WWE and Netflix signed a historic deal at the end of 2024 which was implemented at the beginning of this year. Monday Night RAW; the flagship show of WWE was featured on the mentioned OTT platform on January 6th after the promotion ended their long term partnership with USA Network. Soon, the rest of the shows of WWE including PLEs will also move to the famous OTT platform.
Reports suggest that WWE and Netflix signed a deal worth $5 billion to move Monday Night RAW to Netflix. The fans are eagerly waiting to see the returns of blood and gore following the historic deal. Since 2008, WWE has been a PG product and there has been no regular blood like in the previous eras.
Michael Cole Makes Big Revelation: Why Netflix Wanted WWE, “That’s Why Netflix Wanted Us”
But why Netflix decide to go with WWE and not with any other wrestling promotions like AEW or NJPW? WWE legend Michael Cole who had been a long time WWE commentator explained that it was the storytelling ability of WWE that got them the epic Netflix deal. Speaking with Logan Paul on his “IMPAULSIVE” podcast, Michael Cole revealed;
“That’s why Netflix wanted us. Netflix understands we are a storytelling entity first. We’re not professional wrestling anymore, we haven’t been for many years. We’re an entertainment product. We need stories so our fans can emotionally invest in our characters. Why do they hate Logan Paul? Because he’s a cocky prick, right? As a character.”
Michael Cole has been active in WWE since 1997
“We’re an entertainment product. It’s the emotional connection, whether you’re a bad guy or good guy. It’s one of the reasons we’re on Netflix now. I tell people all the time, I’ve never pretended in 28 years to be a professional wrestling announcer. I’m not. I’m a narrator, I’m a storytelling, I’m a pitch man, I’m a play-by-play announcer, somewhat.
Michael Cole is the lead television announcer of WWE right now
“I embellish stories, I create characters. I’m a jack of all trades. That’s one thing, when I first started my career here, now of the reasons fans hated me, because I wasn’t a professional wrestling announcer. I think over the years they’ve come to respect the work ethic and they also understand that I’ve been a soundtrack for a couple of generations. Not only in the business, but for fans watching at home."
The Netflix RAW Premiere that aired on January 6th of this year was a big show which featured the biggest names of the promotion in action like Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre. It also featured the long awaited Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk on the main event of the show. Overall, RAW has been quite entertaining on Netflix and we can expect the show grow even stronger in the future.
H/T - eWrestlingNews
