WWE Raw to Transition to Two-Hour Format Ahead of Netflix Move

WWE has announced a significant change for its flagship program, Raw, which will be shortened from three hours to two hours starting October 7, 2024. This reduction marks a major shift after 12 years of the show’s extended runtime. The adjustment will be in place until Raw transitions from the USA Network to Netflix in January 2025. WWE has yet to confirm whether the show’s length will be altered again once it moves to the streaming platform.

Raw has been a staple of WWE’s television lineup, maintaining its three-hour format since its 1000th episode aired in July 2012. The show’s length has been a topic of debate within the WWE community. Some fans appreciate the extended duration as it provides more content and showcases a broader range of talent. Others, however, feel that the lengthy episodes often drag and can dilute the quality of the programming.

WWE Superstar Seth “Freakin” Rollins has previously criticized the extended format, describing it as “obnoxiously long.” In 2015, Paul Levesque, WWE’s chief content officer known in the ring as Triple H, expressed a desire for a shorter format, stating on the Stone Cold podcast that if he could make any change, he would prefer the show to be just two hours long. Rollins echoed this sentiment in a 2022 interview on the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast, suggesting that a three-hour show often results in content being stretched out unnecessarily.

Jonathan Elgie, a wrestling fan, welcomed the decision to shorten Raw, saying, “Sometimes there is too much of a good thing.” He noted that, from his perspective as a long-time wrestling fan, the extended runtime often felt excessive. “There’s a lot of filler in there that doesn’t need to be,” he added. Elgie believes that the two-hour format is a necessary change and could potentially enhance the overall quality of the show.

However, there are concerns about the potential drawbacks of reducing the show’s length. Elgie pointed out that a shorter runtime might limit the opportunities for certain talents to showcase their skills. “If there’s a two-hour show, there might be talent pulled from the show that otherwise wouldn’t be able to show their skills,” he explained.

The decision to cut Raw’s length aligns with WWE’s broader programming strategy as it prepares to move to Netflix. The streaming shift represents a significant departure from traditional TV networks, marking the first time since the show’s inception in the early 1990s that it will not air on conventional television. Mark Shapiro, president of TKO, the company that owns WWE, has described the move as a “major programming shift,” highlighting the potential for increased global reach through Netflix’s extensive platform.

Shapiro characterized the Netflix deal as “transformative,” merging WWE’s high-profile content with Netflix’s global audience. This transition is expected to bring new opportunities and challenges for Raw, but the specifics of how the show will adapt on the streaming platform remain unclear.

Elgie is hopeful that the move to Netflix could also bring changes to the show’s content. He expressed a desire to see Raw return to a more “edgier” format with less PG-rated content. “I want to see that darker content—the less PG stuff. I’m an adult so that appeals to me more,” Elgie said. He believes that an edgier product could reinvigorate interest and attract viewers who prefer a more mature wrestling experience.

WWE has been approached for comments regarding the changes and the future format of the show on Netflix, but as of now, there has been no official response. As Raw adjusts to its new two-hour format and prepares for its streaming debut, fans and industry observers will be closely watching to see how these changes impact the show’s content and overall viewer experience.