WWE Show Falls Through Cracks Of New TV Deals

WWE seem to have missed a trick with one show falling between the cracks in their TV deals leading to an unprecedented decision.

WWE Raw is moving to Netflix in January 2025 as part of a multi-billion dollar deal between the sports entertainment behemoth and the streaming giant.

However, it’s not just Raw on the move as all WWE content will be heading to Netflix in almost every country around the world except for the United States. In the US, WWE’s deal with Peacock extends into 2026, meaning that other WWE content will remain on NBC’s streaming service at least until then.

However, the international Netflix deals begin on January 1 but no WWE content will appear until the first Raw on January 6 meaning that the company has had to find a one-night home for SmackDown on January 3.

WWE SmackDown Airing On YouTube

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained exactly what happened and that SmackDown will be airing internationally on YouTube:

The way those contracts end and start there’s a gap which is actually only one show but Canada, the UK, most of the world. The exceptions are the US, Germany, Philippines, but almost everywhere the contracts, the television deals end this year. Netflix picks up on January 6, so the January 3 SmackDown show. That just kind of falls in the cracks.

In all of those countries, WWE will be putting up that SmackDown show on YouTube that week […] Netflix will start with Raw on the 6th, NXT on the 7th and SmackDown on the 10th outside the United States, pretty much all over the world.

The first episode of Raw on Netflix will see CM Punk compete in a huge grudge match after he ended up getting into another brawl.

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