Monday Night Raw is moving on (Picture: WWE)
Tonight is the night – the final WWE Raw on TNT Sports.
Next week, the wrestling juggernaut makes the move to Netflix with the streaming debut of Monday Night Raw fast approaching, and tonight’s show is a true end of an era.
As well as WWE’s deal with TNT Sports ending after five years, it will also mark the last Raw broadcast on traditional television after 32 years on air.
The first ever episode of the red brand aired on January 11, 1993, kickstarting a pop culture phenomenon which is still watched around the world three decades later.
For UK fans, Raw and SmackDown have always been available on channels like Sky and later BT Sport, which would change its name to TNT as part of a rebrand in July 2023.
There was a brief period in 2000 and 2001 when it was available on Channel 4, and fans have always had their fix of professional wrestling.
WWE’s flagship show will have a new home on Netflix (Picture: WWE)
Seth Rollins will be on tonight’s show as well as the Netflix debut (Picture: WWE)
That will continue with the new Netflix deal when Raw, SmackDown and NXT – plus every premium live event – makes the jump to streaming.
For UK fans, it means all WWE programming will be on streaming rather than traditional programming, while fans in the US will also see Raw leave network television for the first time since its launch in 1993.
There’s plenty announced for the historic show, with bitter rivals CM Punk and Seth Rollins set to be under the same roof one week before their bitter grudge match on the Raw debut on Netflix.
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Damian Priest and new tag team champions the War Raiders will take on the Archer of Infamy’s former Judgment Day allies Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and JD McDonaugh.
In another grudge match, Otis will get his hands on his former Alpha Academy leader and bully Chad Gable, months after the fan favourite iteration of the group dissolved.
Finally, the tournament to crown the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion continues with Dakota Kai facing Zoey Stark in one semi final, and Iyo Sky battling Lyra Valkyria in the other.
When is the first WWE Raw on Netflix?
January 6 will mark the first live episode of Monday Night Raw on Netflix as WWE makes itsmove to streaming official with the special show.
Tonight is an end of an era before the big show (Picture: WWE)
It will then air live every Monday night at 1am for fans in the UK, with SmackDown on Fridays and NXT on Tuesdays.
How to watch WWE SmackDown in the UK on January 3
With the Netflix move coming into effect on New Year’s Day but the first live show being the January 6 launch of Raw, fans have been wondering how they’ll watch SmackDown later this week.
With the TNT Sports deal ending with tonight’s Raw, it leaves SmackDown without a home on Friday – but fans will be able to tune in for free live on WWE’s YouTube channel at this link.
What has been announced for the WWE Raw debut on Netflix?
In the main event, CM Punk will face off with Seth Rollins, while the show will also feature a Tribal Combat fight between Roman Reigns and his cousin Solo Sikoa.
Roman Reigns will battle Solo Sikoa next week (Picture: WWE/Getty Images)
Liv Morgan will defend the Women’s World Championship against Rhea Ripley in a Last Woman Standing match, and the first ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion is expected to be crowned.
Meanwhile, John Cena is set to appear, and hip hop star Travis Scott will be part of the big night.
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