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WWE has announced that its flagship program, Raw, will be reduced from three hours to two starting October 7th. This change comes ahead of the show’s transition from the USA Network to Netflix in January 2025. It remains unclear if the show’s length will be adjusted again once it moves to the streaming platform.
For over a decade, Raw has been a three-hour staple since its 1,000th episode in July 2012. The extended runtime has sparked debate among fans, with some appreciating the extra content while others felt it was too lengthy. WWE Superstar Seth “Freakin” Rollins has even described the three-hour format as “obnoxiously long.”
The current agreement with the USA Network was set to expire in October, which aligns with this new scheduling change. Fans in the UK will also experience the shorter format when viewing on TNT Sports or the WWE Network.
RAW could be going back to 2 hours! The Helmsley-McMahon era is here!https://t.co/RRZwbDKojc pic.twitter.com/RkYSdoc8Mi
— Wrestlelamia.com (@wrestlelamia) July 27, 2022
Wrestling enthusiast Jonathan Elgie has welcomed the decision to shorten the show. “Sometimes there is too much of a good thing,” Elgie told BBC Newsbeat. “From my perspective, as a lifelong wrestling fan, it’s necessary to trim it down. There’s often a lot of filler that doesn’t add much value.”
In 2015, WWE’s chief content officer Paul Levesque, known as Triple H, expressed a desire to see Raw reduced to two hours, a sentiment echoed by Rollins in a 2022 podcast. Rollins remarked that the extended format often resulted in stretched content, making a two-hour show a more manageable and impactful experience.
However, Elgie also notes potential downsides to the reduction. “A shorter show might mean some talent gets less exposure. It’s a balance between brevity and giving everyone a chance to shine.”
As WWE transitions to Netflix, there is speculation that the show might revert to its original three-hour format. Elgie sees the two-hour period as a valuable trial phase. “It’ll be interesting to see how it performs. SmackDown’s two-hour format never feels too long, so maybe Raw will benefit from a similar structure.”
Jesus.
3 hours of WWE RAW
2 hours of NXT
2 hours of Dynamite
2 hours of ROH
2 hours of SmackDown
1 hour of Rampage
2 hours of AEW CollisionPlus PLE and PPVs. Also more if you watch IMPACT, NJPW, and STARDOM.
— Just Alyx (@JustAlyxCentral) April 15, 2023
TKO, the parent company of WWE, has described the move to Netflix as a “major programming shift,” marking WWE’s departure from traditional TV for the first time since Raw debuted in the early ’90s. President Mark Shapiro has called the deal “transformative,” highlighting the synergy between WWE’s engaging content and Netflix’s global reach.
Looking ahead, Elgie hopes for a shift in the show’s content. “I’d love to see Raw embrace a darker, edgier tone once it’s on Netflix. As an adult fan, I find the less PG content more appealing.”
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