WWE Raw set to end run on linear television

WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” will end its 30-plus year run on linear television with its final episode on USA Network before the program moves to Netflix in 2025.

Monday night’s show from the Toyota Center in Houston is sold out and has drawn a seven-figure gate, which has become the norm for WWE events. It will be the 1,649th episode in series history.

“Raw” aired on USA from its Jan. 11, 1993, debut through September 2000. The show returned to USA late in 2005 and has remained a staple since then.

“Raw” will debut Jan. 6 on Netflix as part a 10-year, $5B agreement between the companies. The show will air live worldwide beginning at 8 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

The hype for the debut included a WWE presence during Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL coverage, with CM Punk on set at Chiefs- Steelers and Liz Morgan on the sideline for Ravens-Texans. The show’s open featured John Cena as Santa Claus, and promos for “Raw” aired during the games.

WWE also announced additional programming coming to Netflix: “WWE Raw Classics,” “WWE Top 10,” “WWE Road to WrestleMania,” “WWE Superstar Profiles” and “WWE Legends.”

“Smackdown,” which returned to USA in September, will expand to three hours beginning Jan. 3, WWE announced (SBJ).