Wrestling fans are adamant that WWE will crash Netflix on its debut in January.
In the US, WWE’s flagship weekly television programme Monday Night Raw will take to the streaming platform as part of a mega $5 billion deal.
In addition, Netflix will also carry all of WWE’s blockbuster pay-per-view events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam. In the UK, that reach will be even greater given all of the company’s programming will be screened via the service.
As such, WWE has made no secret of the fact that they are planning a mega event to kick things off When Monday Night Raw airs for the first time on Netflix on January 6.
Fans have been told to expect an event of WrestleMania proportions on that very special episode of the red brand show, which will takes place at the new $2bn Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Regular fans and those tuning in for the first time can expect to see the big names of the current day with Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Gunther, and Rhea Ripley all a safe bet to feature.
WWE is well accomplished putting on a big bash, however, so it’s expected that a fair share of legends and big names from the past will also be in attendance.
Just how sizeable a splash the company are planning to make seems to be getting clearer with each passing week, and a new report has hinted at just how big the card on the night could be.
WrestleVotes Radio on Backstage Pass has been discussing WWE’s Netflix debut and reckons It could be a virtual ‘Who’s Who?’ Of wrestling royalty in LA.
They threw out the names of four WWE legends who they expect to be part of the spectacle. John Cena was among them, having already confirmed his presence on the show some time ago.
Dwayne Johnson’s status on a longer-term basis heading into next year’s WrestleMania may be unknown thanks to the ever-changing rumour mill, but it seems as though he is very much planning to be a part of the big Netflix party and will be included in the broadcast, according to the outlet.
Beyond that, the show noted that WWE legend and current head of NXT Shawn Michaels will likely also make an appearance, while also hinting that Stone Cold Steve Austin could make a rare cameo having featured very sparingly over the last few years.
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Reviewing the likely ‘surprises’ on the night, WrestleVotes commented: “…Are you counting The Rock as a surprise? Are you counting John Cena as a surprise? They’ll both be there.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Steve Austin showed up. I heard Shawn Michaels may make an appearance.”
Hinting that the mega quartet wouldn’t be arriving alone, they added: “Anybody that they have under a Legends deal and is healthy enough to be in Los Angeles, I would expect to be there.”
The idea that The Rock might show up left some fans on social media beside themselves – not least those who insist he should get back in the ring and wrestle.
As for his opponent? There were shouts for a mega match against his old rival Cena, which could be sizeable enough to cripple the streaming platform in the eyes of one or two.
One Rock-hungry fan simply commented: “Please Rock!’” while another chimed in: “Rock and Roman vs Cody and Cena during WrestleMania Season?
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Another insisted: “Imagine if they said it will be Rock vs Cena on Netflix [on the first night]. It would crash Netflix like it’s Paul vs Tyson.
“Everybody and their mom is going to be on that show,” chirped another. “Filled with star power, should easily do over two million viewers.”
While it seems unlikely that WWE would command an audience quite the size of Paul v Tyson for Raw, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has already played down any worries about streaming and buffering heading into 2025.