Image: Raw (left) and Smackdown (right)

As Netflix and WWE enter an exciting new era and partnership, one of the significant differences we will see is that Raw will air exclusively on a streaming service for the first time in its history; meanwhile, Smackdown will remain on the USA Network. So what differences can we expect to see?

Exciting times ahead for WWE as Raw moves forward Netflix exclusively in January 2025. We already hope to see many new and bold changesBut how will Raw differ from its rivals Smackdown?

With fewer restrictions, will Raw be released? Will we see the return of adult content like that of the late 90s? Will this propel Raw and Smackdown to bold new heights and reignite the brand rivalry fans loved throughout the 2000s? Let’s find out.

Execution times

On July 23, 2012, Raw switched to a permanent three-hour format on USA Network. Still, as Raw’s time on USA Network was running out ahead of its move to Netflix, a short-term deal was signed between WWE and USA Network to continue airing the series for the remainder of 2024. However, the new short The term deal included Raw, reducing its runtime from three hours to two.

Meanwhile, Smackdown, which recently returned to USA Network after spending four years on FOX, received a longer run time two to three hours. However, this three-hour format is only temporary and starting in mid-May 2025, the show will return to two hours.

It’s still unclear if Raw will return to the three-man format, but recent reports have suggested that the program will last at least two hours and will be “closer to three.” This means that without network restrictions, Raw can run for as long as needed for each program.

Image: Damian Priest on Raw – WWE / TKO Holdings

Wrestling fans will be used to the number of commercial breaks that appear extensively on Raw and Smackdown. While fans are used to this, commercial breaks often interrupt the action and occur frequently during wrestling matches. During a commercial break, the pace of a wrestling match will slow down significantly, where attendees are expected to see wrestlers advance and retreat with various break techniques, such as headlocks and submission maneuvers.

However, Raw will air exclusively on a network that does not run ads for its standard and premium subscribers. This means, for the first time in Raw history, that commercial breaks will not interrupt the action. In theory, this would mean there will be fewer opportunities or certainly less need for fighters to use rest checks to extend the duration of a match. It remains to be seen how this will affect the average length of a wrestling match. Still, it will present an excellent opportunity for Raw’s talented wrestlers to showcase more intense and fast-paced matches than previously seen when the promotion was on the USA Network.

As for Smackdown, the promotion will remain on USA Network, meaning audiences outside of the US streaming exclusively on Netflix will likely see a noticeable difference in the intensity and pace of matches between Raw and Smackdown.

Image: The Bloodline on Smackdown – WWE / TKO Holdings

Raw will be more mature

Since Raw will be on Netflix, a streaming service, this offers many more opportunities to explore more mature content since it will no longer have the restrictions of network television.

Image: Shawn Michaels (below) and Triple H (above) of D-Generation X, one of the most popular factions in WWE history known for pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable on television – WWE

We’re not suggesting that Raw immediately move to an R rating or even a mature rating. However, it offers the creative team and wrestlers the opportunity to explore themes not seen since the Attitude Era. Some simple examples are swearing and not shying away from the crowd, engaging in chants containing swear words, using swords, and allowing blood to be shown on screen. There are also more mature themes that we could see in the narrative.

Given how far WWE has gone to distance itself from the era where female wrestlers and on-screen personalities were heavily sexualized and exploited, we don’t expect risqué content anytime soon.

Image: Stone Cold Steve Austin, the face of WWE’s Attitude Era in the late 90s – WWE

Will Raw be better than Smackdown?

That remains to be seen. But given what Raw offers its audience (no ad breaks, more adult content, and a two-hour runtime), it’s hard not to see Raw becoming WWE’s most popular brand once again.

Image: Survivor Series, where Smackdown and Raw face off for brand supremacy. – WWE

As the saying goes, the tide rises all boats. So the more successful Raw becomes on Netflix, we’d like to think that Smackdown will go further to give its audience an equally compelling show.

Exciting times lie ahead for WWE and Netflix.

How will this affect the audience?

As of Q3 2024, Netflix has around 282.7 million paid subscribers worldwide. The United States has 66.7 million Netflix subscribers, representing almost a quarter of the entire subscriber base.

Domestically and globally, Raw’s move to Netflix presents an opportunity to grow the product dramatically. The streaming service releases weekly viewing figures for its global top ten charts, and as of January 2025, we’d expect Raw to be close to being a permanent fixture on the top ten list.

At the time of writing this article, Slap is currently the more popular of the two brands and continues to beat Raw in Nielsen ratings. However, Netflix has a working relationship with Nielsenso Raw’s move to the streaming service should not affect the company’s ability to report on Raw’s ratings. Smackdown is not available on Netflix in the US, so it won’t be surprising to see the show trail RAW in the global top ten list.

At the very least, we hope millions of current, new and returning fans will flock to Netflix to watch the new look of Raw. This means that Smackdown’s dominance in the ratings won’t continue for much longer.

What do you think? What changes do you think we will see in Raw on Netflix compared to Smackdown? Let us know in the comments below!