The October 6, 2025 edition of WWE Raw on Netflix registered a modest increase in global viewership from the previous week but remained below historic expectations, continuing the show’s recent trend of lower-than-anticipated engagement. According to Netflix data, the episode drew 2.4 million global views with a total of 4.8 million hours watched, ranking ninth globally among English-language Netflix shows for the week[2][3][5].
Slight Improvement in Numbers Amidst Ongoing Challenges
This latest episode saw a gain of approximately 100,000 global views compared to the September 29 episode, which had 2.3 million views. Hours viewed also rose by about 300,000 from the previous week’s 4.5 million hours to 4.8 million hours, marking the highest engagement since the September 15 episode’s 5.3 million hours[2][3]. Despite this week-over-week improvement, WWE Raw dropped one spot in Netflix’s global rankings from #8 to #9.
In the United States, the show ranked sixth overall for the week, demonstrating a somewhat stronger domestic performance compared to its global standing. Notably, Raw was also in the top ten in countries like Canada, Bolivia, and Trinidad and Tobago[3].
Context: The Crown Jewel Go-Home Episode and Competition
The October 6 episode served as the go-home show ahead of WWE’s Crown Jewel event in Perth, Australia, adding significance with appearances by major stars such as Roman Reigns, Becky Lynch (in non-title action), CM Punk, LA Knight, Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes, Gunther, and Liv Morgan[2][3]. Roman Reigns opened the show, underscoring its high-profile nature.
However, the episode faced stiff competition from major sports broadcasts in the U.S., including Monday Night Football, which drew over 22 million viewers, and the MLB playoffs—events that heavily impact Monday night viewership[3]. Additionally, the show returned to its 8 PM Eastern start time, after several weeks at 7 PM, which may have influenced viewer habits[3].
Backstage Insight: WWE’s Streaming Transition and Audience Concerns
According to sources close to WWE, while the company is optimistic about its exclusive streaming partnership with Netflix, there remains some concern behind the scenes about the lower-than-expected viewership numbers, especially given the company’s efforts to expand its global audience.
A WWE insider shared, “The move to Netflix was always about growing the brand internationally and capturing new viewers on a platform they use daily. However, we’ve noticed that traditional metrics don’t always tell the full story — engagement on social media and YouTube remains strong, even if the raw streaming numbers have not yet hit the highs we hoped for.” This reflects WWE’s understanding that viewership via Netflix may differ from traditional TV ratings and that ongoing adaptation is required[5].
YouTube Engagement Highlights Remain Strong
While the core Netflix data depicts slower growth, WWE content continues to perform well on other digital platforms. The top five most viewed WWE Raw clips from the October 6 show on YouTube amassed significant views, led by Jimmy Uso’s compelling interaction with Roman Reigns, which garnered over 1.1 million views. Other popular clips include Roman Reigns’ challenge to Bronson Reed (890K views) and the CM Punk & LA Knight vs. The Usos segment (726K views), illustrating that fan interest remains high around specific storylines and superstars[5].
Looking Ahead: WWE Raw’s Viewership Trends in 2025
Analyzing WWE Raw’s viewership over recent weeks reveals a gradual decline in average global views and hours watched. The ten-week average now sits around 2.58 million global views with 5.12 million hours viewed, a decrease when compared to historical averages prior to the Netflix deal[3]. The shift from traditional TV to streaming has shaken up how viewership metrics are interpreted, complicating straightforward comparisons.
Experts like Dave Meltzer have shared their assessments with subscribers, noting that though the numbers are down from traditional broadcast eras, the move to streaming represents a larger strategic gamble to secure WWE’s future audience worldwide[3][4].
Conclusion: WWE Raw’s Challenge in the Streaming Era
While the October 6, 2025 episode of WWE Raw demonstrated a slight bounce in global viewership and engagement, the show continues to navigate the complexities of its transition to an exclusively streamed format. Competition from mainstream sports and evolving viewer habits pose ongoing challenges. However, strong digital engagement on platforms such as YouTube suggests WWE’s storytelling and major star power remain compelling to its core fanbase.
As WWE continues to leverage Netflix and broaden its international footprint, industry insiders indicate the company is committed to refining its content delivery and marketing strategy to maximize reach and recapture live-event-style audience excitement in this new digital landscape.
For wrestling fans and analysts, monitoring upcoming episodes and major events like Crown Jewel will be critical to understanding whether WWE Raw’s streaming model can build sustained growth moving forward.