Netflix and WWE are in full swing. The streamer’s industry disrupting push into live sports content continues to gain momentum with the debut of WWE Raw on January 6, which attracted 5.9 million viewers and ranked fourth globally on the platform. The broadcast of the wrestling show, now available on Netflix, is part of the service’s broader strategy to bring major sports programming to its global audience.
Get this, the January 30 WWE Raw episode in Atlanta featured a packed State Farm Arena, with a lineup of A-list guests from the world of hip-hop and Netflix. Celebrities including 2 Chainz, Lil Baby, Quavo, Killer Mike, and DJ Drama were in attendance, along with actors like Noah Centineo (The Recruit), Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things), and Gail Bean (The Piano Lesson). Quavo made a special appearance alongside WWE Superstar Jey Uso, while YouTuber Kai Cenat shared his WWE experience in a ring-side chat with Pat McAfee.
The show’s star power wasn’t limited to the crowd, with WWE Raw featuring some of the top WWE Superstars, including Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Atlanta native Cody Rhodes, who is WWE’s undisputed champion. This episode, the last before the Royal Rumble, was a crucial build-up to the upcoming major event in Indianapolis.
WWE Raw’s move to Netflix has altered the show’s format, offering greater flexibility compared to its previous airings on cable television. For instance, the Atlanta show ran for 2.5 hours, while the January 6 episode from Los Angeles was extended to 3.5 hours. With Netflix’s growing sports portfolio, which also includes events like the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match and NFL Christmas Day games, the platform is positioning itself as a key player in live sports.
Co-CEO Ted Sarandos highlighted the unique opportunity Netflix provides to reach a younger, global audience, something traditional networks struggle with. “We want to bring value to the sport,” Sarandos said. “We’ve been able to bring a big audience, a young audience, and a more global audience than linear television.”
As Netflix continues to integrate sports into its content mix, WWE Raw could be just the beginning of a bigger collaboration between the two giants. Fans and industry watchers will be keen to see what’s next for Netflix and WWE as they expand their partnership.
