WWE changed the professional wrestling landscape when they announced the WWE Network, a subscription-based streaming service that showcased all of WWE's current and past shows and premium live events (PLE), on Feb. 24, 2014.
Now, more than a decade later, the WWE Network is officially coming to an end.
In an email sent to subscribers, WWE announced that the WWE Network will no longer be available starting on Jan. 1, 2025, when the professional wrestling promotion officially makes the move to Netflix.
'On January 1, 2025, WWE Network will no longer be available in your area," the email read, per WrestleOps. "After January 1, Netflix will be the new exclusive home of WWE."
According to the email, this will include all WWE weekly shows (Monday Night RAW, Friday Night SmackDown, and NXT) and PLEs like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam.
Additionally, WWE's historic catalog of shows and matches will also be available on Netflix beginning in 2025.
The first live episode of Monday Night RAW is set to air on Netflix on Jan. 6, 2025, and will "feature some of the biggest names in WWE such as John Cena, Undisputed WWE Champion 'The American Nightmare' Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Bianca Belair, in addition to many other Superstars and guests including Travis Scott."
If you were subscribed to the WWE Network but not Netflix, you will have until Jan. 1, 2025, before the WWE Network is shut down for good and you have to sign up for Netflix.
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This is not the first time WWE has moved away from the WWE Network. On Jan. 25, 2021, WWE announced that NBCUniversal had the exclusive US distribution rights to WWE Network, meaning live shows would be streamed exclusively on Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service.
The WWE Network has since been phased out in the United States. The deal with NBCUniversal is set to expire in 2026.
Since then, the WWE Network has been the primary way to access WWE shows for a majority of countries outside the US. It is currently available for 186 of the 193 United Nations member states, including all 27 European Union nations.
The WWE Network is also available in two observer states and six non-UN countries.
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Concerns have been raised online over Netflix's live streaming issues after the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight was filled with technical difficulties. However, WWE seems unbothered by this.
For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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