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Cm Punk has been an evolutionary force in WWE. Whether in his early days or in the current ones, the involvement of Cm Punk brings out a massive craze in the fans and whatsoever rivalries he fights, it has been a glory to watch. Off late, he has been on a battle path with Seth Rollins and the feud simply keeps on garnering traction.

Punk’s journey in the WWE has been a long one and when he returned to the squared circle in Survivor Series: War Games 2023, there were quite a few unhappy faces. Seth Rollins didn’t like his return and he had found support in the form of Drew McIntyre who stormed off the building on that very night.

Drew McIntyre attacked Cm Punk. Credit: WWE

WWE did try and build a couple of storylines around this hatred but due to the prevalence of other arcs in place,...

WWE has been going through a paradigm shift with the craziest of storylines and even crazier tweaks. One of the latest twists that has blown the world into unparalleled frenzy is of John Cena’s heel turn, courtesy of WWE Cco Triple H and his regime. Twenty-three years into the WWE, the world has never seen a bigger babyface than John Cena. Out of all his remarkable rivalries, the one with Cm Punk gave the WWE a cinematic feud of all time.

John Cena, being the quintessential WWE babyface, was up against Cm Punk back in the day. Punk, on the contrary, was the leading anti-establishment figure, carving a rebellion against authority at all times. The duo’s excellent promos even fueled further fire, and when the two clashed in the ring, the fans were glued to the squared circle without a blink.

John Cena at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025/ Credit:...

John Cena shocked the entire combat sports fandom by joining Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Travis Scott to backstab Cody Rhodes at the 2025 Elimination Chamber. Though it impressed many wrestlers and fans worldwide, it also drew criticism and hatred from many. Some of WWE‘s biggest stars didn’t hold back while expressing their frustration over the incident; some even went on to call Cena a ‘hypocrite’. Here are 3 such WWE stars who detested Cena after his heel turn.

1.Drew McIntyre Drew McIntyre | credit-wwe

Drew McIntyre was inside the Elimination Chamber with John Cena, and it looks like Cena spoiling his chances of winning the match ignited the fire of hatred inside McIntyre. “The Chosen One” took to Twitter after the match and criticised Cena for turning heel and attacking Rhodes.

McIntyre labelled Cena as a hypocrite, took a dig at Travis Scott, and also expressed frustration over his elimination from the chamber.

If you haven’t noticed, WrestleMania 41 is fast approaching. But prior to that, March will start with an epic bang with WWE’s 15th edition of Elimination Chamber on Saturday, March 1. The main event is set to take place at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, marking Canada’s second time hosting the event in a span of three years.

Elimination Chamber 2013 | image: Megan Elice Meadows, licensed under Cc-by-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Now, diving into the matches—Men’s Elimination Chamber match will see John Cena vs Cm Punk vs Drew McIntyre vs Logan Paul vs Damian Priest vs Seth Rollins. As for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, it will be Liv Morgan vs Bianca Belair vs Alexa Bliss vs Bayley vs Naomi vs Roxanne Perez. Meanwhile, the unsanctioned singles match will happen between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.

So now, if this got you pumped, let’s check...

Last year in 2024, the WWE Universe went into a state of shock when their childhood hero, John Cena, announced that it was time to call it quits. With 2025 being the last time he competes inside the squared circle. The fans hoped that Cena’s retirement tour would be a glorious one, where he would conclude his legendary run with a possible 17th WWE Championship, surpassing Ric Flair’s record of 16 titles.

John Cena. Credits: WWE

However, his retirement tour has already been marred with criticism from the fans because he has showcased a questionable passion for the thing that he loves the most, wrestling. With Elimination Chamber taking place tomorrow at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, the Peacemaker actor failed to appear at the final SmackDown segment, making the fans lose their cool.

Surprisingly, that didn’t stop them from putting on a show, as they featured one of the greatest promos of the year.

Dwayne Johnson’s SmackDown promo with Cody Rhodes a few days back was intriguing as hell. Johnson made it clear that he wanted only one thing from Rhodes: his soul. The Rock told him that he needed an answer from Rhodes when they met again at the Elimination Chamber. Johnson has made another move towards his ‘agenda’ during the SmackDown episode on Friday.

Dwayne Johnson and Cody Rhodes on SmackDown | Credit: WWE

The episode saw Rhodes being given many luxuries so that he could make a decision in favor of the Final Boss. At the end of the episode, The Rock himself appeared via satellite and gifted Rhodes a customized F-150 Raptor truck. He then made some comments about Rhodes’ late father, probably to emotionally manipulate Rhodes into taking the offer.

Dwayne Johnson is making his every move to get Cody Rhodes on his side Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania...

Dwayne Johnson, Aka The Rock, who could talk circles around a wrestling promo, once threw a curveball that has reverberated across the WWE universe. When asked who would be the next superstar to take WWE’s top spot, he initially pointed to Roman Reigns. But hold on—he wasn’t quite done. With a slight pause, Johnson switched gears, pivoting to another star instead. And boy, did that decision leave fans somewhat perplexed.

Dwayne Johnson| Credits: WWE

We’re all familiar with the rivalry between The Rock and Reigns, a relationship that has had its ups and downs. And guess who caught the former’s eye? None other than Drew McIntyre. Is this just The Rock being candid, or does it signify a deeper, underlying shift in the WWE hierarchy?

Let’s take a dive into why The Rock’s choice might have ruffled some feathers, and whether it was the right call.

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Jimmy Uso def. Drew McIntyre The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Jimmy Uso stunned Drew McIntyre after The Scottish Psychopath spent too much time trying to embarrass him. McIntyre berated Uso in the corner only for Uso to counter the Alabama Slam into a winning pinfall. After the match, McIntyre destroyed Uso with a brutal beatdown.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Carmelo Hayes & The Miz def. LA Knight & R-Truth The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Carmelo Hayes and The Miz picked up a tag team victory, albeit thanks to an assist from United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. LA Knight and R-Truth were in a strong position, but Nakamura emerged and took out Knight, leaving Truth to fall...

After Dwayne Johnson had teased his surprise return to WWE SmackDown via X, on February 20, fans were thrilled to see him return to the ring ahead of WrestleMania 41. Although his return might have forced WWE to make a few changes to the lineup of matches that were set to happen on Friday’s episode, viewers were simply stoked to see The Rock.

The Rock in a match at WrestleMania 40 | image: WWE

So, adding to the excitement, here are a few of the important highlights that happened, following Dwayne Johnson’s surprise appearance. We have skimmed through the episode to make a list of 5 significant incidents that caught people’s attention during WWE SmackDown on February 21, 2025.

5. WrestleMania 40 had nothing on The Rock and Cody Rhodes’ friendship

While everyone was stunned when The Rock teased his possible return to the ring during this week’s SmackDown episode, his ultimate appearance left people baffled with few confessions.

Logan Paul has come to prominence in WWE as a top-tier superstar. The Maverick used his huge social media following and influence and ascended in WWE as a top-tier attraction, becoming a key part of Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s regime.

In his tenure so far, Logan Paul has competed against the likes of Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Rey Mysterio in marquee matches. Not only that, but he has also put up excellent performances, displaying his incredible in-ring acumen and becoming a key player in the modern era.

Logan Paul as WWE US Champion/ Credits: WWE

Moreover, Triple H has been perceived to be a huge Logan Paul and is positioning him to be a top attraction for WWE’s future. However, that might not sound like a good plan after one country imposed a permanent ban on Logan Paul with the interesting part being that he has never...

Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon was certainly a personality. While he built the empire that was the WWE, the co-founder was also ruthless in his management style and crafted storylines that felt like fever dreams. Some may have worked with the masses, but some were just downright pointless and in bad taste.

One of the most annoying storylines in the recent past was former The Shield member Dean Ambrose’s heel turn before his departure from the WWE. Ambrose turned on his teammate Seth Rollins right after winning a tag-team championship match. However, this happened on the same night Roman Reigns announced his leukemia.

Roman Reigns’ leukemia announcement was overshadowed by Dean Ambrose’s heel turn Vince McMahon in Mr. McMahon | Credits: Netflix

Back in 2018, the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns reunited with his stable The Shield, along with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. The trio was known for stirring trouble...

In the first decade of the 21st century, John Cena reigned supreme as the primary poster boy of WWE. No matter how many good storylines prevailed, Cena would mainly take the main event, considering his run as the primed baby face and his terrific promotional ability.

Known as the golden goose from the Stamford-based company’s business perspective, Cena got them a full house at all times. One of Cena’s greatest rivals during that particular era, John Bradshaw Layfield, revealed that despite all the pomp and vigor, the leader of Cenation was not exempt from Vince McMahon’s rage.

John Cena faces off against the Undertaker / Credit: WWE

There was a time when McMahon almost fired him, and it was Stephanie McMahon who stepped in and saved him his job. Thankfully, that intervention happened as it petered out finely, providing the company the face they desperately needed while keeping the fans happy.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has been in charge of WWE since the start of 2024. Under his regime, many superstars have thrived as top attractions for the sports entertainment juggernaut and taken their fame to the next level.

One of those superstars is the internet sensation, Logan Paul. The Maverick has been a box-office attraction for WWE since 2022. During his tenure, he has competed in top-tier matches and battled opponents such as the likes of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Rey Mysterio.

Logan Paul raises the US Championship in 2023/Credit: WWE

Moreover, Logan Paul is next set to compete in the 2025 Men’s Elimination Chamber match at the namesake Ple taking place on March 1st at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. Looking at his past chamber matches and a desire he has been open about, it seems that Triple H might grant his wish of ruining...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Elimination Chamber Match Qualifier – Naomi def. Chelsea Green The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Naomi made Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green feel the glow with a decisive split-legged moonsault to secure a place inside the Elimination Chamber and an opportunity to headline WrestleMania.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Motor City Machine Guns def. Los Garza The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin overcame Angel and Berto in a hard-fought showdown with Skull and Bones.

My Score: 2 out of 5 Match #3: LA Knight def. Miz The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

LA Knight hit a Bft before delivering an elbow drop off the top rope to get the three-count on The Miz.

Roman Reigns didn’t consider Cm Punk as a bigger star than John Cena or Dwayne Johnson. The two sure seemed to have issues between them before they joined forces in the Survivor Series last year. Reigns first appeared as part of The Shield at the Survivor Series 2012, where it was revealed that Punk hired the Shield trio to help him win the WWE Championship.

Roman Reigns with Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre (The Shield) in Survivor Series 2012 | Credits: WWE

Punk later revealed that The Shield was his idea but Reigns at the top of it was something Vince McMahon suggested. Punk shared that he was asked to make Reigns look stronger, which earned the latter a significant amount of hatred from fans. It was probably the beginning of their unpleasant feud over the years.

Roman Reigns shared that Cm Punk’s stardom was nothing compared to John Cena or...

On a dramatic episode of WWE Raw, Logan Paul once again proved that he’s more than just a social media star turned WWE newcomer. The controversial figure advanced to the Elimination Chamber by defeating WWE legend Rey Mysterio in a thrilling contest that left the WWE Universe on the edge of its seat.

Logan Paul and Rey Mysterio in Elimination Chamber | Credit: WWE/Netflix

Although some fans may be critical of his presence in the ring, the undeniable quality of his in-ring performance commands attention. He has been involved in several unforgettable moments that have left a mark on the sport. Despite lingering skepticism from some corners regarding his role, his impressive move in this match decisively demonstrated that he is indeed a formidable contender.

Logan Paul makes his mark again on WWE as he qualifies for the Elimination Chamber

The match between Logan Paul and Rey Mysterio was...

Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Elimination Chamber Qualifier – Bianca Belair def. Piper Niven The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Bianca Belair and Piper Niven collided for a chance to compete in the Elimination Chamber. Belair kept trying for the K.O.D., but Niven was too strong and didn’t allow The Est to lift her. Eventually, Belair lifted Niven to hit an immense K.O.D. to qualify for the Chamber.

My Score: 3 out of 5 Match #2: Pretty Deadly def. #DIY The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

After being rebuffed by WWE Tag Team Champions #DIY for a title match, Pretty Deadly ended their one-sided alliance with the titleholders. After the two teams verbally sparred, SmackDown General Manager...

Triple H has more stars on his WWE roster at the current moment than at any time in its recent history. The Rock could just run in and out of the matches as a part-time player. John Cena would go on to get his retirement storyline. But the WWE has totally avoided one legendary star who has been working tirelessly for the company as a full-timer even today.

Triple H kicking off the Netflix era of WWE with a Raw event | Credits: Netflix

Cm Punk has perhaps made more Raw appearances than the others and he was a WWE World Champion for 434 days from 2011 to 2013. Punk entered the wrestling profession as part of the Ecw brand in 2006. He then went on to make appearances for Iwf, Tna, Ring of Honor, Ovw, and eventually WWE.

Triple H needs to give Cm Punk the legend treatment John Cena and Cm Punk in...

Exclusive: WWE star Alexa Bliss has signed with Paradigm, further expanding her career beyond the ring.

Bliss joins a growing roster of wrestling talent represented at Paradigm, including Cm Punk, Liv Morgan, Drew McIntyre, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, Damian Priest and Jade Cargill, among others.

Following a two-year hiatus, Bliss shocked wrestling fans with a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble on February 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana. She entered the Women’s Royal Rumble match at No. 21 at the Lucas Oil Stadium and had a short but impactful run. Bliss was eliminated by Liv Morgan just before Charlotte Flair joined in as the 27th entrant.

Alexa Bliss at WWE’s 2025 Royal Rumble

Returning to the Royal Rumble was a full circle moment for Bliss as her last appearance was at the same event in 2023 where she faced Bianca Belair for the Women’s Championship. She took a leave of absence following the match,...

WWE Royal Rumble 2025 is about to invade the state of Indiana, Indianapolis this Saturday. This will be the first Premium Live Event of 2025 for the company and a major name is rumored to be a part of the show, The Final Boss, The Rock.

He has been speculated to appear at the show since his return on Raw on Netflix’s debut show. Despite the fame and star power he commands, WWE can put on a spectacular show without him. This majorly directs to the current crop of WWE appearing on a regular basis than The Rock.

Dwayne Johnson during Monday night’s WWE Raw | Credits: Netflix

With the current line-up announced and a roster full of talented in-ring competitors, here are those six top names who can make the show a grand spectacle without The Rock’s involvement.

6. Seth Rollins Seth Rollins at WrestleMania Xl/Credit: WWE

Seth Rollins...

Cm Punk is one of the biggest and most influential WWE superstars of all time. After the first six years in the company, Punk had a meteoric rise as a main event star in 2011 following his controversial ‘Pipebomb’ promo. This led him to superstardom and brought immense success.

However, in 2014, The Best in the World abruptly left WWE due to major creative differences and health issues. After being ten years away from the company, Cm Punk made a monumental return to his hometown of Chicago at the 2023 WWE Survivor Series event.

Since then, Punk has been a top fixture for WWE television programming despite a major setback. He had a classic rivalry with Drew McIntyre and scored a huge victory over Seth Rollins on the debut edition of Raw on Netflix.

Cm Punk’s comeback/ Credit: WWE

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With Cm Punk’s second coming proving to be a major success story,...

Last night marked the commencement of the road to WrestleMania, as WWE’s pay-per-view event for February, Royal Rumble, took place in Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. With only four matches booked for the show, two being the Royal Rumble matches for men and women, it was stacked as it set things in place for WM41.

A still from Royal Rumble 2025. Credits: WWE

The event kicked off strong with the Women’s Rumble match, where Iyo Sky and Liv Morgan made the fans cheer for them. However, the show soon became a topic of conversation on social media as it featured several mishaps.

This year’s Royal Rumble was arguably one of the most unpredictable ones; it featured some controversy, where fans were visibly upset with the winners of both men’s and women’s Royal Rumble. However, things could have gone south as they narrowly avoided several disasters.

5) Liv Morgan...

The Lucas Oil Stadium was buzzing with excitement during the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble, which kicked off strong with two of the most amazing luchadors beginning the match, setting the hopes high. With massive star power at their disposal, every entrant had an equal opportunity to win the golden opportunity to punch their ticket to headline WrestleMania.

John Cena congratulates Jey Uso. Credits: WWE

However, the excitement faded as the event progressed from exciting to subpar to a total waste of time. While fans were thrilled to see how WWE was set to perform under Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s guidance, they soon started to criticize his decisions as the match could not have been more unpredictable and featured some funny moments for the highlight.

While the match was filled with controversial moments, these 5 glaring mistakes from February Ple caught the most heat from fans on social media.

5) Penta almost...

Kai Cenat made a flashy entrance on WWE Raw, strutting out to his own Bust Down Rollie Avalanche. So what is going on? Many are speculating it might be his turn to put on a show. As he has just tossed out a challenge to fellow Twitch star IShowSpeed, teasing a possible showdown. Fans of the streamers have been begging for this clash for ages, and with Royal Rumble weekend coming up, it just might happen!

Triple H kicks off the Netflix era of WWE with a Raw event | Credits: Netflix

But not everyone’s thrilled. WWE fans are worried this influencer battle could steal the spotlight from actual contenders who’ve worked hard to earn their moment in the ring. Here is what’s going on!

Kai Cenat openly called out IShowSpeed for a showdown!

Chaos is brewing in the WWE universe, and it all started with Twitch star...

John Cena is one of the prime attractions of the WWE Royal Rumble, which is set to be held on Saturday. The winner of last year, Cody Rhodes, won’t be competing in this year’s event, improving chances for Cena, Cm Punk, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Drew McIntyre. Reigns last entered a Royal Rumble match in 2020 and his statistics in the event provide an easy way for Cena.

John Cena in a still from WrestleMania Xl | Credits: WWE

Out of his previous six entries in the event, Reigns won only one time in 2015. Interestingly, the winners in all the rest of his appearances managed to beat him personally to win the competition. If Cena manages to beat Reigns in the upcoming event, he has a good luck charm to win the Royal Rumble.

Is beating Roman Reigns the easiest way for John Cena to win the WWE Royal Rumble?...

Welcome to this review of this past Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, right here on Nerdly! Let’s see what went down on this week’s Netflix-broadcast show!

Match #1: World Tag Team Championship – The War Raiders def. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio & Jd McDonagh The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

In an effort to regain gold for The Judgment Day, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and Jd McDonagh challenged World Tag Team Champions The War Raiders. McDonagh nearly took himself out of the match after a jaw-dropping moonsault that resulted in his head hitting the announce table. The War Raiders focused on McDonagh’s neck as Erik delivered a full nelson neckbreaker that left McDonagh reeling. McDonagh survived and landed a superb top-rope move that nearly won the match. Carlito made his way to ringside in an attempt to help The Judgment Day, but despite a frog splash from Mysterio to Erik,...

Welcome to this review of this past Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, right here on Nerdly! Let’s see what went down on this week’s Netflix-broadcast show!

Match #1: Rey Mysterio def. Kofi Kingston The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Shortly after the official sent Xavier Woods to the backstage area for tripping Rey Mysterio, The Legendary Luchador scored a quick pinfall on Kofi Kingston.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5 Match #2: Nia Jax def. Bayley The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Moments after Nia Jax defeated Bayley with the Annihilator in the final moments of an explosive showdown, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley charged the ring to ignite a huge brawl with Nia Jax before challenging Jax to a title match on Saturday Night’s Main Event.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #3: Penta def. Pete Dunne The following is courtesy of wwe.com:...

A WWE title is a dream for all wrestlers, who strive for years to win them. However, the victory does not stop there as the winners also have to defend their title before the next one in line challenges their reign. While some wrestlers defend their titles for hundreds of days, some could not even last minutes.

This week in the USA, the social media platform TikTok was blocked due to privacy concerns. However, the platform was restored within the weekend due to the reported intervention of President-elect Donald Trump. Social media was rife with memes about things that lasted shorter than the TikTok ban and these WWE title reigns are some of them.

1. The Big Show – 45 seconds The Big Show | Credits: WWE

The Big Show is one of the most popular WWE stars of the ‘90s and 2000s. At seven feet, he is one of the tallest wrestlers, and...

Recently on WWE Raw, Cm Punk opened WWE's second show on Netflix, with the major takeaway being one of Raw's most valuable superstars declaring for this year's Royal Rumble. But look a little closer, and Punk seemed to open the door for a reunion with John Cena as part of his year-long Farewell Tour.

Given the level of emotion the two men have generated among WWE fans, both individually and when interacting with one another, it's no wonder the live audience responded with a guttural response when Punk did Cena's trademark "U Can't See Me" hand gesture on Raw.

Having only interacted with one another on screen under the creative stewardship of Vince McMahon, this is a landmark moment for two of WWE's most popular veterans. This new incarnation of WWE encourages characters to dig into the depth of their lore for our entertainment. There is an eye-watering amount...

As WWE Raw made its Netflix debut on January 6th, the greatest star of the promotion's last era took to the ring to make an announcement. John Cena, a record-tying 16-time World Champion, proclaimed that he plans to win the Royal Rumble and make history at WrestleMania.

Many think it's inevitable that Cena will finally eclipse WWE Hall of Famer, 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair, by winning a seventeenth world title. It's not a matter of if, but when. The fans responded raucously to The Dr. of Thuganomics when he made his passion play. That huge global setting—streaming worldwide on Netflix for the first time—was the perfect environment for Cena to lay out his battle plans.

However, there are several reasons why WWE fans should be careful what they wish for. Of course, seeing the living legend outlast all 29 other competitors for a shot at glory sounds great on paper.

Warning: The following copy has Spoilers for WWE Monday Night Raw

WWE Monday Night Raw, live for its second week on Netflix, came live from San Jose, CA, as WWE's 2025 Royal Rumble plans continue to take shape. Cm Punk, Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre opened the show, with Chad Gable vs a mystery Luchador opponent following shortly after. Ludwig Kaiser and Sheamus continued their long-running fued with another bruising encounter.

The first ever Women's Intercontinental Champion was crowned in a tournament final between Dakota Kai and Lyra Valkyria, Rhea Ripley appeared after winning the WWE Women's Championship on last week's Raw, and Finn Balor and Damian Priest's Street Fight provided the night's Main Event.

WWE Monday Night Raw Results - Jan 13, 2025 Raw opened with Cm Punk declaring for the Royal Rumble, and calling out John Cena. Seth Rollins then entered the ring, sporting an enormous black eye. Seth Rollins...

2025 is a big year for the WWE, and the company is not hesitating to kick things off in style. January 6, 2025 marks the night that Netflix becomes Monday Night Raw's home. Expectations are high as Raw debuts on Netflix, especially after the Netflix Kickoff Show teased what WWE's calendar year will look like moving forward on the streaming service.

Most importantly, there are high expectations for a select few WWE Superstars expected to play the most valuable roles for Raw in 2025. These are the Superstars who not only made an impact in 2024 but are expected to strive even further in 2025. Some honorable mentions are Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and Bianca Belair who are featured prominently in the Netflix promotion but aren't official members of Raw's roster. John Cena is worth mentioning for his farewell tour, but it's more important to focus on Raw's most consistent flagbearers of 2024 who are ready to...

WWE Raw showed some muscle in its Netflix debut on Monday night.

The WWE franchise’s first Netflix outing generated 4.9 million “Live+1” (watched within 24 hours) views globally, WWE reports. (Netflix defines “views” as total view hours for the program divided by the runtime.)

More from TVLineRatings: Shifting Gears Sharply Improves Time Slot, Nearly Ties Chicago Med for Wednesday's Best AudienceRed One, Carry-On Dominate Nielsen Streaming Top 10; Black Doves Tops OriginalsRatings: WWE Nxt Hits 5-Year Audience High, Will Trent Returns to Largest Audience Ever

On USA Network, Raw would deliver around 2 million viewers weekly, though that was just among the U.

The inaugural episode of WWE “Raw” on Netflix brought in 4.6 million global views in live plus one day ratings, securing a strong start for the pro wrestling league’s shift to streaming.

That’s not all. The first match of the year averaged 2.6 million households in the U.S., according to VideoAmp, a 116% increase from the average U.S. audience “Raw” saw in 2024 (1.2 million households). Monday’s match also had a higher viewership than any other Monday night “Raw” broadcast in the past five years and doubled its audience in the 18-to-46 demographic compared to 2024.

This first episode also saw returns on social media. On X, #WWERaw was the No. 1 trending topic in the U.S., Brazil, Australia and the U.K. In the U.K., it trended as No. 1 for 14 hours straight, and it occupied six of the top seven trending topics in the U.S. Additionally, WWE generated...

The first episode of WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” to stream live on Netflix pulled in 4.9 million views globally.

That is according to Live+1 data provided by Netflix, with a view defined as total hours viewed for the program divided by its runtime. The 4.9 million views came from countries like the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Latin America, but did not include 92 countries/territories where Netflix doesn’t yet distribute WWE, including France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea.

The Netflix debut of “Raw” was also viewed by 2.6 million households in the U.S. according to VideoAmp, compared to the 1.2 million households “Raw” was averaging in 2024.

“Raw” previously aired on the NBCUniversal-owned linear cable channel USA Network, with the last episode airing on that network on Dec. 30.

It is difficult to make a direct comparison between the Netflix and USA Network viewership for “Raw,” as...

The results are in, and while Netflix’s premiere of Monday Night Raw was up over the spectacle’s average audience on USA Network, it’s probably too soon to call it a heavyweight champ.

Monday’s episode averaged 2.6M households live + same-day in the U.S., according to data from VideoAmp.

Per the streamer, that’s up from Raw‘s 2024 average of 1.2M households per episode and higher than any other Raw broadcast in the last five years. However, that requires a bit of a disclaimer, since USA Network (and parent company NBCUniversal) report viewership via Nielsen. it’s not possible to make a direct comparison between those two audiences because VideoAmp and Nielsen have different measurement processes.

VideoAmp’s data tends to be a bit inflated compared to Nielsen, so it’s likely that Nielsen would have measured a lower audience for Monday night’s premiere, as it...

The WWE just had its Raw on Netflix debut and it was noteworthy for many reasons. Its groundbreaking presentation, incredible cinematography, and riveting storylines marked a huge step forward for the promotion. The organization made a statement - not just on a historical level, but on an entertainment and pop culture one as well.

With appearances by The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, and other legends - as well as the showdown between Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa - the inaugural episode was loaded with twists, turns, and surprises. But perhaps the most anticipated moment of the night was the main event battle between Seth Rollins and Cm Punk.

It was a war of words that led up to this point. Rollins portrays himself as a wrestler who stayed with WWE through thick and thin, while Punk fled the company for years. The two men have a long history together in pro wrestling,...

As Netflix made its very first WWE Raw broadcast, it also kick-started one of their major storylines of 2025 (and likely in company history), as John Cena declared for the 2025 Royal Rumble, during his first appearance on his Farewell Tour. Cena is expected to be an active member of one of the greatest rosters the company has ever assembled throughout the year, adding to a Main Event scene that already includes established big hitters like Cm Punk and Roman Reigns, and a rapidly expanding list of contemporary names like Jey Uso, Gunther, Sami Zayn, and Drew McIntyre.

It's important to establish this glittering array of superstar names, as they are all potential entrants or winners for the 2025 Royal Rumble. The best event to introduce new fans to "who's who?" in the WWE, the 2025 Royal Rumble is set to feature a cast to rival the classic years of 1992 and 2001. And there, at...

During the opening 30 minutes of WWE debuting Monday Night Raw on Netflix, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson arrived to a thunderous welcome. The People's Champion is one of professional wrestling's most iconic and instantly recognizable characters, and in 2024, The Rock had a banner year as one of WWE's most dastardly heels. His villainous antics as "The Final Boss" came in the aftermath of WWE fans being upset at plans for him to take the spot at WrestleMania that Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes had earned.

During his appearance on one of the biggest shows in WWE history, The Rock dropped all semblance of The Final Boss character on Monday Night Raw in favor of a more charismatic and emotional promo about the importance of the occasion (even if he did threaten to "go Squid Games" on Netflix execs if there were streaming issues). It was a surprising and controversial move that...

Welcome to this review of this past Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, right here on Nerdly – the first episode of Raw to air on the show’s new home, Netflix!

Match #1: Tribal Combat – Roman Reigns def. Solo Sikoa The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The Ula Fala is headed back to The Island of Relevancy as Roman Reigns defeated his former enforcer Solo Sikoa to reassert himself as The Tribal Chief. Sikoa thrived early with the Tribal Combat rules, thrashing his cousin with a Spinning Solo on the announce table before cracking him with the steel steps. Reigns found himself in even more trouble when Sikoa wrapped a steel chair around his head, but The Otc preserved himself and wailed on the new leader of The Bloodline. The battle led to the two Superstars meeting in the corner, with Sikoa emotionally berating Reigns about his lack of empathy,...

Netflix and absolutely no chill. The WWE’s franchise show “Monday Night Raw” made its debut on the streaming platform last night, and major stars came out, championships and bragging rights were earned, and hip-hop beefs were addressed.

Only in the WWE can you see Travis Scott don a championship belt, Kendrick Lamar get dissed in his hometown, and Hulk Hogan get booed in one show. Yet that’s par for the course at something like the “Raw” event, which broadcasted live from the new multi-billion dollar Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA, home of the LA Clippers.

The evening began with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shedding his badass “heel” persona (that’s wrestling for bad guy) and talking sincerely, thanking the WWE Universe and even giving gratitude to rival Cody Rhodes, the Universal Champion that he bloodied and pinned in the ring last year.

The Rock also gave props to his real-life cousin Roman Reigns,...

Hulk Hogan is one of the most iconic wrestlers in the 72-year history of the WWE, but upon his debut at Netflix’s “Monday Night Raw” on Jan. 6, his reception was less than welcoming.

Hogan, who was rumored to appear at the event, entered the arena about two and a half hours into the show to the tune of his classic walk-out song “Real American.” Joined by Jimmy Heart, Hogan was welcomed by a sea of boos from the crowd as he plugged his Real American Beer brand and congratulated the WWE on its collaboration with the streaming giant.

“In the past, I’ve had a whole bunch of partners down the line,” Hogan said. “I had incredible partners, like the Macho Man Randy Savage. I’ve had giant-sized partners like Andre the Giant. But the greatest partner the WWE has ever had, is the fact that tonight, we’re making history,...

Warning: The following copy has Spoilers for WWE Monday Night Raw

WWE presented arguably the biggest night in the history of Monday Night Raw, as the first live show of the Netflix era took place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, CA. Roman Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa in Tribal Combat to stand as WWE's Only Tribal Chief after run-ins from Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, The Bloodline and more. The Rock and Paul 'Triple H' Levesque opened the show, with the former putting the Ula Fala on Roman at the match's end. John Cena also declared himself for the 2025 Royal Rumble as he begins his year-long Farewell Tour.

Rhea Ripley is once again the WWE Women's Champion after defeating Liv Morgan, with The Undertaker joining her to celebrate. Travis Scott walked Jey Uso to the ring, before he stole a victory from Drew McIntyre. Hulk Hogan was loudly booed by...

Netflix is now the official home of WWE Raw, the weekly wrestling program.

The show first premiered back in 1993 and aired almost exclusively on USA for the last three decades. Netflix recently signed a 10-year deal with WWE to air the program and the deal has been reported to be worth $500 million per year.

The debut episode of Netflix’s Raw is airing live from Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome on Monday (January 6) at 8/7c.

So, who is appearing in the lineup? Let’s go over the schedule and how to watch!

Keep reading to find out more…

The program begins at 8pm Et / 5pm Pt on Monday night and Sports Illustrated reports that the show’s run time will be about three and a half hours, which is 30 minutes longer than the show normally would be on broadcast television.

“It will be flexible. It will be flexible in I don...

It’s a historic day for WWE. In just a few hours World Wrestling Entertainment will premiere on Netflix. In January 2024, it was announced that Raw would move to Netflix under a $500 million-per-year deal, as the streaming titan looks to offer more live sports.

Raw previously aired on the USA Network. Netflix hosted two NFL Christmas games and the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight. There were some streaming issues with the Tyson and Paul fight, but no problems with the two NFL games. With streaming Raw every Monday night Netflix is putting WWE on a scale that the company has not seen before.

WWE has a stacked card for the premiere episode. We will see John Cena’s farewell tour start. The Rock will make an appearance. Seth Rollins and Cm Punk will go one-on-one. Rapper Travis Scott, who created the new WWE Raw theme song, is slated to perform.

New seasons of ‘Severance,’ ‘The Traitors,’ and ‘Mythic Quest’ make up this month’s best streaming titles and events.

New year, new month, new recommendations!

Get ready to build up your watchlist this January with plenty of incoming additions to top streamers like Netflix, Max, and Disney+. This month, A24’s “A Different Man,” starring newly minted Golden Globe winner Sebastian Stan, will make its SVOD premiere, joining other recent hit thrillers like “The Vourdalak” and “Red Rooms.” But if you’re already caught up on the nominees and winners of last night’s awards ceremony, there is plenty to watch throughout the rest of the month— from major series returns like “The Traitors,” “Mythic Quest,” and the long-awaited second season of Apple TV+’s psychological thriller “Severance.”

Ready to watch? Check out our picks for the best movies, series, and events streaming the rest of January!

WWE: Raw on new home | Monday,...

After three decades on terrestrial TV, “Monday Night Raw,” WWE’s flagship weekly program, will debut on Netflix for subscribers worldwide today. This marks the beginning of a globe-spanning, 10-year, $5 billion partnership between the streamer and the brand that brings with it all kinds of new possibilities for the fans, the brand and its superstars.

In the U.S., the deal is limited to WWE’s weekly “Raw” program, but most international territories will receive all three of the brand’s weekly shows — “Raw,” “SmackDown” and “Nxt” — as well as the company’s Premium Live Events (Ple) and a raft of supplemental and catalog content.

This means that audiences in many countries will, for the first time, have up-to-date access to all of WWE’s current offerings. For the company’s international talent, this is especially significant, as their friends and families and hometown fans will now have much greater access to their work.

Netflix steps into the ring with both feet this year, offering WWE’s epic set of Monday Night Raw matches streaming live on Monday nights (8/7c) from the brand-new Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The inaugural night (January 6) should be a superstar-studded event featuring 16-time WWE Champion John Cena, who announced last year that he’ll be formally retiring from wrestling in 2025, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Logan Paul, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan and more. Even rapper Travis Scott is appearing, as he wrote the new “Raw” theme song. You can also expect the mats entertainment to include some prominent surprises. “I know there’s definitely a few tricks up WWE’s sleeves,” teases Morgan, the reigning Women’s World Champion, who will defend her title from Rhea Ripley on Monday night. Other bouts include Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa, Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso and Cm Punk vs. Seth Rollins.

Warning: The following copy has Spoliers for WWE SmackDown

In its first week of WWE moving to the "second show" to three hours, WWE SmackDown from Phoenix, Az, was loaded with incidents. Sami Zayn and The Usos competed in 6-man Tag Team action against The Bloodline in the night's Main Event. Earlier in the evening, Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa met in the ring ahead of Monday's Tribal Combat match with Roman Reigns, and Drew McIntyre continued to make his presence felt.

Elsewhere, gold was on the line as DIY defended the tag team championship against DIY, and Nia Jax defended her title against Naomi in a very eventful WWE Women's Championship match. Michin and Piper Niven continued their feud with US Champion Chelsea Green waiting in the wings, Shinsuke Nakamura vs Andrade met in a hard-hitting match, and Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens continued their feud ahead of their match at the Royal Rumble.

Warning: The following copy has Spoliers for WWE SmackDown

In its first week of WWE moving to the "second show" to three hours, WWE SmackDown from Phoenix, Az, was loaded with incidents. Sami Zayn and The Usos competed in 6-man Tag Team action against The Bloodline in the night's Main Event. Earlier in the evening, Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa met in the ring ahead of Monday's Tribal Combat match with Roman Reigns, and Drew McIntyre continued to make his presence felt.

Elsewhere, gold was on the line as DIY defended the tag team championship against DIY, and Nia Jax defended her title against Naomi in a very eventful WWE Women's Championship match. Michin and Piper Niven continued their feud with US Champion Chelsea Green waiting in the wings, Shinsuke Nakamura vs Andrade met in a hard-hitting match, and Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens continued their feud ahead of their match at the Royal Rumble.