Netflix unveils the cold open for its first ever live WWE Raw

WWE will be making history on January 6, 2025, as its flagship program, Monday Night Raw, premiered live on Netflix, marking a groundbreaking shift in sports entertainment. To celebrate this milestone, WWE unveiled a nostalgic and emotionally charged cold open narrated by Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque.

The montage intertwined iconic moments from WWE's storied past with its current roster, paying tribute to the company’s legacy while embracing its exciting future.

This debut highlighted WWE’s evolution and also set the stage for a new chapter in its global storytelling, reaching millions through Netflix's unparalleled streaming platform.

A nostalgic tribute to WWE Raw

The cold open masterfully intertwines WWE's storied past with its dynamic present. The narration by Triple H has provided the viewers and fanatics with primary snapshots of the history of wrestling, including some of the greatest legends such as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, and Becky Lynch.

This retrospective not only honors the legacy of WWE but also bridges the gap to its current roster of superstars, emphasizing the company's evolution and enduring appeal.

Setting the tone for a new era

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Because the very cold open denotes the WWE's glorious history, it suggests how meaningful Raw's transition is into global streaming through Netflix.

Commenting on the adventures or stories-emphasis-an-end-of-an-era by Triple H adds to the fact that, every now and then, the story rewrites itself within the company, thereby suggesting integration into the streaming industry as another step in that continuing process.

Star-studded premiere

The very first broadcast of Monday Night Raw on Netflix had some of the biggest names in the wrestling business at the event, including John Cena, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Logan Paul.

The venue for this grand gala was the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, a state-of-the-art, 18,000-seat facility. The venue featured highly advanced technology and the largest 4K resolution video board in the world, enhancing the experience of those in attendance for a better show or watching from the comfort of their homes.

High-profile matches

A few hot matches that brought wild excitement to the fans all around the world:

Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa: A clash of titans that kept audiences on the edge of their seats.
CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins: A highly anticipated bout stemming from a heated rivalry, delivering intense in-ring action.
Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan for the Women's World Championship: A fierce contest highlighting the exceptional talent within WWE's women's division.

Fan reception and future prospects

Induction ceremonies for the Hall of Fame were highly publicized events when their slow fades came alive in their performances with their inducted stars, as memories were shared with long-time fans, and WWE invited nostalgic spectators into the open cold that night.

The video heavily hailed over one million views, drawing many to hope the old song could somehow have made a comeback, remixed with current superstars into the very much legendary Raw intro of 2001. Elsewhere, WWE has already announced that a charge will be paid, and a new theme by the rapper Travis Scott will be used in the future, with Scott appearing in the first episode.

With the move to Netflix, WWE's plan is to extend its reach to a larger, more varied audience internationally. Every subscription package for Netflix, free of any charge, includes live events, while immediate on-demand viewing of episodes from a live stream will now be available to fans of WWE.