WWE RAW on Netflix: What You Need to Know Before Tuning In

For the past few weeks, Netflix subscribers have logged into their accounts to find scowling WWE superstars adorning their screens. That’s because in January 2024, Netflix and WWE struck a hefty $5 billion, 10-year deal to bring WWE’s flagship show, RAW, to the streaming giant.

With all apologies to The New Day, Netflix and WWE make for wrestling’s greatest tag team. Netflix is pushing to become a major player in the premium live event arena, and the WWE is surging in popularity right now. It’s a match made in pop culture heaven. On January 6th, WWE RAW made its streaming debut, live from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

Diehard wrestling fans were always going to support the show. It’s clear RAW’s star-studded three-hour premiere was crafted to hook folks who don’t regularly tune in.

With RAW on Netflix (and WrestleMania right around the corner), now is the perfect time for WWE newcomers to dive in. And if you’re an old-school fan who fell off during the Stone Cold era, there’s never been a better time to check back in.

HOW TO WATCH RAW ON NETFLIX

RAW airs live on Netflix every Monday night at 8 PM ET (5 PM PT) and runs for roughly two to three hours. But here’s the real game-changer: Netflix will now host “SmackDown, NXT, archive content and all WWE Premium Live Events — including WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and more — in most international markets.”

For Canadian viewers, this means jumping in right now to catch up on classic matches in the lead-up to this weekend’s Royal Rumble event with no need for a new subscription.

WWE’S NEW ERA: IT’S “GAME” TIME

First off, WWE’s former owner and figurehead Vince McMahon is no longer running the show. He resigned after sexual misconduct allegations by a former employee. Nick Khan currently serves as WWE’s President while sitting on TKO Group Holdings’ board of directors while Paul “Triple” H Levesque is the company’s Chief Content Officer.

Fans refer to this period as the Triple H era, defined by an investment in young talent and a commitment to long-term storytelling. Triple H’s leadership continues to foster a deep talent pool, and thrilling feuds carrying over week-to-week.

WWE’s deep well of talent all starts with NXT — WWE’s developmental brand. Up-and-coming talent (or veterans needing a refresh) fight to make a name for themselves on NXT before moving up to RAW and Smackdown. Current WWE headliners like Bianca Belair, Gunther, and Roman Reigns (more on him shortly) each showed flashes of their megastar potential in the NXT ring.

THE EVOLUTION OF WWE’S ROSTER

In the 90’s and 2000’s, wrestlers who lacked strong in-ring skills could earn a roster spot based on charisma and a marketable gimmick while female wrestlers and valets functioned as eye candy. Fortunately, the times have changed.

Today, any given undercard competitor have move sets that would make Mr. Perfect feel inadequate. And female stars, once treated as an afterthought, now headline major events and perform in show-stealing matches that challenge the male competitors to work harder. Case in point…

RHEA RIPLEY

In just a few years Ripley evolved from a promising prospect to one of the faces of the company. The young in-ring powerhouse found her groove while terrorizing the competition as part of the villainous faction, The Judgment Day.

Wrestling fans love to boo heels (bad guys), but Ripley is such a badass she’s impossible to root against. Her devastating in-ring style and rockstar charisma make her pro wrestling’s ultimate anti-hero.

Watching a Rhea Ripley match is like witnessing a demolition derby set to a Megadeth soundtrack — brutal, intense, and impossible to look away from. And at only 28 years old, this rising star has only scratched the surface of what she can do.

Soon after WrestleMania, an injury forced Ripley to relinquish her title. She spent most of 2024 chasing down her rival Liv Morgan to reclaim her forfeited championship. Now, with the title strap back around “Mami’s” waist, she’s waiting in the wings to defend her prize at WrestleMania against the winner of this weekend’s Women’s Royal Rumble match.

CM PUNK

In 2014, it seemed like CM Punk was done with the WWE. Punk’s growing frustration with the company led him to cut ties and seemingly retire from the business. After a disappointing UFC stint and a decade’s worth of bad blood, Punk shocked the WWE universe with his return at Survivor Series: WarGames in November 2023.

Though injuries sidelined him for much of 2024, Punk was at the centre of one of the year’s biggest storylines, a feud with Drew McIntyre. Their caustic in-ring promos left fans wondering what was scripted and what was legit hatred, culminating in three violent matches that played out like a Game of Thrones blood feud.

With the Drew McIntyre saga behind him, Punk set his sights on championship gold, and his shot at headlining WrestleMania. Where Punk fits into the main event picture is still up in the air. The 46-year-old star is a walking legend, and still a show-stopping talent capable of being one of the faces of the company. But with WrestleMania split over two nights, he faces stiff competition for one of the main events slots.

BIANCA BELAIR

The WWE’s self-proclaimed “EST” (strongest, fastest, toughest) is quite simply a freak of nature — I mean this in the best possible way.

Bianca Belair’s dynamic move set, jaw-dropping athleticism, and supernova-level charisma make her matches must-see TV. One moment she’s hoisting 250 lbs opponents over her shoulders; the next she’s launching into a running shooting star press with ninja-like grace.

Belair stepped away from the WWE Women’s Championship race to pursue the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Jade Cargill. With Cargill losing her spot on the team to Naomi after getting injured by an unknown attacker, a feud with Belair feels inevitable.

JOHN CENA

For almost two decades, John Cena poured his blood, sweat, and tears into his WWE career, though audiences haven’t always appreciated his efforts. His squeaky clean, never-quit attitude and golden boy status among WWE’s top brass made him a divisive figure among fans. During Cena matches crowds would often break into chants of “Let’s go, Cena,” while the rest of the arena responds, “Cena sucks.”

However, nostalgia is a powerful thing.

Last June at Money in the Bank in Toronto, Cena announced he’s retiring from wrestling, and 2025 will be his farewell tour. Now, all those Cena haters pulled a 180, like when the Grinch’s tiny heart swelled up two sizes too big.

With 16 WWE World Title reigns to his name, Cena presents an intriguing new wrinkle into the main event picture. Should Cena reach 17, he’ll make history, shattering Ric Flair’s record. Is it possible a past his prime former face of the company can overcome the odds and bring home the gold one last time? I would buy a ticket to see that story play out.

CODY RHODES

The ability to reinvent oneself is essential to staying on top of the pro wrestling business. And in recent years no one has done a better job reinventing their career than The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes.

Cody Rhodes, son of wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes shook off a rocky start to his WWE career to become the face of the company. After failing to catch on under the monikers of Dashing Cody Rhodes and Stardust, Rhodes attained star status working with rival wrestling promotion AEW in 2019. Since returning to WWE in 2022, the American Nightmare transformed into a main eventer and the company’s top babyface (good guy).

In a match for the ages at WrestleMania 40, Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns (WWE’s Thanos) to claim the WWE Championship. For the past ten months, Rhodes has taken on allcomers as a fighting champion, but his title run has lacked a top-tier feud (sorry KO).

With the road to WrestleMania kicking off this weekend at the Royal Rumble, the WWE title picture will finally take shape, putting a target on Rhodes’ back, and setting the stage for WrestleMania 41’s main event.

ROMAN REIGNS

In a company loaded with charismatic personalities and world-class wrestling talent, Roman Reigns is the WWE’s star amongst stars. Reigns’ 1,316-day title reign (April 30, 2020 — April 27, 2024) established him as the company’s alpha dog; an unstoppable force of nature, spearing and Superman punching his way through one challenger after the next.

Reigns whose actual name is Leati Joseph Anoaʻi has wrestling in his blood. His father and uncle (Sika and Afa) formed the legendary tag team, the Wild Samoans. He’s cousins with Rikishi, Umaga, and Yokozuna (and even counts The Rock as a distant cousin). In 2021, the Anoaʻi family’s deep ties to the wrestling industry set the stage for one of the hottest wrestling storylines of the century.

A year into his championship run, Reigns formed The Bloodline (think of it as this generation’s NWO). The stable included Reign’s cousins, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, and Solo Sikoa along with honourary “Uce,” Sami Zayn. Managed by the Wiseman Paul Heyman, The Bloodline cheated and schemed their way to win after win, dominating the championship picture.

The Bloodline fractured after Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 last April. Reigns took leave of WWE with Solo Sikoa, The Bloodline’s enforcer stepping in to fill the void. Sikoa turned on the old Bloodline members and brought in a new crew of bloodthirsty competitors (Tama Tonga, Toma Loa, Jacob Fatu), ultimately leading to a Bloodline civil war.

On RAW’s January 6 debut, Roman defeated Sikoa in a one-on-one match to reclaim his status as the Original Tribal Chief. With the Bloodline feud behind him, Roman now sets his sights on entering the Royal Rumble to earn a shot at reclaiming his title.