In a major shake-up for wrestling fans, WWE announced a massive partnership with Netflix in January 2024. The multi-year deal will see the move of several WWE content, including the wrestling promotion’s flagship program Monday Night Raw, to the streaming giant beginning in 2025. While this broadens the reach of WWE content internationally, this agreement raises the big question: what will happen to the company’s primary streaming service WWE Network?
Is the WWE Network shutting down at the end of 2024?
As of January 2024, all the classic content and original programming on WWE Network are also available to stream on NBCUniversal’s Peacock. Despite that, the former remains the primary streaming service of WWE content internationally. However, according to a report by Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer, that will soon change, as the WWE Network is expected to be closed at the end of 2024.
“The WWE Network itself does exist outside of the United States. That will be folding at the end of the year,” Meltzer said (via Cultaholic). Netflix will pick up the content… Now will they pick up all the content, all the archives? I don’t know but they will be the sole source of that, the archival content of all the old territories and all the old stuff that was on the old WWE Network, that will move to Netflix outside of the United States in January.”
Everything we know about WWE’s Netflix Deal
What’s on the Table?
- Raw’s New Home: The crown jewel of WWE programming, Monday Night Raw, will migrate to Netflix in January 2025. This marks the first time Raw will air exclusively on a streaming platform, departing its longtime home on USA Network.
- Global Reach: The deal encompasses various territories, including the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, and Latin America, with plans to expand further. This significantly broadens WWE’s international reach and exposes the brand to a wider audience.
- Beyond Raw: Netflix will also become the international home for SmackDown, NXT, and premium live events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble. However, in the U.S., these programs will remain on their existing channels (Fox and Peacock) for the foreseeable future.
Impact and Implications
- Boosting Streaming Market Share: Netflix’s acquisition of Raw is a strategic move to attract wrestling fans and potentially compete with other sports streaming platforms like ESPN+.
- WWE’s Revenue Stream: The multi-billion dollar deal secures a significant and predictable revenue stream for WWE, potentially allowing them to invest further in talent, production, and content creation.
- Fan Concerns: While some fans welcome the wider accessibility through Netflix, others worry about potential changes to content, pricing, and the overall viewing experience.
“This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO, in a statement. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”
Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria added: “We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix, By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”
Nick Khan, WWE President, has this to say about WWE’s deal with Netflix: “In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling. We believe Netflix, as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands, is the ideal long-term home for Raw’s live, loyal, and ever-growing fan base.”
The Bottom Line
The WWE-Netflix deal is undoubtedly a game-changer, with far-reaching consequences for the wrestling industry and the streaming landscape. While the future of WWE Network remains unclear, one thing is certain: the way we watch professional wrestling is about to undergo a major transformation.
It’s important to note that this is still an evolving situation, and further details are likely to emerge in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates as we grapple with the implications of this historic partnership and its impact on the world of professional wrestling!