WWE has announced a temporary shift in the start time for Monday Night Raw in September 2025, moving the show to 7 p.m. ET for three consecutive weeks instead of its usual 8 p.m. slot. This decision, jointly made with broadcast partner Netflix, is a strategic experiment to gauge how Raw performs against the return of the NFL’s highly watched Monday Night Football (MNF) on ESPN.
Why WWE is Testing an Earlier Start Time for Raw
The WWE and Netflix partnership, which began in January 2025 with Raw’s migration to Netflix streaming, has already introduced various unconventional start times for the show during international tours this year. However, the September schedule change stands out as a deliberate test conditioned by Monday Night Football’s prime-time presence.
A source close to WWE told Wrestling News, “The decision to move Raw to a 7 p.m. start on September 15, 22, and 29 was made well in advance. WWE and Netflix want to see if beginning earlier helps maintain or boost ratings when directly competing with the NFL’s football action”.
Navigating the Monday Night Football Challenge
Monday Night Football is one of the biggest live TV draws in the U.S., often pulling millions of viewers. Historically, WWE Raw, despite its strong fanbase, has faced stiff competition in this time slot. The NFL’s return in September with doubleheader games airing at 7:15 p.m. ET on two of the tested Mondays makes this scheduling experiment particularly important.
According to insider commentary, “This is a smart move for WWE. By starting an hour earlier, Raw’s main event will end before the NFL games enter their crunch time the critical moments that draw the highest viewership. This scheduling helps minimize audience fragmentation and gives WWE fans a chance to watch both events fully”.
A Pattern of Flexible Scheduling during the Netflix Era
Since moving to Netflix, WWE Raw has showcased flexibility with different start times to accommodate international audiences and other considerations. For example:
August 25th episode taped in Birmingham, England started at 3 p.m. ET.
September 1st broadcast from Paris is set for 2 p.m. ET.
A future Perth, Australia episode on October 13th airs live at 8 a.m. ET.
This trend highlights WWE’s efforts to experiment with timing to maximize global accessibility and domestic ratings before potentially settling back into the traditional 8 p.m. ET time frame post-September, with the Perth episode as a noted exception.
What This Means for WWE Fans and Viewership
The decision to test an earlier start time could influence WWE’s future programming strategies, especially as streaming platforms and live sports broadcasts create complex scheduling challenges. Raw’s ability to retain and grow its audience while competing with NFL viewership will be under close scrutiny.
A WWE insider shared, “If the ratings improve or remain steady during the 7 p.m. slot, it opens the door for WWE and Netflix to consider more flexible scheduling in the future. Conversely, if the move dilutes the audience, WWE might revert quickly to its standard timing. Audience feedback and numbers will guide the next steps”.
Looking Ahead: Return to Normal Start Time Expected in October
Current schedules indicate that following the three-week test in September, Monday Night Raw will likely return to its standard 8 p.m. ET start time for October, save for the Australia episode airing live in the U.S. early in the morning. This indicates WWE’s approach is cautious and data-driven rather than a permanent change without precedent.