By Ryan Keilen | Jan 06, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. ET Updated
Los Angeles, January 6, 2025 – In a groundbreaking move, Netflix and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) have announced a 10-year partnership that promises to revolutionize the way wrestling is consumed globally. The deal, valued at over $5 billion, will see WWE’s flagship show “Monday Night Raw” and other popular programs like “SmackDown” and “NXT” exclusively streaming on Netflix.
The partnership kicks off with the 1,650th episode of “Monday Night Raw” from the Intuit Dome outside Los Angeles, featuring top professional wrestlers like John Cena and Roman Reigns. This marks the first time “Raw” will be streamed on Netflix, making it the exclusive home of the show in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Latin America, with plans to expand to additional countries over time.
Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, expressed excitement about the collaboration, highlighting WWE’s multigenerational fan base and the intense fandom that makes it a perfect fit for the streaming platform. “We love the storytelling, the characters, and the memorable stories that WWE brings. Combining this with our global reach is a fantastic opportunity,” Bajaria said.
WWE President, Nick Khan, echoed this sentiment, noting that the partnership aims to appeal to wrestling fans across the globe. “We think Netflix does the same thing we do – appeal to fans everywhere. This partnership is a natural fit and a great way to bring WWE to even more people,” Khan added.
The deal also includes WWE’s premium live events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble, which will be available on Netflix, further expanding the reach of WWE’s content. This move is part of Netflix’s broader strategy to venture into live programming, following successful streams of events like the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, and NFL games on Christmas Day.
For WWE, this partnership represents a significant shift in its broadcasting strategy, moving away from traditional TV networks to a streaming-first approach. The collaboration is expected to help WWE tap into a younger, streaming-savvy audience while maintaining its loyal fan base.
As the wrestling world eagerly awaits the debut of WWE on Netflix, fans can look forward to a new era of wrestling entertainment that promises to fuel the fervor for this beloved sport worldwide.
