The debut episode of WWE Monday Night Raw on Netflix has delivered strong viewership numbers globally. Netflix announced on Thursday that the episode recorded 4.9 million live views worldwide, calculated by dividing total viewing hours by the program’s runtime.
Raw averaged 2.6 million households in the US market, representing a 116% increase from the show’s 2024 average of 1.2 million households when it aired on cable. The debut episode delivered the highest US viewership for any Raw episode in the past five years. The show also doubled its audience in the key 18 to 49 demographic compared to last year, Netflix reported.
After decades of airing on cable television, this marks WWE’s first foray into streaming for its flagship show. The move to Netflix follows a landmark 10-year agreement valued at $5 billion, giving Netflix exclusive rights to Raw. The debut episode, held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, was presented as a major event with a lineup of headline-worthy matches.
The episode featured Roman Reigns defeating Solo Sikoa in Tribal Combat, securing his role as Tribal Chief. Other matches included Rhea Ripley becoming the new Women’s World Champion, Jey Uso defeating Drew McIntyre, and CM Punk winning against Seth Rollins. The show also included several appearances by WWE legends and celebrities, such as The Rock, John Cena, and rapper Travis Scott. Netflix highlighted that its figures may not fully capture the complete viewership, as WWE shows are not yet available in 92 countries and territories, including major markets like France, Germany, India, and Japan.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul, said, “Triple H. The early numbers are strong, and they’re very pleased. Look to be very impressive.”
Monday’s episode also featured a notable segment where The Rock opened the show, delivering a promo in which he praised WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The episode concluded with The Rock ceremonially placing the sacred Ula Fala around Roman Reigns’ neck after his victory in Tribal Combat.
Additionally, Raw’s transition to Netflix marks a significant shift for WWE, as it explores new platforms to expand its global audience reach. The debut episode’s record-breaking viewership indicates a promising start for the streaming partnership.