You’ve just sat down on the couch. You’ve got your snacks. You grab the remote and start scrolling through the USA Network or looking for a channel number you’ve known by heart for decades.
And it’s not there.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock for a lot of people. Since early 2025, the answer to what channel is raw on tonight has changed completely. If you’re looking for a traditional cable channel, you’re basically looking for a ghost.
WWE Raw doesn’t live on cable television anymore. In a move that basically reset the entire sports-entertainment landscape, the "Red Brand" moved exclusively to Netflix.
The Big Move to Streaming
It’s been a wild year. As of January 14, 2026, we are officially in the second year of the massive 10-year deal between WWE and Netflix. This isn't just a "streaming also" situation. In the United States, Canada, the UK, and Latin America, Netflix is the only place to watch the three-hour live broadcast every Monday night.
If you’re trying to find a channel number on your Xfinity, Spectrum, or DirecTV box, you won’t find one. You’ve gotta open the Netflix app on your smart TV, phone, or gaming console.
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Last week was actually a massive deal for the brand. We just saw the big "Raw is Stranger Things" anniversary special on January 5th. It pulled in huge numbers—somewhere around 1.78 million views in the first 24 hours alone. People are clearly figuring out where to go, but it still feels weird to not have it between a movie rerun and local news.
What Time Does Raw Start?
Even though the "channel" changed, the ritual hasn't. Mostly.
WWE Raw still goes live at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM Central).
However, since it’s on Netflix now, the runtime has become what they call "flexible." Back on USA Network, the show had to end exactly at 11:00 PM because the next show was starting. Now? If a main event needs an extra five minutes to breathe, Netflix just lets it run.
You’ve probably noticed the matches feel a bit more natural lately because they aren't sprinting to beat a hard television "off" time.
International Watching: It’s a Bit Different
While the U.S. is strictly Netflix, things get a little localized if you're traveling or reading this from overseas.
- In France: You’re actually looking for the channel AB1.
- In Germany/Austria: Keep an eye on BILD or ProSieben MAXX.
- In Italy: It’s often on DMAX or Discovery+.
For most of the world, though, Netflix has become the "WWE Network" replacement. In fact, just this month, Netflix officially took over the entire WWE library in the U.S. too. All those old Attitude Era episodes and classic Royal Rumbles that used to be on Peacock? They’ve mostly migrated over to the N-icon.
Why Did This Happen?
Money, basically. TKO (the company that owns WWE) signed a deal worth about $5 billion over ten years. That’s a lot of zeros.
But it’s also about how we watch stuff now. About 40% of sports fans in the U.S. only use streaming services. WWE saw the writing on the wall. They wanted to be where the young audience is, and apparently, that’s tucked between Stranger Things and Bridgerton.
What You Need to Watch Tonight
If you want to catch the action live, here is the checklist:
- A Netflix Subscription: Any tier works, but you’ll see ads on the cheaper plan.
- High-Speed Internet: Nothing ruins a main event like a buffering wheel right as CM Punk is about to hit a GTS.
- The App: Make sure your app is updated. Live streaming is still relatively new for Netflix, and they push updates frequently to keep the feed from crashing.
Current Storylines to Watch For
Tonight is shaping up to be interesting. CM Punk is currently the World Heavyweight Champion, having just defended the title against Bron Breakker in that crazy anniversary show.
We’ve also got the fallout from Becky Lynch reclaiming the Women’s Intercontinental Title from Maxxine Dupri. And don't forget the tag team division—The Usos are currently holding the World Tag Team titles and basically telling everyone they run the show.
The vibe of the show has changed too. It’s a bit grittier. There’s less "corporate" feel and more of a live-event energy that works well for streaming.
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Summary of How to Tune In
To keep it simple: stop looking for what channel is raw on tonight in your channel guide.
Open Netflix. Look for the "Live" row or just search "WWE." The show will be right there at the top of the screen starting at 8 PM ET. If you miss the start, the best part about the move to Netflix is that you can usually "Watch from Start" even while the show is still going on.
Check your internet connection and make sure your Netflix login hasn't expired. If you're using the ad-supported tier, expect a few breaks, but they’ve been timing them fairly well with the natural lulls in the matches. Get settled in, because without the strict cable cutoff, tonight’s show could go a little long if the action stays hot.