Entertainment
Everything we know about WWE’s Netflix move as fans await ‘end of an era’-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro
It’s an historic moment for wrestling, TV and streaming as a whole.
WWE is coming to Netflix – are you ready? (Picture: WWE)
Everything is about to change for WWE fans with the company on the verge of an historic move to Netflix.
For the first time in its history, the sports entertainment juggernaut is moving away from traditional television for Raw, SmackDown and beyond as they fully embracing the world of streaming as part of a massive $5 billion deal.
The upcoming NXT Deadline and Survivor Series: WarGames shows will mark the final premium live events before the big switch.
Soon, fans will be able to enjoy hard hitting action featuring everyone from Roman Reigns, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley to Bianca Belair, Jey Uso and World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER.
It’s an excited time, and one you’ll want to make sure you’re ready for.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is WWE moving to Netflix?
WWE is switching over to Netflix from January 2025, and for UK fans that’ll be from the get-go on New Year’s Day.
Exciting superstars like Bianca Belair are making the move (Picture: WWE)
The official move is the January 6 episode of Monday Night Raw (for US fans, that’s the only show heading to Netflix right now) – for us Brits, it’s a real game changer.
What WWE shows will be on Netflix?
In short, for those outside the United States, we’re getting everything.
All the hard hitting, high flying action will be available (Picture: WWE)
This includes weekly live episodes of Raw, SmackDown and NXT, plus every monthly PLE like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and beyond.
Netflix and WWE have also confirmed that ‘select programming and historic PLEs’ will be available, although it’s yet to be revealed exactly what’s included there.
What is happening to the WWE Network?
It’s almost time to say goodbye to the WWE Network – essentially, once your region switches to Netflix, WWE’s own streaming platform will shut down.
The WWE Network will be no more (Picture: WWE Network)
‘On January 1, 2025, WWE Network will no longer be available in your area. After January 1, Netflix will be the new exclusive home of WWE,’ reads an email sent to subscribers next week.
‘End of an Era for WWE Network,’ wrote Inside The Ropes chief Kenny McIntosh, while fan @LANDsGal28 added: ‘Its an end of an era! Ill miss have the WWE Network 🖤’
Another fan, @AdamCastle__, tweeted: ‘Ngl kinda sad to see WWE Network go. End of an era! But also happy I have one less subscription to pay for 🤣 Very excited for the Netflix era 🙏🏽’
Who will be at the first WWE Raw on Netflix?
Not surprisingly, the first Raw of the new era is expected to be absolutely stacked, and WWE’s chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has already confirmed some exciting plans.
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Hip hop megastar Travis Scott will be in attendance at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles for the event, and it’s been revealed his new music will serve as the show’s revamped theme tune.
Also set for the show are the likes of Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Bianca Belair, John Cena and other ‘surprise guests’ as WWE looks to pull out all the stops.
Are WWE worried about Netflix buffering issues after Mike Tyson v Jake Paul?
After the huge Mike Tyson v Jake Paul boxing match was marred by buffering issues due to its huge audience, fans have been wondering how Netflix will handle streaming Raw, SmackDown and NXT every week, plus a PLE each month.
The Jake Paul/Mike Tyson fight struggled with buffering (Picture: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)
Triple H has acknowledged the issue, admitting he actually thought it was just an issue at his end because he was tuning in on his jet.
‘I don’t want to flex about it, but it was buffering on my end because I was on a plane watching it. The buffering was expected on my side,’ he told Greg and the Morning Buzz.
Triple H has played down the concerns (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
‘We were flying back from TV watching the fight and the signal was wonky. I thought, “We’re 40,000 feet in the air, it should be.”
‘Then, seeing it online of everybody saying it was buffering. You start putting 60 million households all at once on a streaming service – if our first night buffers and they come and say there were 60-70 million households watching, I’ll be good with the buffering.’
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