WWE’s major launch on Netflix is just days away and one top star still has Stone Cold Steve Austin on his mind.
The world’s biggest wrestling organisation takes a major step into a digital revolution in the New Year, with its flagship Monday Night Raw programme ditching linear television for the first time in its history in favour of a home with the streaming giant.
3
For over 30 years, the red brand show has been a staple part of conventional television for viewers in the US, but that all changes with a debut episode on Netflix on January 6th.
WWE have already been explicitly clear in stating their maiden outing will be a similar one and an event on the scale of a WrestleMania as a packed crowd jams into the Intuit Dome in California.
Fans of the current product already know they’ll be treated to some top action featuring the stars of the day, with Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa set to battle in what could likely be the main event as they face off in Tribal Combat.
The forever-running storyline between Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley looks to be edging towards a climax, with Netflix airing a Last Women Standing match for Morgan’s Women’s World Championship.
CM Punk and Seth Rollins will also meet as their bitter rivalry continues, but it won’t just be the 2025 cohort of WWE stars that shines on January 6.
Legends of bygone eras are also set to feature as the company rightly taps into a more mainstream fanbase.
The Rock, John Cena and Shawn Michaels are all rumoured to be involved in the show, with Austin’s name also included in a recent WrestleVotes report about the legends who might appear, which added: “Anybody that they have under a Legends deal and is healthy enough to be in Los Angeles, I would expect to be there.”
Kevin Owens meets Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at February’s Royal Rumble – which will also be aired on Netflix – having been Austin’s opponent for the veteran’s last match in 2022.
That bout – a headline match at WrestleMania 38 – was Austin’s first in almost 20 years, and smashed all expectations in its execution, making it no surprise that it still ranks highly in career moments for the 40-year-old.
Discussing WWE’s Netflix launch with talkSPORT, Owens said he’d urge new wrestling fans to ‘pick one match and enjoy it’ to delve into the world of professional wrestling for the first time.
3
3
However he had a far more specific answer when asked which of his own efforts he’d go back to re-live.
He said: “There’s going to be there’s something for everyone [with WWE on Netflix].
“As far as if I were to pick a match for me to go back and watch, if I’m talking about my own career, it’s very hard for me not to go back and watch me and Stone Cold.
“I still can’t believe it happened in a lot of ways. So, I’ll go back and watch that pretty, pretty frequently.
“It’s pretty surreal.”
WWE have confirmed that Netflix will carry selected archive episodes of Raw and other shows come the New Year – a wider selection of content available outside of the US, where only Raw will feature.
In the UK, all WWE weekly TV shows will be on Netflix, alongside all Premium Live Events such as WrestleMania and Royal Rumble.
WWE’s Road to WrestleMania Tour hits the UK this March, bringing RAW and SmackDown live to The O2 Arena. Tickets available now.
