TKO President Claims Netflix Is The Real Engine Behind WWE Raw

WWE Raw is with the USA Network for the rest of 2024 but those at the top of the company are already hugely excited by the impending move to Netflix.

WWE Raw will debut on Netflix on January 6th 2025 as part of a ten-year deal worth $5 billion between the streaming and sports entertainment giants.

Until then Raw will continue on the USA Network but only for two hours per week as WWE’s flagship show prepares for its biggest move in its 32-year history.

All WWE content – excluding SmackDown and NXT – will be heading to Netflix over the coming years as other international rights deals come to an end and many fans will be interested to see what happens in the US when Peacock’s deal with WWE comes to an end.

WWE Excited By Netflix Future

Speaking at the Goldman Sachs media conference, TKO President Mark Shapiro claimed that Netflix could prove to be WWE’s best partner yet and expects the move to help the company grow their audience:

[Netflix] could prove to be our best partner yet. [Netflix] is the real engine behind Raw and, by the way, much of what we’re doing internationally, and we’re excited.

I’ve seen their promotion plans, their marketing plans, the way they’re getting behind us, the way they’re using the NFL holiday games to promote WWE Raw moving to Netflix. They are going to be a battleship when it comes to helping us grow our brand and grow our audience.

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee will be back at the announce desk for Raw’s big move, taking over from the current temporary duo of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett.

Mark Shapiro also revealed that WWE will be slashing its live event calendar and cutting back on the number of non-televised shows it holds in an effort to boost profitability.