Netflix’s WWE Raw Debut Draws 4.9 Million Views Globally

Netflix‘s debut of WWE Raw on its streaming platform drew 4.9 million views globally, according to Live+1 data provided by the company. The three-hour episode, which aired live on January 8, 2025, marked the beginning of a 10-year deal between Netflix and WWE, reportedly worth over $5 billion.

The episode featured high-profile matches, including Roman Reigns defeating Solo Sikoa in a Tribal Combat match and Rhea Ripley reclaiming the women’s world championship title. The event also saw appearances from wrestling legends like John Cena, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Hulk Hogan.

Netflix’s viewership metric defines a view as total hours watched divided by the runtime. The 4.9 million views exclude 92 countries and territories where Netflix does not yet distribute WWE content, including France, Germany, India, and Japan. In the U.S., the episode was watched by 2.6 million households, according to VideoAmp, more than double the 1.2 million households that Raw averaged on USA Network in 2024.

Raw previously aired on USA Network, where its final episode on December 30, 2024, averaged 1.596 million viewers. The show’s move to Netflix represents a significant shift in WWE’s distribution strategy and underscores Netflix’s growing investment in live streaming content.

Netflix has been expanding its live sports and entertainment offerings, including a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul and NFL games. The WWE Raw debut is the latest in this push, as the streaming giant seeks to diversify its content and attract a broader audience.

Meanwhile, Squid Game season 2, which premiered in late 2024, continues to dominate Netflix’s top 10 list. The show has amassed 126.2 million views in just 11 days, making it one of the platform’s most-watched non-English series. Netflix also announced that Squid Game will return for a third season in 2025.

As Netflix continues to experiment with live content, the success of WWE Raw and other high-profile releases like Stranger Things season 5 and Wednesday season 2 could make 2025 a record-breaking year for the streaming service.