WWE Raw’s Netflix Premiere: A Groundbreaking Night in Wrestling Entertainment
WWE made history by debuting Monday Night Raw on Netflix. The transition to a streaming service for one of WWE’s flagship shows came after 31 years on cable television. Though the company’s other shows take place on cable television, Smackdown is on the USA Network and NXT is on the CW, that could change soon. The brand’s debut on Netflix was essentially treated as a premium live event with the amount of big-name superstars on the card. Here are the big takeaways from Monday night.
New Logo and Ads on the Ring
Raw’s ring looks a little different than usual. First, Raw debuted a new logo that was displayed all over the arena. The new logo showed the word "Raw" in a thick silver font on a red background with a slight angle that rises from left to right. Also, the ring now has advertisements all over the ring mat, which is now completely black aside from the ads. In the center, a Fortnite logo can be seen while other notable ads around it are: Snickers, Cricket, and Netflix’s logo. While some fans might scoff at this as looking tacky, they must remember that WWE is a business and that New Japan Pro Wrestling has also adorned their mats with ads.
The Rock’s Face Turn Poses Questions
The Rock kicked off the show by hyping up the opening match between Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, a tribal combat match for the Ula Fala to establish the one, true “tribal chief.” The People’s Champion hinted at turning back into a babyface, cutting his vintage promo, stating that “Finally, The Rock has come back to Los Angeles” and finished his promo with his patented catchphrase: “If you smell what The Rock is cooking.” He then went out to the ring after Reigns’ victory, embracing Reigns and crowning him with the Ula Fala which further solidified his return as a face in WWE. Before leaving the arena, he revealed that he would be at NXT: New Year’s Evil the following night at the Shrine Expo Hall. This show raised many questions about The Rock’s future. Will he perform at WrestleMania 41 now that he, Reigns, and Cody Rhodes are all babyfaces on the roster? What will he do on New Year’s Evil? Will he take a step back to allow John Cena to pursue his farewell tour?
Cena Excites Fans with Hopes of Record-Breaking Farewell Tour
Following that thriller of an opening match, Cena came out to a standing ovation from a raucous Los Angeles crowd. Cena went on to thank LA, saying how he learned how to wrestle there, won his first World Championship there, and lived a few blocks from the Intuit Dome. He went on to tease the fans, addressing the speculations of his WrestleMania 41 opponent as well as his potentially record-breaking 17th World Championship reign. The fans’ interest peaked as Cena hypothesized that the only way he could win that coveted world title was if he won the Royal Rumble, survived the Elimination Chamber, or won the Money in the Bank. The 47-year-old superstar then declared that he would win the Royal Rumble. If he wins his final Rumble match, then he would be tied with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin for most Royal Rumble wins in history. That hypothetical victory would also make him the only wrestler to win the Royal Rumble match in three separate decades; 2008, 2013, and 2025.
New Year, New Women’s Champs
Tiffany Stratton made history by winning her first championship on WWE’s main roster by cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase on Nia Jax last Friday night. Rhea Ripley continued the trend of 2025 crowning new women’s champions by defeating longtime rival Liv Morgan, ending her reign at 226 days. Both of these victories establish storylines for the Royal Rumble. Stratton and Jax were friends before their relationship became strained as Jax continued to dismiss her. Ripley and Morgan’s extensive feud has been carrying on for a long time and it would serve everyone better to finalize it at the Royal Rumble. Only time will tell if 2025 will be a year for Tiffy Time and Mami as long-term champions.
WWE Legends Garner Differing Reactions
In a surprise return to WWE after almost a year, Hulk Hogan was greeted with boos from the California crowd. The boos reigned throughout the stadium as Hogan came out with a shirt that displayed the name of his beer company “Real American Beer.” Whether it was due to his political affiliations with United States President-elect Donald Trump or his laundry list of negative press from inside and outside the ring, the crowd clearly didn’t vibe with him whatsoever. The same can’t be said for The Undertaker, a fellow Trump supporter and WWE legend, who received a positive reaction from the fans after Ripley’s title victory. Returning in his “American Badass” persona, he celebrated Ripley’s title victory, driving his motorcycle around the ring and then back up the ramp to acknowledge Ripley’s victory.
Punk’s Post-Show Promo Puts Roster on Notice
Following his main event victory over Seth “Freakin” Rollins, CM Punk was interviewed after the match by Jackie Redmond on the Raw on Netflix Post-Show which culminated in the Straight Edge Superstar setting the stage for 2025 to be a year that he checks off a lot of things from his bucket list. “I’m coming for all the gold in ‘25,” exclaimed Punk. “Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania… 46 is just a number. One through 30. Just Numbers. Royal Rumble, you’re next on the list. Gunther, I’m coming for you. Cody, I’m coming for you.” Punk hasn’t held a championship in WWE since 2013, which signaled the end of his historic 434-day reign as WWE Champion. He’s also never won a Royal Rumble match, coming closest in last year’s event by being the last entrant eliminated in Rhodes’ second consecutive Rumble victory. The Chicago, Illinois native has a 1-3 record in Elimination Chamber matches in his career but won the last one he participated in to continue his aforementioned WWE Championship reign. WrestleMania’s main event has eluded him as well, which he touched on in the Post-Show press conference, saying “If the opportunity to main-event WrestleMania arises, I won’t shy away from it.”
