After 26 years on the USA Network, WWE’s flagship show, “Monday Night Raw”, will begin to air live on Netflix starting January 6. Raw aired on the USA Network from 1993 to 2000 and 2005 to 2024. The show moved to Spike TV for five years, from 2000 to 2005, and returned back to USA Network.
This is a huge moment in WWE history for everyone involved: the company, the wrestlers, and the fans. In March 2021, WWE announced that their future premium live events would air live on Peacock. That was a big deal, but having their first TV show air live on a streaming service weekly is massive.
The card for Raw’s debut on Netflix is stacked from top to bottom. Two grudge matches headline the show, with Roman Reigns taking on Solo Sikoa in a Tribal Combat match. CM Punk is facing Seth Rollins in a highly anticipated match. Liv Morgan is putting her World Championship on the line against bitter rival Rhea Ripley. The fourth and final contest announced for the card is Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso.
This is a premium live event level card with Wrestlemania-quality matches on regular television. Here are my predictions and things I am looking forward to for the first episode of Raw on Netflix.
1. Roman Reigns beats Sikoa
Since Roman Reigns returned on August 3 at Summerslam in Cleveland, Ohio, this has been the match everyone has been waiting for: The OTC (Original Tribal Chief) vs. the new Tribal Chief, teacher vs. student. This match is for much more than a WWE Championship; it is for the Ula Fala. The Samoan necklace is worn by the person at the pinnacle of their Bloodline.
After Reigns’ victory over Jey Uso at Hell in a Cell in 2020, his father and uncle, Afa and Sika, known as the Wild Samoans, put the Ula Fala around his neck. This act symbolized what Reigns had done for his family, that he was indeed the Head of The Table and the rightful Tribal Chief to lead this Bloodline into the future.
Sikoa self-appointed himself as the new Tribal Chief after Reigns lost at Wrestlemania 40. He has done a fantastic job of building a new Bloodline around him. This is a Wrestlemania-quality match. Two cousins going toe-to-toe with so much on the line. The spot at the pinnacle of this family is so important as they have been the premiere storyline in wrestling throughout the last five years.
Will Reigns deliver his own “ya’ll must’ve forgot” moment, or can Sikoa prove everything he said was true?
2. Will the Final Boss return?
Although he is not advertised for this event, everyone expects an appearance from the most electrifying man in sports entertainment: The Rock. Since he returned on January 1, 2024, he has teased a match with Reigns. Later, in 2024, he established a new character, “The Final Boss”.
With Wrestlemania 41 right around the corner, will we see The Rock involved in a match again? This is the perfect time to set up a match for the grandest stage of them all with either Reigns or Cody Rhodes. There are so many questions to be answered. Will he come to save Sikoa? Is The Rock going to turn on Reigns?
3. What will John Cena have to say?
I believe that John Cena will state that he is eyeing his record-setting 17th championship in his final year as an active wrestler. Since he isn’t advertised for a match, Cena will most likely be featured in a promo in the ring.
WWE has already labeled 2025 “The John Cena Farewell Tour.” This hasn’t happened before in wrestling, but if anyone deserves it, Cena is the perfect guy. He has been the face of WWE for over 20 years.
4. Punk will beat Seth Rollins
This feud all but officially began the second that CM Punk returned to the WWE in November 2023 at Survivor Series. Punk was injured at the 2024 Royal Rumble and missed a few months. His first feud back in the company was with Drew McIntyre. But this is the match everyone has been waiting for.
Although this is their first match, this is likely only the first chapter in their rivalry. A trilogy between Punk and Rollins will likely happen in the future.
5. Becky Lynch will return
After losing to Morgan in a steel cage match on Raw in May, we haven’t seen Lynch. “The Man” has been off WWE TV over the last seven months. She is one of the biggest stars in the company, but who will she challenge in her return? Is a rematch with Ripley or Morgan the plan for the future?
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