The highly anticipated debut ofWWE’sMonday Night Rawon Netflix was nothing short of monumental, pulling in a brilliant4.9 million views globallyaccording to Live+1 data provided by the streaming giant earlier today, which is a groundbreaking number for bothWWE but also for Netflix, with the company solidifying its attempts to break into live broadcasting.
Now, it’s difficult to compare this to howRawnormally performed on the USA Network, as the 4.9 million views represented audiences from key markets like the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Latin America, though it excluded territories where Netflix does not currently distribute WWE content, such as France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea, as those countries have their own TV deals.
However, in the States,Raw’s debut reached2.6 million households, a dramatic leap compared to the1.2 million householdsit averaged during its 2024 run on the USA Network, according to VideoAmp. Now as stated, while it’s hard to directly compare between a cable network and a streamer, due to the different metrics involved,Raw’s final episode on USA Network averaged approximately1.596 million viewers. By contrast, the Netflix debut’s viewership figures does indicate a lot more eyes were on the prize.
What Happened on WWE Raw’s Netflix Debut?
There were four huge matches that would normally be saved for pay-per-view or, as WWE refers to them now, premium live events. The card is as follows:
Adding to the spectacle,John Cenaofficially kicked off his 2025 farewell tour, delivering an emotional promo that set the tone for his swan song, which will begin with his entry into the Royal Rumble.Dwayne Johnsonappeared to open the show, with The Rock also appearing alongside cousin Roman Reigns later that night. WWE Hall of FamerHulk Hoganalso appeared, but was booed out of the building, perhaps due to actions in his personal life.
The event was also populated with stars. MusicianTravis Scottappeared, smoking a dubious looking cigarette, alongside Jey Uso during his entrance, while starsMacaulay Culkinand his brother,Kieran Culkin, who was celebrating his Golden Globes win the night before, also made appearances at the show.
