Ashton Kutcher, Travis Scott, and Other Celebrities at the Netflix Debut of WWE RAW

WWE has just made its momentous stride to Netflix. On January 6, 2025, World Wrestling Entertainment set forth its first-ever episode of Monday Night RAW on Netflix.

The night was a star-studded celebration that felt like a red carpet event at the Oscars. But instead of fancy gowns and speeches, it was about the high-octane, body-slam-filled world of WWE.

Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and Bianca Belair (Credits: X/@wwe)

The premiere was the beginning of a new era. Fans got to watch not only the usual wrestling excitement but also a bunch of celebrities from Hollywood and beyond.

And believe us, the surprise elements didn’t stop there. There were new branding changes, a revamped ring mat, and a multitude of unforeseen moments that made this Netflix debut a truly everlasting experience. Let’s break it all down, shall we?

WWE RAW’s Netflix debut shines with a star-studded Hollywood lineup

WWE’s always been great at bringing in the stars, but this Netflix debut? Next level. As soon as the cameras started rolling, fans got a peep of a red carpet brimmed with the biggest names in entertainment.

It was a full-on Hollywood party with celebrities walking alongside WWE legends. Travis Scott, Ashton Kutcher, Michael Che, and Vanessa Hudgens were just a few of the famous faces spotted at the event.

Travis Scott in CIRCUS MAXIMUM (Credit: YouTube/Travis Scott]

But it wasn’t just the usual A-listers—there was a ton of variety in the crowd. You had musicians, actors, comedians, and even a couple of athletes who were there to show their love for the WWE. Seth Green, Macaulay Culkin, and Tiffany Haddish were all seen mingling in the crowd, with some even making brief appearances on-screen.

What made this debut even more exhilarating was the presence of WWE legends. The Undertaker, one of the most famous wrestlers in history, made a grand entrance during the Women’s World Championship match. And in true WWE fashion, he came out as his ‘American Bad Ass’ persona, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Then there was Hulk Hogan. The legend himself showed up to give a promo, but not exactly to the crowd’s delight. Fans didn’t exactly give him a standing ovation. In fact, it was the opposite. The crowd wasn’t too elated to hear Hogan speak.

And, of course, one of the biggest topics of conversation during the event was none other than Scott. The rapper was spotted walking with Jey ‘Yeet’ Uso to the ring, but fans quickly noticed something interesting: it appeared Scott was holding a joint in his hand. For sure, it was packed with celebs!

WWE introduces black ring mat filled with sponsor logos

Roman Reigns and Dwayne Johnson on WWE RAW (Credits: Instagram/@wwe)

If you think WWE is just about the wrestling, think again. Netflix’s debut episode brought something else to the table: a bold new look for the ring. WWE introduced a brand-new, black ring mat that was entirely wrapped in sponsor logos.

This was a first for WWE, and it definitely caught people’s attention. In the past, WWE’s SmackDown mat was blue, and while it did have a few sponsor logos here and there, the new RAW mat was something else. It wasn’t just about WWE’s logo anymore.

The black mat was filled with logos from companies like Fortnite, Snickers, Netflix, Cricket Wireless, Riyadh Season (a Saudi Arabian tourism campaign), and even Hulk Hogan’s own brand, Real American Beer.

Some people may think this is too much branding, but WWE made it work. It gave the event a UFC-style feel, with sponsors everywhere you looked. While it was a bit in-your-face, it also made the show feel more modern and in tune with what’s happening in entertainment today.

Plus, it gave the whole show a bit of a corporate makeover. The referees also had new outfits for the event. Gone were the old-school black-and-white striped shirts. Instead, the refs wore dark gray shirts with black collars, and of course, the WWE logo was proudly displayed. It was a subtle but noticeable change that gave the entire production a fresh look.

WWE on Netflix opens doors to new global fans

WWE shifts from traditional TV to Netflix (Credits: Netflix)

WWE’s debut on Netflix marks the beginning of a big move for the company. WWE is officially moving its flagship shows, including RAW, to streaming.

With Netflix’s 283 million subscribers, WWE is about to reach fans far beyond the traditional wrestling audience. The numbers alone are mind-boggling. WWE no longer has to rely on basic cable—now they’ve got the global power of Netflix behind them.

The partnership between WWE and Netflix is worth a stunning $5 billion, and it’s set to last for 10 years (per Forbes). The shift is a huge deal, and it could have immense implications for both companies. WWE gets access to Netflix’s global audience, while Netflix gains a whole new content category to bring in more subscribers.

The first episode, filmed at the brand-new Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, was the perfect place to show this amazing new chapter. The Intuit Dome is a state-of-the-art arena that can hold up to 18,000 fans.

WWE’s larger-than-life stars needed a larger-than-life venue, after all. This is just the beginning—expect to see wrestling on your Netflix queue much more often now!

In a nutshell, fans everywhere can now catch WWE without needing a traditional TV network. With Netflix’s huge subscriber base, the sky is the limit for WWE.