over to Netflix during the Bad Blood post-show. Triple H joked that he’ll let us know as soon as he finds out himself, before explaining that they’re still working on the finer details:
“When we get to Netflix, we are still working through all of that. So I think the truth is, you guys will have to watch and see and I am gonna wait and see, but we will deal with it.”
Triple H also advised people to not get too caught up in details like this. He explained that their approach while booking shows is to figure out the stories they wanna tell first and worry about the rest later:
“The truth is, no matter what the length of time is, it’s just about putting out the best product we can, telling the best possible stories we can. At the end of the day, that is what this is all about – telling stories. Sometimes in our business, we get so caught up in two hour – three-hour, one-hour, this [that]…the movie is the movie.
When the movie is over, it was either really good, or it was not good, or too long, or too short. Whatever it is. But we are just making a movie every week, twice a week, three times a week, actually, with more to come. We kind of approach it in that matter. Let’s write the best stories and then we’ll try to figure out how to jam it into whatever timeslot we have available.”
In January 2025, WWE Raw will begin streaming on Netflix as part of a lucrative decade-long deal estimated to be in the ballpark of $5 billion. For those outside the U.S. they will also receive SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events, but this weekend’s Bad Blood will be WWE’s first Netflix PLE according to a recent listing.
WWE Bad Blood 2025 is slated to air on Netflix in Brazil this Saturday at 7:00 PM Brasilia Standard Time. While this is the case for Netflix in Brazil, the show will not air on the streaming juggernaut in other countries in South America. WWE has yet to publicly promote Bad Blood for Netflix in Brazil.
WWE Bad Blood 2024
WWE’s fourth Bad Blood event will take place on October 5, from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, and like its predecessors, will feature a Hell in a Cell match. The full card for the show is as follows:
CM Punk Vs. Drew McIntyre (Hell in a Cell Match)
Nia Jax (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
Damian Priest vs. Finn Bálor
Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE Women’s World Championship. Dominik Mysterio will be suspended above the ring in a shark cage)
Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu)
With a stacked card and the supposed return of ‘The Big Guy,’ WWE Bad Blood 2024 will be an exciting show for fans to check out around the world. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE Bad Blood including breaking news and live results.
Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries was released last month and has given viewers an in-depth look into Vince McMahon, even if the six-part series is light on new information. In addition to Vince, several members of the McMahon family were interviewed, but Linda was reluctant to share according to the show’s consulting producer.
Speaking to the SI Media Podcast, David Shoemaker was asked if Vince McMahon was forthcoming with information and shared how Linda was reluctant to speak.
“You asked about Vince not giving you anything, Linda was not the most forthcoming person in that interview either. I think I was there for that one, I don’t even remember if there was more good stuff on the cutting room floor. I certainly wish we could have gotten more details about that from her. It’s a very business relationship, I would say.”
It’s hardly a surprise that Linda, who remains a name in politics, was hardly eager to talk about WWE’s past controversies, many of which occurred under her watch as CEO. Similarly, Linda would be understandably reluctant to speak on her husband’s infidelity and alleged trafficking of Janel Grant, the topic for Mr. McMahon’s sixth and final episode.
Linda McMahon hasn’t appeared for WWE in years but her name remains known to countless wrestling fans around the world. While the former CEO of WWE would have endless stories about the company, fans may never hear about the seedier side of wrestling from the 75-year-old.
Tony Khan appeared on the Quinn & Cantara podcast to promote Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite’s 5-year Anniversary special.
During the conversation, the AEW & ROH President was asked if he’s had a chance to check out the Netflix “Mr. McMahon” docu-series that’s been dominating the news cycle since its release last week. Khan says he’s been too busy to see what all the fuss is about, and was quick to point out he’s never met him or worked with him.
“No, I’ve been so busy with football and wrestling that I have not seen that documentary.”
– Tony Khan on the Netflix “Mr. McMahon” docuseries
Khan was quick to distance himself from the former WWE boss, stating:
“I’ve never met him and have never really worked with him.”
– Tony Khan on Vince McMahon
AEW As the Challenger Brand
Khan has long prided himself in All Elite Wrestling being the “challenger” brand to the decades-long industry leader, WWE. Ahead of Wednesday’s big event, Khan took a moment to reflect on the journey thus far.
“I have grown up as a wrestling fan and historian of the pro wrestling business, so absolutely, we love being the challenger promotion and trying to grow and build AEW from the ground up.
It’s only been five years and we’ve done a lot in that time.”
– Tony Khan on AEW being the “Challenger Brand” to WWE
MJF has made a name for himself as one of AEW’s top stars and boasts the record for the longest reign as AEW World Champion. Now, the self-professed scumbag is joining the cast of Netflix’s Happy Gilmore 2,Deadline reports.
MJF will join Adam Sandler, who is reprising his role as the titular Gilmore, a failed hockey player with a volatile temper who joins the world of professional golf. Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald will reprise their roles as love interest Virginia Venit and golfing antagonist Shooter McGavin. Bad Bunny, who’s no stranger to the world of wrestling, has also joined the cast while Sandler has teased a cameo by Travis Kelce.
MJF’s most recent match for AEW saw him best Daniel Garcia at All Out 2024 but was laid out with a piledriver after the match. With no return data in sight for the former World Champion, MJF will have time to work on Happy Gilmore 2 before he returns to the ring.
MJF On The Big Screen
MJF portrayed Lance Von Erich in 2023’s The Iron Claw, a film he also served as an Executive Producer on, but his scenes were ultimately cut from the final edit. That same year, MJF loaned his voice to Waylon Jones, aka Killer Croc in Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part Two.
Although MJF has yet to find his big live-action break in acting, the AEW star has plenty in the pipeline. The 28-year-old recently wrapped up work on the indie comedy The Floaters alongside Seth Green and Aya Cash and has filmed scenes for Stranglehold, playing one-half of a burly duo alongside Ron Perlman (Hellboy.)
Only a select few wrestlers have successfully transitioned from wrestling to acting and MJF intends to join the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Dave Bautista, and John Cena. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on MJF and his projects outside the squared circle.
Posted September 27th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: MJF, Netflix.
Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries has finally been released on the streaming juggernaut, four years after the project was first announced. The six-part series delves into some of McMahon’s most controversial moments, though critics feel it fails to reveal anything that hasn’t already been covered.
One name fans don’t see over the six, one-hour long episodes is Janel Grant whose lawsuit alleging sexual abuse and trafficking resulted in McMahon’s WWE exit in January this year. In a statement shared with Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, Grant’s lawyer Ann Callid argued that Netflix’s docuseries has shown McMahon’s true colors.
“The ‘Mr. McMahon’ docuseries makes it clear there is no difference between Vince McMahon’s on-air persona and his true self, they are one and the same. His “character” – known for violent outbursts, sexual deviance, and manipulation – is the real Vince McMahon and exactly what Janel Grant experienced behind closed doors at WWE for years.”
Callis adds that the the series only scratches the surface of McMahon’s alleged criminal activities, and is hopeful for Grant to have her own chance to tell her story her way.
“While the docuseries put McMahon’s obsession with power and control on full display, it only scratches the surface of his criminal behavior and it fails to tell the full story of his abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking of Ms. Grant. She deserves the opportunity to tell her story, on her own time, and in her own way. We look forward to her day in court and to seeing McMahon at last held accountable for his actions.”
Grant’s comments echo her previous statement, released before Mr. McMahon launched on Netflix, in which she addressed McMahon insisting that what happened with Grant was a consensual affair. The interviews conducted with McMahon took place before Grant’s lawsuit went public, and as a title card in the doc states, McMahon refused to take more questions after that.
In a rare public statement of his own, McMahon has distanced himself from the project, claiming he was misrepresented by selected editing, outdated soundbites, and out-of-context footage. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Netflix’s docuseries which is proving to be a huge topic of discussion in the world of wrestling.
The reviews are in for Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries, with the consensus being that a more thorough in-depth analysis could have been conducted on WWE’s ex-CEO.
The six-part series was first announced in 2020 with interviews beginning the following year, before the ‘hush money’ scandal that forced McMahon into retirement in 2022. While McMahon was interviewed for the project, his clips come from before Janel Grant’s lawsuit in January 2024 that resulted in McMahon’s second exile. As a card in the doc states, McMahon refused to give any more interviews after Grant’s lawsuit went public and McMahon himself has distanced himself from the series.
The Reviews Are In
Garrett Martin of Paste Magazine is among those who believe Mr. McMahon comes up short when trying to give a complete picture of arguably wrestling’s most controversial figure, and again fails to demonstrate the harm McMahon’s tactics have had on others.
“Mr. McMahon fails to paint a full portrait of the man, or to fully contend with the negative impact he’s had on so many. And interviewing him doesn’t add much of value.”
Ryan Woodrow of Men’s Journal agrees that while the docuseries could have given further analysis, it does at least cover the bulk of McMahon’s many controversies.
“It digs up every skeleton he has and puts it on display – even if I don’t think it adequately examines most of them.”
The Wall Street Journal’s John Anderson has a more favorable review, arguing that this documentary series will be the closest analysis fans will get of the 79-year-old McMahon.
“[Chris] Smith [the Filmmaker] probably gives us as honest a portrait of his subject as one is likely to get—despite Mr. McMahon’s claims of being a sphinx, something with which his ex-employees concur.”
Adam Silverstein of CBS Sports believes that the series will prove to be ground-breaking for those unfamiliar with McMahon, but light on revelations for its core audience.
“Those unfamiliar with the intimate details about McMahon’s personal and business life will receive a thorough education. Die-hard wrestling fans will be familiar with nearly all of the stories and controversies.”
And BJ Colangelo of Slash Film believes that a phrase from McMahon’s repertoire is best suited to describe Mr. McMahon.
The highly-anticipated Netflix docuseries, Mr. McMahon, premiered on September 25, 2024 and is now available for streaming (subscription required)1.
The series explores the controversial life and career of Vince McMahon, the former WWE Chairman who revolutionized the world of professional wrestling. Known for his larger-than-life persona both in and out of the ring, McMahon’s story is filled with success, controversy, and behind-the-scenes drama that shaped the WWE into the global phenomenon it is today.
The series consists of six episodes, each approximately one hour long. Directed by Chris Smith (Tiger King), Mr. McMahon includes over 100 hours of interviews with McMahon, WWE personalities, journalists, and McMahon’s family.
Whether you’ve been following our updates on the docuseries or are just learning about it this is your chance to get inside the mind of Vince McMahon—from the creation of WrestleMania to the major controversies that marked his career.
Stay tuned to our site for more coverage and analysis of what we uncover from this series.
Netflix offers various subscription plans that give you access to its full library, including the Mr. McMahon docuseries, which can be streamed on multiple devices depending on your plan.↩︎
Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries aims to give viewers an in-depth look at the life, career, and legacy of Vince McMahon, over two years after his initial retirement from WWE. McMahon gave several interviews for the project, first announced back in 2020, and the 79-year-old billionaire wasn’t afraid to broach the topic of sex.
During the final episode of the six-part docuseries, McMahon speaks candidly about how his brain processes things and considers his mind to be akin to different computers.
“I have, not two different brains, but like, computers in my head and sometimes they work against me. I have one computer talking to you right now and there’s another one going on with me thinking something completely different.”
McMahon goes on to explain how he has a third ‘computer’ that thinks of completely unrelated matters, which has made it difficult for McMahon to be normal.
“And then there’s a third one sometimes… And so it’s difficult for me sometimes to pay attention to things. It’s bothered me through the years because all I wanted to be was normal. I wanted to fit in. But I deal with it.”
When asked what this third brain is thinking of at the moment, McMahon said:
“Something having a lot of fun and it’s involving sex.”
McMahon’s comments come amid a paused lawsuit against him filed by Janel Grant who alleges she was abused and trafficked by McMahon and John Laurinaitis. McMahon was interviewed for the Netflix docuseries before the allegations that resulted in him stepping down from WWE twice within the span of two years.
Vince McMahon will forever be tied to pro wrestling but his legacy will forever be linked to the allegations by Grant and others. Mr. McMahon is now available to watch on Netflix.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SEScoops.
This week, Mr. McMahon, a six-part docuseries from Netflix, will launch on the streaming juggernaut, giving fans an up-close look at one of wrestling’s most controversial names. With steroids, sexual harassment, and Chris Benoit covered in the trailer alone, no topic will be off limits in this series, despite Vince McMahon’s best efforts.
McMahon reportedly attempted to prevent the release of the docuseries, Dave Meltzer reports, after realizing it would not be as favorable to him as he had hoped. Before WWE’s deal with Netflix was signed in January of this year, McMahon tried to buy the rights to the series to block its release. When Netflix refused, McMahon turned to Ari Emanuel, hoping the Endeavor CEO would be able to win over Netflix brass, but again came up short.
This practice of buying media to prevent its release is known as ‘Catch and Kill’ and isn’t confined to McMahon alone, with celebrities and allies using the practice to bury bad press. In 2015, American Media paid $30,000 to a Trump Tower doorman for the exclusive rights to his story that he’d overheard a conversation about Donald Trump having a child with a woman who is not his wife. Despite paying, American Media, whose CEO David Pecker is a friend of the former president, never published the story.
Vince McMahon has publicly voiced his disappointment with a Netflix documentary that chronicles his life and career. In a statement, McMahon expressed regret over the documentary’s portrayal of him, specifically criticizing how it conflates his wrestling persona, “Mr. McMahon,” with his true self.
According to McMahon, the producers missed an opportunity to provide an objective, well-rounded account of his life and the business empire he built. He claims the final product distorts reality, using selective editing, outdated soundbites, and out-of-context footage to mislead viewers. McMahon argues that these editorial choices were designed to create a deceptive narrative.
He further highlights how the documentary references a past lawsuit and an affair in a misleading way, reinforcing the misconception that his “Mr. McMahon” character is an accurate reflection of who he is.
McMahon hopes viewers will approach the film with an open mind, urging them to remember that there are two sides to every story.
Vince’s McMahon’s Statement on Netflix Series
McMahon writes, “I don’t regret participating in this Netflix documentary. The producers had an opportunity to tell an objective story about my life and the incredible business I built, which were equally filled with excitement, drama, fun, and a fair amount of controversy and life lessons. Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the “Mr. McMahon” character with my true self, Vince. The title and promos alone make that evident.
A lot has been misrepresented or left out entirely in an effort to leave viewers intentionally confused. The producers use typical editing tricks with out of context footage and dated soundbites etc. to distort the viewers’ perception and support a deceptive narrative.
In an attempt to further their misleading account, the producers use a lawsuit based on an affair I ended as evidence that I am, in fact, “Mr. McMahon.”
I hope the viewer will keep an open mind and remember that there are two sides to every story.”
In January 2025, WWE Raw will move to Netflix in a blockbuster ten-year deal estimated to be worth $5 billion. Within a matter of months, WWE Superstars will be regulars on Netflix, but one Superstar is already making waves on the streaming giant.
On Instagram, Alexa Bliss revealed that she voiced Maki Ueda for the English dub of The Queen of Villians. Bliss was appreciative to Timmy Red, the director of the English voice cast and fans will even get to hear Bliss’ singing voice in the new Netflix series.
The Queen of Villains tells the story of professional female wrestler Dump Matsumoto, who achieved fame in the 1980s. After failing to make it as a babyface, Matsumoto transformed her wrestling persona into a vile heel that riled up Japan for years during her heyday.
Bliss voices Maki Ueda, a trailblazer in Joshi wrestling who is known for her tag team with Jackie Sato as Beauty Pair. Ueda was the first woman in All Japan Wrestling to hold the WWWA World Singles Championship, the WWWA Tag Team Championship, and the Hawaiian-Pacific/All-Pacific titles.
Latest On Alexa Bliss
Bliss has been absent from WWE since the 2023 Royal Rumble PLE where she failed to dethrone then-Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. That same year, she and her husband Ryan Cabrera welcomed their daughter Hendrix into the world. In July, Bliss was seen training for an in-ring return as fans continue to await the return of the goddess.
Netflix has a new documentary series titled The Queen of Villains, focusing on the life and career of Dump Matsumoto, a central figure in women’s professional wrestling during the 1980s.
Queen of Villains explores the untold story of Dump Matsumoto, played by comedic actress Yuriyan Retriever. Matsumoto, known as Japan’s most infamous wrestling heel, was instrumental in the surge of women’s wrestling in Japan during the 1980s.
Unlike her contemporaries of the time, she gained fame through her brutal wrestling style and flamboyant personality, becoming a cultural phenomenon alongside the iconic tag team duo, the Crush Gals. The series also features Erika Karata and Ayame Goriki, who portray members of this legendary tag team.
How did one girl become hated in Japan and whip everyone into a frenzy? One ordinary girl went on to captivate all of Japan. Now, the story of her viciously vile fight for survival is about to begin!
Get a first look at shocking scenes of Dump Matsumoto versus the Crush Gals! A girl named Kaoru Matsumoto works tirelessly to realize her dream of becoming a professional wrestler. However, she is oppressed by both her employers and her father, and starts to lose her sense of belonging. In time, she channels her sorrow and rage toward all of Japan, transforming into a villainous heel dreaded by everyone.
This set the stage for the Hair vs. Hair Death Match between the nation’s darling Chigusa Nagayo and enemy of the people Dump Matsumoto — a legendary women’s pro wrestling match that is still talked about to this day. Follow the lives of girls who were once nobodies, witness the sheer excitement they sparked, and discover what these wrestlers, who fought with all their might through a bygone era, are asking us in the present day.”
Described as a “fictional story based on real people and real events,” The Queen of Villains blends dramatic storytelling with elements of Matsumoto’s life. The series delves into her journey, highlighting the challenges faced by women in the male-dominated wrestling industry.
QOV promises to combine intense wrestling action with introspective storytelling, making it a highly anticipated release for wrestling fans and those intrigued by women’s contributions to sports history.
Stay tuned for our continued coverage of The Queen of Villains, premiering September 19, 2024 on Netflix.
There has been a lot of chatter about how different WWE Raw would be on Netflix but one thing that won’t be changing is the inclusion of commercials.
Many fans have been hoping that the show will ditch the ads once it moves to the streaming giant but it won’t be the case according to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
In the latest edition of his newsletter, the wrestling journalist noted that one of the reasons Netflix has picked up the wrestling show is to make the incorporation of ads to their service easier:
“One of the reasons Netflix picked up Raw is because they are trying to add commercials to programming and the Raw and pro wrestling audience is used to commercials on the shows.”
The difference with Netflix would more be about the order of the commercials as they will be able to adjust the length of breaks and the placement of ads more freely.
Another thing that fans have been discussing is the expected runtime of the Red Branded Show after it was announced that Raw would be reverting back to 2 hours for the rest of the year on USA Network from October 7.
The belief is that the program will have a variable run time once it leaves the traditional cable network and they’ll be able to extend or reduce the time as needed.
The flexibility will allow the company to change the length of the show to not only fit in things as required but also make the finish of matches less predictable.
There has been no update on how the programming itself will change with the freedom of content offered by Netflix. A number of stars such as Roman Reigns and Dominik Mysterio have spoken in favor of keeping things family-friendly instead of opting for more mature content immediately.
WWE fans have caught their first glimpse of Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries that will focus on the historic rise and dramatic fall of Vincent K. McMahon. The six one-hour episodes will delve into the life of the 79-year-old billionaire when it hits the streaming juggernaut on September 25. McMahon himself was interviewed for the docuseries, as the trailer shows right from the start as he declares,
“People have wondered who I really am. There’s this portrayal of me as a bad guy, but no one really knows me.”
– Vince McMahon in ‘Mr. McMahon’ (Netflix)
Some of the biggest names in wrestling history are involved, with appearances from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hulk Hogan,”Stone Cold” Steve Austin, John Cena, Bret Hart, Bruce Prichard, Eric Bischoff, and McMahon’s son-in-law and Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
As we see in the trailer, this docu-series won’t shy away from controversy and touches on the 1994 steroid trial, the double-murder suicide of Chris Benoit in 2007, and alleged sexual misconduct. While it was the latter that ultimately ended McMahon’s reign on top of wrestling’s empire, Janel Grant has not participated in the series.
Produced by Bill Simmons and Tiger King executive producer Chris Smith, Mr. McMahon has been in development since 2020. The project was reportedly reworked to reflect the allegations against McMahon, including his departure from WWE.
Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India.
History was made in the Netflix Hot Dog special and Nikki Garcia, Rey Mysterio and Omos had a front row seat to witness the gluttony.
Famed competitive eaters Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut took part in a live Labor Day special on Netflix where the two went head-to-head in eating hot dogs and one man broke the record. Chestnut came out the victor eating an unprecedented 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes to defeat his longstanding rival who could only down 67 dogs, and there were two WWE Hall of Famers on hand in Bella and Mysterio to be apart of the prestigious face-stuffing.
Along with comedian Rob Riggle, Garcia was the host to the event while Rey Mysterio presented Chestnut with the championship title after out-eating Kobayashi. Chestnut got his own WWE gold courtesy of Mysterio, who was the presenter for Chestnut while Omos was “Team Kobayashi.”
The event had to have felt like a breath of fresh air for Garcia after the unfortunate week she had as her husband Artem Chigvintsev was arrested on a felony corporal injury charge Thursday. Chigvintsev was released on $25,000 bail and through her representative, Garcia requested privacy after the incident. Garcia was noted to not be wearing her wedding ring during the Netflix special as she was photographed boarding a private jet with her son Matteo over the weekend.
Nikki Garcia (fka Nikki Bella) is LIVE on Netflix for the Unfinished Beef Hot Dog challenge! She looks great, thank God! She is currently not wearing her wedding ring.
Chigvintsev called 911 following the domestic dispute along with claiming that Garcia threw shoes at him. Police noticed injuries to Garcia and then took Chigvintsev into custody.
Cody Rhodes took on a big leadership role following WWE Bash In Berlin after addressing a very loaded question regarding Vince McMahon.
At today's press conference Cody Rhodes responds to a question about Janel Grant's allegations and the Vince McMahon Netflix documentary pic.twitter.com/64zsExCrYG
Rhodes kicked off the post-show by addressing the media, noting that Triple H was unable to be there due to his daughter heading to college for the first time. Rhodes took several questions before he was asked if he was going watch the forthcoming “Mr. McMahon” docuseries on Netflix and why he thinks the locker room has been silent regarding the Janel Grant case. Rhodes answered both his questions and started off light-hearted by saying he was currently “deep in a Game of Thrones rewatch.”
“I think there’s a bit misinformation in terms of WWE has no involvement in this documentary as far as I know. I imagine I’d get around to seeing it.”
As far as it goes with the locker room “being silent” Rhodes offered a different perspective for the talent.
“I don’t think that’s a matter of ‘belief’ vs. ‘non-belief’ I think it’s strictly speaking we want to be doing what we’re doing out there and the focus and attention it takes: 13,149 people to have a great story and have a great match and do that every single night has left most of us where we’re finding the information out just as you are and that includes the resolution of this information in terms of what happened, how it happened and how justice comes about whatever it may be, but I wouldn’t look at it as an active attempt from the locker to be silent in the attempt we just are doing what we do, day-to-day, WWE business.”
The Vince McMahon documentary series is happening and Netflix has a date in place for people to watch.
On Thursday, Netflix announced ‘Mr. McMahon’ will be begin streaming September 25, 2024. The tagline is, “Mastermind. Madman.” The first details released by Netflix indicate the Janel Grant case will be fair game:
“Mr. McMahon, a documentary series chronicling the rise and fall of the WWE’s controversial founder, is coming to Netflix on September 25. From Chris Smith, Executive Producer of Tiger King, and Bill Simmons.
Including interviews with McMahon prior to his resignation, his family, and some of the most iconic names in wrestling history. As well as the journalists who uncovered McMahon’s allegations.”
Vince McMahon, WWE and Netflix
Netflix’s ‘Mr. McMahon’ documentary series drops only a few months before WWE Raw ‘cuts the cord’ and makes Netflix its new home starting in January 2025. The fact that this documentary is airing is quite telling as to how WWE likely wants to position themselves when it comes to the allegations.
Additionally, Bill Simmons who is an executive producer on the documentary, has always had a positive relationship with the company. The scandal has been a big talking point for pro wrestling fans and wrestlers alike, and was recently referenced by AEW’s MJF on social media.
Vince McMahon initially stepped down from WWE in 2022 only to return six months later, before ultimately leaving the company following the Janel Grant lawsuit which was filed in January 2024.
Mr. McMahon, a documentary series chronicling the rise and fall of the WWE's controversial founder, is coming to Netflix on September 25. From Chris Smith, Executive Producer of Tiger King, and Bill Simmons.
WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia will sink her teeth into the world of competitive eating next month as part of an upcoming Netflix special. Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef will stream on Netflix on September 2 and will feature a stacked card of competitive eaters. Garica will be joined by actor/comedian Rob Riggle, broadcaster Cari Champion and sportscaster Chris Rose.
The titular showdown will see Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi face off in a battle to see who can eat the most hot dogs. The pair last went head to head in September 2009 and Kobayashi stomached 93 dogs to Chestnut’s 81.
The main event will be preceded by two undercards matches. Competitive eater, YouTuber and 2015 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest winner Matt Stonie will face an opponent yet to be announced, while another match will feature Guinness World Record holder for eating Leah Shutkever.
Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India.
Heels, the wrestling-themed drama series from Starz, moves to Netflix on September 25, 2023 two years after the second season finale. Show-runner Mike O’Malley is optimistic the show be ‘rebooted’ for Season 3 once a wider audience discovers the show.
The series follows Stephen Amell as Jack Spade and Alexander Ludwig as Ace Spade, playing brothers from Georgia competing against each other to be the top star of their late father’s promotion, Duffy Wrestling League.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, O’Malley shared his thoughts on Heels going to Netflix and urged fans to support it to create demand for a third season. He also notes that Amell’s upcoming role in Suits: LA could bring new viewers to the wrestling drama.
EW’s Kristen Baldwin transcribed the following quotes.
“To a person, every single person involved in this show wants to make more Heels,” said O’Malley. “The success of Suits: LA will just drive more people to watching Stephen’s work on Netflix. It doesn’t take that long to make a season of Heels. It’s very labor intensive, but there are windows of time during hiatuses to make more.”
Since its cancellation, fans have hoped it would be picked up by another network or streaming service. Netflix has a bigger audience than Starz, which can allow new viewers to watch the show for the first time.
Wrestling On Netflix
The timing of Netflix launching Heels on their platform is interesting, as WWE is set to have a Monday Night Raw stream exclusively next year. The popular streaming service is starting to enter the wrestling genre with the addition of Monday Night Raw, which will air live weekly in January 2025. The $5 billion deal is expected to add a refreshing change for the Raw brand.
Netflix also aims to attract new customers and retain those who already subscribe to the service, which, as the Associated Press reported in April, has nearly 270 million subscribers.
Heels‘ streaming on Netflix has the potential to interest wrestling fans who have yet to watch the series but are subscribing to Monday Night Raw. Regardless, fans of the series should show their support by watching it next month on the service. Netflix’s investment in wrestling and Heels viewership could push for season three, which O’Malley is hopeful for.
A new trailer from Netflix has given wrestling fans their first look at The Queen of Villains, a new project about the life and career of Dump Matsumoto. The Queen of Villains will premiere on September 19, on the streaming juggernaut. You can check out the trailer below.
Witness the rise of Japan's most frightening heel.
The Queen of Villains, the untold story of Dump Matsumoto, premieres September 19. pic.twitter.com/do5Y17l1xa
Matsumoto terrified Japanese women’s wrestling as a heel during the 1980s and was world-renowned for her brutal style in the ring. With her larger-than-life persona as a villain, Matsumoto became a leading figure in All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling and she would become something of a cultural phenomenon.
Matsumoto led the notorious Atrocious Alliance stable, which introduced fans to wrestlers such as WWE Hall of Famer Bull Nakano. Her rivalry with the popular Crush Gals, particularly Chigusa Nagayo, remains the stuff of legend and Matsumoto is still regarded as one of the most influential in the history of Japanese women’s wrestling.
Pro-Wrestling and Netflix
The Queen of Villains is just one of Netflix’s forays into the world of professional wrestling. For years, the popular GLOW series gave fans a look into the iconic women’s promotion and the glamorous and not-so-glamorous side of 80s wrestling.
Dominik Mysterio is excited to see what boundaries they can push with the move to Netflix.
WWE Raw is set to leave traditional cable TV and move to Netflix in a monumental deal at the start of next year. There is a lot of chatter about how this will change the landscape of professional wrestling.
The Judgment Day star was the most recent guest on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast. He discussed things such as his storyline with Rhea Ripley, working with Eddie Guerrero and more.
When the topic of the Netflix deal came up, Paul explained how wrestlers will be able to take advantage of the global reach to expand their personal brand. Dirty Dom mentioned that he hasn’t thought about the move in that manner and his focus is on putting out the best performance he can:
“To me I just want to wrestle. I just want to go out there and put on the best performances as possible. But on the business side of it, which I feel like a lot of, it’s newer for us wrestlers to like kind of do it that way.
Cause like I said, I feel like we just kind of want to go out there and wrestle and perform and give the best to the fans. So this is, bringing it to Netflix, it’s gonna, a whole new set of eyes, different crowd, you can get new people involved. It’s going to be…I want to see what boundaries we can push with it for sure.”
WWE has slowly moved towards more edgier programming in the past couple of years. Angles such as Dominik’s storyline with Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan have been testing out the limits of what’s allowed on cable TV.
When asked how he thinks the programming will adapt to streaming which will have even fewer restrictions, Mysterio mentioned that fans would expect them to go all out with explicit content. The former champion, however, explained that you have to restrict the amount of mature content in order to make it meaningful:
“I think people are going to expect us to go in there and just…first episode of Raw on Netflix I think people are gonna expect you know freaking blood and tables everywhere, titties. Like Edge and Lita where they had the live sex show.
I’m sure people are going to expect things like that but I feel like in order for stuff like that to be special and meaningful you can’t have it all the time. It’s gotta come like an RKO out of nowhere. It’s like you don’t expect it and then it’s like, boom – titty!”
Dominik Mysterio is currently scheduled to team with Liv Morgan to take on Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest in a mixed tag match at the Bash In Berlin PPV on August 31.
Netflix has announcedThe Queen of Villains, a new original series about Dump Matsumoto, the terrifying Japanese women’s wrestling heel who reigned supreme during the 1980’s. The Queen of Villains premieres September 19, 2024 on Netflix.
The Queen of Villains: Netflix / September 19, 2024
Who is Dump Matsumoto?
Dump Matsumoto, born Kaoru Matsumoto, is a semi-retired Japanese professional wrestler who became a leading figure in All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling (AJW) during the 1980s. Renowned for her brutal and imposing in-ring style, Matsumoto quickly established herself as a formidable heel, captivating audiences with her larger-than-life villain persona.
Netflix is getting into the wrestling business in a very big way. In January 2025, WWE Raw “cuts the cord” after 32-years and moves to the world’s largest over-the-top streaming platform.
The estimated value of WWE’s deal with Netflix is approximately $5 billion over 10 years.
WWE Raw will premiere on Netflix in January 2025. As of this writing, only one person is confirmed to appear on this broadcast … “and his name is John Cena.” The WWE RAW Netflix premiere will be the first official stop on the 2025 John Cena retirement tour.
The WWE Universe will get much more than just wrestling shows on Netflix once Monday Night Raw joins the streaming juggernaut in 2025.
In January, it was announced that Raw will move to Netflix as part of a $5 billion deal with the streaming giant. Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India.
Now, more WWE-licensed shows are set to join Netflix as part of this massive deal. Speaking at the JPMorgan Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference, TKO COO Mark Shapiro shared plans for “a lot of ancillary shoulder programming” connected to the WWE. This will include both reality shows and documentaries.
Reality shows, giving a behind-the-scenes look, are hardly a new venture for Netflix. The streaming giant already teams with Formula 1 racing to present Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The show gives fans an in-depth look at the sport as well as the lives of drivers of the race track.
Now, wrestling fans can expect something similar when WWE moves to Netflix. WWE has its own litany of reality shows including past examples like Total Divas and Total Bellas and current projects including Miz and Mrs and Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez.
WWE has a long history of producing high-quality documentaries. In addition to self-produced docs, the promotion has teamed with A&E for the popular Biography series. Now fans can look forward to more productions from WWE with the high-quality production team at Netflix also involved.
