Raw On Netflix Was A Blast, But I Have 8 Lingering Questions About WWE’s Flagship Show Moving Forward

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At last… The legendary WWE program, Monday Night Raw, has made its debut on Netflix, marking a fresh start or phase, as the company refers to it. The initial episode, available for streaming to all Netflix subscribers, was filled with intrigue as The Rock’s comeback to the flagship show left fans puzzled, John Cena began his farewell tour with a hint at the Royal Rumble, and Hulk Hogan faced harsh boos from the WWE Universe. Moreover, there were some fantastic matches spread across the more than three-hour show.

After the thrill of CM Punk’s victory over Seth Rollins in the main event has begun to fade (though, who knows when that excitement might spark up again), I find myself mulling over several intriguing queries that have been swirling in my mind since then. Here are some thoughts on how the latest episode of Raw will influence future WWE events.

What’s The Deal With The Raw Runtime?

Approximately a few months following WWE’s first two-hour episode of Raw in over a decade, the company reverted to a three-hour format for its debut on Netflix. However, it remains unclear whether this will become the norm or an exception. To be honest, I have grown accustomed to the longer runtime since 2012, and returning to just two hours felt lacking.

Prior to Raw moving to Netflix in January 2025, Paul “Triple H” Levesque stated on the SI Media Podcast that Sports Illustrated’s podcast, the company would adapt to the runtime due to Netflix being a distinct platform compared to cable channels that had aired the show for its initial 32 years. Although it is thrilling that WWE is trying a new method for weekly runtime and avoiding both overcrowding and underfilling the show, I must admit I’m still somewhat puzzled.

How Much Will We See John Cena Throughout 2025?

There are several John Cena movies, TV shows, and other projects coming up, including his much-anticipated yet dreaded retirement tour. The busy wrestler-turned-actor hinted at upcoming events like the Royal Rumble in the premiere of Raw on Netflix, outlining his ambitions for the closing stages of his ring career. However, one significant question remains: how frequently will we get to watch Cena this year?

Will his role involve regular appearances every week, entertaining us with exciting matches against both old foes and fresh opponents, or will he make sporadic appearances only during significant WWE events such as WrestleMania 41, SummerSlam, and Money in the Bank? I truly hope it’s the former scenario.

Is WWE Retconning The Whole “Final Boss” Story? Because It Appears That Way

I enjoyed watching The Rock make his comeback to WWE during the Raw Netflix debut, but it seemed more like we were witnessing Dwayne Johnson donning the “Final Boss” costume rather than the heel character that rejuvenated his wrestling career in 2024 and made WrestleMania 40’s main event an unforgettable spectacle. In fact, with The Rock acting friendly towards Cody Rhodes so soon after brutally battling him both inside and outside the ring, it gives the impression that WWE might be rewriting their storyline history.

It’s possible that the “Final Boss” is concealed within there, with his flashy People’s Championship title, ready to strike when we underestimate him. Frankly, I hope it’s true, but I can’t say I’m optimistic about it at this point in time.

This Has To Be The End Of Rhea Ripley And Liv Morgan’s Feud, Right?

By the close of 2024, one of my coworkers penned down speculations about potential matches for WrestleMania 41, including those they’d rather avoid. Among them was a suggestion for Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley to contest for the Women’s World Championship, which I concur is an ongoing rivalry that should be concluded. Following their impressive clash on Raw, where Ripley reclaimed the title, I can only hope that this marked the finale of their storyline.

I appreciate Ripley and Morgan, but they have numerous potential opponents for future feuds, which would open up opportunities for other wrestlers to challenge for the title or experience a satisfying narrative arc. To be honest, the WWE has been quite flexible with the rematch clause lately.

Netflix Didn’t Really Censor Too Much During The Premiere, But Will That Continue?

It’s likely that The Right To Censor faction wasn’t pleased, as WWE allowed a significant amount of uncensored content during the premiere of Raw. The use of words like “bullshit” and chants of “Fuck you Solo,” along with Travis Scott carrying a lit joint and walking with Jey Uso to the ring, made Raw feel less family-friendly, reminiscent of the Attitude Era or Ruthless Aggression periods.

However, does this incident indicate a trend for future events or was it merely an exception that demonstrated the flexibility of the current format compared to the cable era? In other words, although The Rock’s use of the F-word was censored, the overall picture remains somewhat unclear.

Will Netflix And WWE Ever Release The Footage We Missed During Commercial Breaks?

Although Raw is available on Netflix, it surprisingly included commercial interruptions during its debut. The breaks weren’t as frequent or intrusive as they used to be on cable TV, but they did interrupt some ring action, exclusive interviews, and special segments that international viewers didn’t experience. Could we ever get access to this content, perhaps even through official channels?

Some content might be available on social media sites, but it’s not produced by WWE or Netflix. I checked to see if any of the missing segments had been added to their on-demand services, but they hadn’t; instead, commercials were included.

How Long Until WWE Starts Touting Raw Being In The Netflix Top 10?

It didn’t surprise me when Raw made it to one of the top spots on Netflix following its premiere, and I can assure you that in no time, Michael Cole and other WWE commentators will frequently mention this achievement alongside phrases like “Top trending topic on X” during every show, press conference, and elsewhere.

What’s the timeline for this event? It could be during Friday’s SmackDown, next week on Raw, or it might happen earlier. Let’s wait and find out.

Honestly, Is Hulkamania Dead?

To conclude, did Hulkamania expire? One unexpected moment was the crowd’s hostile reception towards Hulk Hogan, not the usual antagonistic response from WWE fans, but rather a “leave us alone” hostility. WWE shared a brief YouTube video of his comeback, but it ended prematurely before the boos reached their peak. Interestingly, they also didn’t post a full-length clip on their YouTube channel, which is unusual given Hogan’s stature as one of the greatest wrestlers ever and his significant contributions to WWE in the ’80s.

My coworker extensively discussed the audience’s response, suggesting it wasn’t solely due to Hogan’s recent political statements (It’s worth noting that The Undertaker, sharing similar political views, was greeted as a hero when he returned on the same night). I don’t think WWE will reinstate Hogan, especially in cities like Los Angeles or any other place packed with vocal wrestling enthusiasts.

Even with some unanswered questions still hanging around, I’m eagerly anticipating how Raw will perform on Netflix in the coming days. It certainly set the stage for the 2025 TV schedule quite impressively, and there are even more significant episodes like the post-Mania Raw and others yet to come!

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2025-01-09 13:07