WWE Raw's Netflix viewership has hit a new low, and it's sparking some serious questions. Is this the beginning of the end for WWE's streaming era? But here's where it gets controversial: Could this dip be a sign of shifting viewer preferences, or is it simply a blip on the radar due to stiff competition from live sports events? And this is the part most people miss: The latest episode, streamed live from Anaheim on October 27, featured a highly anticipated face-off between CM Punk and Jey Uso, yet it only garnered 2.3 million views—a staggering 300,000 fewer than the previous episode. This ties with late September's numbers for the show's lowest viewership on Netflix, dropping it two spots in the global rankings to 8th place for the week ending November 2. In the U.S., Raw held steady at 4th place for the second consecutive week, WWE's strongest market. For context, Netflix's top show during the same period was the Danish thriller The Asset, with 11.3 million views, while Nobody Wants This led English-language shows with 9.4 million views.
Netflix calculates its Top 10 rankings by dividing the total time spent watching a program by its duration, but here's the catch: While global rankings include viewership numbers, country-specific rankings only provide a list, no numbers. This lack of transparency raises questions about how Netflix measures success and whether these rankings truly reflect viewer engagement. Sean Rueter, a seasoned pro wrestling enthusiast and blogger for SBNation & Cageside Seats, has been tracking Raw's performance since its Netflix debut. The data, sourced from Netflix's Tudum website, reveals a rollercoaster of viewership numbers, with peaks and valleys that defy easy explanation.
But let's not forget the elephant in the room: Raw's latest dip coincided with two major live sports events—Monday Night Football, which drew 17.2 million viewers and a 3.17 rating among 18-49-year-olds, and the epic 18-inning World Series Game 3, which attracted 10.1 million viewers on FOX with a 2.02 demo rating. Is it fair to compare a pre-recorded wrestling show to live sports? Or does this highlight a broader issue with WWE's ability to compete in today's crowded entertainment landscape?
We'll continue to monitor Raw's viewership data, but here's a thought-provoking question: If Raw slips out of the global Top 10, will Netflix stop sharing its numbers altogether? And what does that mean for the future of WWE on streaming platforms? We'll keep you updated with the latest information and add it to our ongoing analysis of Raw's Tudum-reported performance in the Netflix Era. Here’s a snapshot of Raw's viewership journey so far:
- Jan. 6, 2025: 5.9 million views; ranked 4th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- Jan. 13: 3.7 million views; ranked 4th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- Jan. 20: 3.0 million views; ranked 7th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- Jan. 27: 2.9 million views; ranked 9th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- Feb. 3: 3.1 million views; ranked 7th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- Feb. 10: 2.8 million views; ranked 8th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- Feb. 17: 2.8 million views; ranked 10th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- Feb. 24: 2.6 million views; ranked 8th globally, 6th in the U.S.
- March 3: 3.1 million views; ranked 7th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- March 10: 3 million views; ranked 6th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- March 17: 3.1 million views; ranked 4th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- March 24: 3 million views; ranked 4th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- March 31: 2.9 million views; ranked 8th globally, 6th in the U.S.
- April 7: 2.8 million views; ranked 10th globally, 6th in the U.S.
- April 14: 2.9 million views; ranked 9th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- April 21: 3.6 million views; ranked 5th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- April 28: 3 million views; ranked 4th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- May 5: 2.8 million views; ranked 4th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- May 12: 2.7 million views; ranked 8th globally, 7th in the U.S.
- May 19: 2.7 million views; ranked 9th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- May 26: 2.6 million views; ranked 6th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- June 2: 2.7 million views; ranked 8th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- June 9: 2.9 million views; ranked 7th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- June 16: 2.7 million views; ranked 9th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- June 23: 2.6 million views; ranked 4th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- June 30: 2.5 million views; ranked 5th globally, 3rd in the U.S.
- July 7: 2.6 million views; ranked 6th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- July 14: 2.7 million views; ranked 5th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- July 21: 2.7 million views; ranked 5th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- July 28: 2.7 million views; ranked 8th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- Aug. 4: 3 million views; ranked 5th globally, 6th in the U.S.
- Aug. 11: 2.8 million views; ranked 6th globally, 6th in the U.S.
- Aug. 18: 2.8 million views; ranked 7th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- Aug. 25: 2.6 million views; ranked 6th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- Sept. 1: 2.4 million views; ranked 8th globally, 5th in the U.S.
- Sept. 8: 2.6 million views; ranked 8th globally, 6th in the U.S.
- Sept. 15: 2.6 million views; ranked 7th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- Sept. 22: 2.3 million views; ranked 8th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- Sept. 29: 2.3 million views; ranked 8th globally, 7th in the U.S.
- Oct. 6: 2.4 million views; ranked 9th globally, 6th in the U.S.
- Oct. 13: 2.4 million views; ranked 8th globally, 6th in the U.S.
- Oct. 20: 2.6 million views; ranked 6th globally, 4th in the U.S.
- Oct. 27: 2.3 million views; ranked 8th globally, 4th in the U.S.
So, what do you think? Is WWE Raw's declining viewership a temporary setback or a sign of deeper issues? Let us know in the comments!
