WWE and Netflix: A Tag Team Powerhouse Ready to Revolutionize Wrestling Entertainment

A Landmark Deal and a Shift to Streaming

In a groundbreaking move, WWE and Netflix joined forces in a multi-year deal that will bring Monday Night Raw to the streaming giant in January 2025. This landmark agreement, valued at a staggering $5 billion over 10 years, marks a significant shift in how wrestling content is delivered and consumed.

Netflix’s Global Reach and WWE’s Expansion

For WWE, this partnership offers unprecedented global reach. Netflix’s extensive subscriber base in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Latin America, along with the rights to stream WWE specials and weekly shows internationally, opens up new avenues for the wrestling giant to connect with fans worldwide.

Triple H, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, expressed his enthusiasm for the streaming model, stating:

“There was no doubt in my mind… As soon as that conversation happened and the first time [streaming] was brought up, in my mind, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, that’s a game changer for us.’”

He emphasized the potential for expanding WWE’s fanbase and the creative freedom that comes with partnering with Netflix.

Maintaining Family-Friendly Entertainment

Despite the move to streaming, WWE assures fans that its programming will remain family-friendly. Nick Khan, WWE CEO, addressed concerns about potential content changes, stating:

“We’re not changing the rating of our programming… It’s family-friendly, multi-generational, advertiser-friendly programming. It’s going to stay that way.”

However, Khan hinted at a greater emphasis on global storylines and characters, catering to WWE’s diverse international fanbase.

Addressing Live Streaming Challenges

Netflix is still refining its live streaming capabilities, as evidenced by technical issues during recent events like the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight. Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Global Head of TV, acknowledged these challenges and emphasized their commitment to improving the streaming experience for WWE events.

“Whenever we do live events, we want it to go smoothly for every single one of our members… Our teams and our engineers are amazing, moved super quickly, and stabilized it…”

The Rock vs. Roman Reigns: A Dream Match on the Horizon?

Intriguing rumors emerged during the Netflix and WWE event, with whispers of a long-awaited showdown between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Roman Reigns. While nothing has been officially confirmed, the prospect of this dream match has generated considerable excitement among fans.

Celebrity Involvement and IP Expansion

Both Netflix and WWE are exploring opportunities for IP expansion and increased celebrity involvement in WWE programming. Triple H mentioned ongoing conversations with musicians like Bad Bunny, Travis Scott, and Jelly Roll, all of whom have expressed interest in the wrestling world.

John Cena’s Farewell Tour and Netflix Film Project

As John Cena embarks on his farewell tour, culminating in his final WrestleMania appearance in April 2025, he’s already secured a new film project with Netflix. Bela Bajaria revealed:

“We are about to do a new movie with our very own John Cena. It’s a really great comedy called Little Brother [starring Cena] and Eric Andre together, and we’re super excited about that.”

The Future of WWE on Streaming

With WWE’s deal with Peacock ending in 2026, there’s potential for Netflix to become the exclusive home for most WWE content. This could include securing the streaming rights for SmackDown and NXT, which currently have separate broadcasting agreements. Addressing this possibility, Nick Khan stated:

“Peacock is our incumbent partner, and we’re always going to respect our incumbent’s rights in the relationship we have there. So we’ll have those conversations with them in 2025 and we’ll see what shakes up.”

This partnership marks a new era for WWE, leveraging Netflix’s global platform to reach new heights in sports entertainment.

Follow Mark on X (twitter) @_MarkCyrus and @moosetadon.bsky.social

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