The debut of WWE’s Monday Night RAW on Netflix delivered a powerhouse performance, racking up 4.9 million global views in its Live+1 rating. This marks a triumphant start to WWE’s partnership with Netflix, part of TKO Group Holdings, and sets a high bar for future programming.
Record-Breaking Audience and Engagement
The inaugural broadcast, streamed from a sold-out Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, drew an average of 2.6 million U.S. households in its Live+SD rating, a staggering 116% increase compared to RAW’s 2024 U.S. average audience of 1.2 million. According to VideoAmp, this performance makes it the most-watched RAW episode in over five years.
Demonstrating its appeal across demographics, the episode more than doubled its A18-49 audience compared to the prior year, underscoring its reach among younger viewers. Social media was equally electric, with #WWERaw trending #1 in the U.S., Brazil, Australia, and the UK for hours after the event began. WWE reported 223 million social views on the day of the premiere, surpassing any episode from 2024.
Memorable Matches and Star-Studded Moments
For many fans who were around for the original Monday Night Raw debut at the Manhattan Center in 1993, this felt like the same type of major event. The more things change, the more they same the same. The Undertaker, who main evented the original Raw broadcast, made a surprise drive-by in this classic 2000 biker character. Standing besides Rhea Ripley, fans felt it was a passing of the torch as only the Dead Man can do.
The match that preceded it was one for the books as fans were treated to unforgettable action as Rhea Ripley reclaimed the Women’s World Championship. Earlier in the show, Roman Reigns reclaimed his Tribal Chief thrown by defeating Solo Sikoa in tribal combat. Later, CM Punk triumphed over Seth “Freakin” Rollins in a heated rivalry, and Jey Uso secured a victory against Drew McIntyre. Special appearances by wrestling legends like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena added extra star power. Cena, who launched his farewell tour at the event, will feature prominently in upcoming Netflix content.
A Landmark Partnership and New Records Set
This milestone follows the January 2024 landmark deal between WWE and Netflix, which made the platform the exclusive home for RAW in territories like the U.S., UK, and Latin America. Beyond RAW, Netflix now streams SmackDown, NXT, WWE’s extensive archive, and all Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania and SummerSlam, in most international markets.
The event wasn’t just a viewership win; it also set company records as the highest-grossing WWE arena event and non-Premium Live Event in merchandise sales.
With this stunning debut, RAW on Netflix marks a bold new era for WWE, combining the spectacle of live sports entertainment with the reach of a global streaming platform. Fans can expect this partnership to continue delivering thrilling moments and setting new benchmarks.