AEW is real winner of WWE’s Netflix deal

AEW professional wrestlers, Kyle Fletcher (left), Konosuke Takeshita, Don Callis, and Powerhouse Hobbs (right). Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

AEW is the real winner of WWE’s Netflix deal

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 1/23/24

Netflix has reportedly struck a deal with the WWE worth $5 billion. The deal will see the streaming giant acquire the rights to Monday Night Raw in the United States and the entire WWE offering for international customers.

"Beginning in January 2025, Netflix will be the exclusive new home of Raw in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Latin America, among other territories, with additional countries and regions to be added over time," WWE revealed in a press release on their website. "Likewise, as part of the agreement, Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S. as available, inclusive of Raw and WWE’s other weekly shows – SmackDown and NXT – as well as the company’s Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble."

WWE Raw is coming to Netflix!

Starting in January 2025, @Netflix will exclusively stream #WWERaw (in the US, Canada, UK, & Latin America) every single week, all year long! https://t.co/SOSACjfp7w pic.twitter.com/lTdSXMep9K
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2024

News of the deal brings an end to the rumors that WWE was in negotiations with Warner Brothers Discovery, the current home of AEW, their biggest rival. While the finances involved in this deal provide a huge opportunity for WWE, it also opens the door for AEW to continue growing.

The path is now clear for Tony Khan to negotiate a new rights deal with WBD. There is no threat of WWE coming in to steal their thunder. Instead, with Raw moving to a streaming-only service, AEW has a chance to grow Dynamite into the biggest wrestling show on television.

This is especially true outside of the US, as all of WWE programming will be under the Netflix brand. AEW has a huge growth opportunity heading its way.

Furthermore, the constant rating battles will be a thing of the past, which should help quiet discourse between the rival fan bases. It should also help both companies focus on producing the best possible shows rather than worrying about growing the ratings.

Still, with more scope to grow on television and the ratings war seemingly coming to an end, AEW has found itself in a favorable position heading into 2025.

They may not have had the $5 billion cash injection, but they have an opportunity to emerge as the potential winners of this deal.

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