Exclusive:
The Mirror has got an exclusive preview of the first three minutes of tonight’s Monday Night Raw and it offers some tempting hints at what fans tuning in might be able to expect.
Today sees the dawn of a new era for WWE, as the wrestling brand broadcasts its first ever live Netflix Monday Night Raw as part of its huge $5bn ten-year-deal with the streaming brand. Fans in the UK will be able to watch the show live from 1am UK time but ahead of the star-studded launch, WWE has given Mirror readers a sneak peek at the so-called cold open or first three minutes of the iconic event.
The intro is an atmospheric reminder of both WWE’s pedigree and also the strength of its current roster, showcasing stars from the past as well as some of the brand’s biggest superstars, many of whom will be wrestling in the show tonight. The voiceover is done by Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, WWE Chief Content Officer and showcases icons like Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage and the Undertaker as well as Roman Reigns, Rhea Ripley, Bayley, Seth Rollins, Randy Orton and others.
The star also promises: “Screens get smaller but the shows get bigger,” and there are several faces who appear in the video package that could be thrilling fans with return appearances tonight – including former US Champion and social media star Logan Paul, WWE legend turned acting heavyweight John Cena and former women’s champion Becky Lynch.
Watch the full three minute opener here and see the first full Raw event live on Netflix from 1am UK time. Confirmed on tonight’s card are Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa in a Tribal Combat match, CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins, champion Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley in a Last Woman Standing match for the Women’s World Championship and Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso.
Outside of the announced matches, which include some of the current hottest feuds in wrestling, Netflix has revealed that the debut episode will star some of WWE’s biggest names, including John Cena, ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, and many others. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce also confirmed that Logan Paul is set to join the show, reports the Mirror.
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WWE Raw has a new home, here’s how to watch every live show in the UK
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
Sky Stream lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like The Day of the Jackal and the upcoming second season of Squid Game.
The huge Netflix deal gives WWE fans in the UK the best and biggest access to shows and programmes they have had in years and anticipation is high for how longer shows – both Raw and Smackdown will now be three hours ad-free on the streaming giant – and is the perfect way for fans to immerse themselves in the stories and feuds of WWE ahead of WrestleMania season, the brand’s equivalent of the Super Bowl which will take place this year in Las Vegas on Easter weekend.
If anticipation for the Show of Shows wasn’t already high, the UK will be playing host to crucial Raw and SmackDown broadcasts ahead of the event as part of the Road to Wrestlemania 41. The live tour will take WWE to 11 cities across the UK and Europe over three weeks, with live shows scheduled in Glasgow, London, Belfast and Nottingham.
Tickets can be purchased now from Ticketmaster and directly from venues such as the Ovo Hydro Scotland and Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena.
How to watch WWE Raw on Netflix in the UK
WWE Raw is set to make a splash in the UK, as the popular wrestling show finds a new home from today. Netflix has become the exclusive broadcaster for WWE in the UK and as such will broadcast WWE’s flagship weekly wrestling programme in the UK as well as Friday Night Smackdown, NXT and every single premium live events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam, every week of the year.
Tonight’s action-packed WWE Raw will be broadcast live from the brand-new Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, with UK fans able to tune in from 1am on Tuesday. As Netflix has now bagged the exclusive broadcasting rights for WWE, you’ll need a Netflix subscription to get your wrestling fix.
Fortunately, Sky’s revamped TV bundles offer a free Netflix subscription at no extra cost. For just £15 a month, Sky’s Essential TV bundle includes Netflix Standard with Ads, over 100 channels including Sky Atlantic and a Discovery+ subscription.
This all comes with the new Sky Stream box, a nifty gadget that streams live and on-demand content to your TV without the need for a traditional satellite dish. Sky has also unveiled the new £25 Essential TV and Sky Cinema bundle, packed with the latest blockbusters, while the £35 Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle offers all nine dedicated Sky Sports channels.
