RAW’s Netflix premiere was a phenomenal way to kick off the new WWE era

If you didn’t know that WWE made its debut on Netflix last night, you were probably living under a rock. It’s not like they didn’t advertise the move on every platform imaginable to make sure everyone was aware.

Now that the first Raw on Netflix is in the books, and as HHH said at the beginning of the show, the Netflix era has started—and it started with a huge bang. This show highlighted exactly why WWE is the number one company in professional wrestling, proving that no one else can touch them.

To make a great first impression on new viewers, they delivered not one but two WrestleMania-worthy matches that could easily be considered Match of the Year candidates. They brought in legends to appeal to long-time fans who might not be familiar with the current roster, while also showcasing the new generation. Celebrities packed the crowd, underscoring the product’s mainstream popularity. The entire event felt like a mini-WrestleMania in January.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the show overall, I felt they overdid the Netflix praise last night. I get it—you want fans to know what’s airing on Netflix outside of WWE and show appreciation for the platform—but you didn’t need to bring it up every five minutes.

I really liked how they handled commercial breaks, either by showing video packages, conducting interviews, or continuing the matches uninterrupted. If they keep that approach moving forward, I’m all for it.

The card itself was one of the best-booked in WWE history. They kicked off with The Rock, who delivered a strong face promo. He also squashed his beef with Cody, signaling that their program is officially over.

Next came the Roman Reigns vs. Solo match, which was a five-star classic with an incredible story told over 30-plus minutes. The post-match segment was just as well-executed, with a subtle tease for a Reigns vs. Rock match down the road—a nice touch.

After one of the many “look at how many celebrities are in the arena” segments, John Cena appeared and had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. By the time he announced he was entering the Royal Rumble, the fans were ready to explode. A fantastic promo from one of the best to ever do it.

The women’s championship match was another highlight. Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley delivered a strong performance, and the fans got the ending they wanted with Rhea reclaiming her title. The post-match moment with The Undertaker giving his stamp of approval to Rhea was the cherry on top.

The Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre match was another standout. Both guys understood the magnitude of the night and delivered a fantastic match with a satisfying finish.

One misstep of the evening was Hulk Hogan’s appearance. He came out to give a face promo about WWE’s partnership with Netflix, but it felt tone-deaf given the current political climate. Hogan’s pro-Trump stance didn’t sit well with the largely anti-Trump crowd, and his shaky performance didn’t help matters either. While I respect Hogan for what he did for the business, this was not the right time or place.

Finally, the main event delivered in spades. Seth Rollins and CM Punk put on an incredible match, proving that Punk can still perform at a high level without injury despite his age.

Overall, this was a phenomenal way to kick off WWE’s new era on Netflix and reinforced why they are the major league of professional wrestling. At the same time, it also underscored the need for viable alternatives to WWE. Now the big question is how they will follow up on this show in the coming weeks and months. This was an excellent introduction for first-time viewers, but they can’t produce WrestleMania-level content every week. To maintain this momentum, they’ll need to keep telling compelling stories and ensuring their talent continues to shine.