WWE Raw Makes Historic Netflix Debut

On Monday, January 6, 2025, WWE Raw premiered on Netflix, marking a significant shift in professional wrestling broadcasting. The event, held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, ran from 8:00 PM to 11:20 PM, showcasing WWE's new era of streaming entertainment.

Production and Presentation

The Netflix production brought a fresh look to Raw, featuring high-definition cameras and dynamic drone shots that highlighted the impressive Intuit Dome. The show opened with a pre-recorded video package, followed by Triple H's in-ring welcome, setting the tone for the evening. Notably, the ring canvas featured prominent sponsorship logos, including a large Fortnite emblem.

Key Moments and Matches

The Rock's Appearance: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson opened the show with updated entrance music and graphics, acknowledging Netflix, Cody Rhodes, and Roman Reigns.
Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa (Tribal Combat): The match for the "Tribal Chief" title featured interference from various Bloodline members and ended with Reigns retaining his status.
Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan (Women's World Championship): Ripley emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle, followed by a surprise appearance from The Undertaker.
John Cena's Promo: Cena announced his intention to enter and win the Royal Rumble, teasing a potential 17th world championship run.
Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre: Uso secured an upset victory with a rollup pin.
CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins: The main event saw Punk defeat Rollins after a back-and-forth contest filled with finishers.

Celebrity Involvement

The show featured several celebrity appearances, including Travis Scott performing the new Raw theme song and Gabriel Iglesias in a backstage segment. Hulk Hogan also made a surprise appearance, promoting his beer brand and Netflix partnership.

Audience Reception

While the in-arena crowd seemed energetic at times, there were moments when the audience appeared less engaged, particularly during the main event. This could be attributed to the length of the show or the mix of longtime fans and new viewers drawn by the Netflix premiere.

Production Notes

The broadcast experienced some technical issues, including occasional audio cutouts and awkward transitions. The new referee uniforms, featuring dark grey shirts with black stripes, were a noticeable change from the traditional black and white.

Conclusion

WWE Raw's Netflix debut showcased the company's ambition to blend traditional wrestling content with streaming platform innovations. While the show delivered several memorable moments and matches, there's room for improvement in pacing and production as WWE adjusts to its new broadcasting home.