Professional wrestling has gone beyond being just entertainment; it’s a global phenomenon, and it consistently evolves to keep fans engrossed. The 2024 wrestling landscape is no exception, with WWE and AEW at the forefront of everything that’s good. Beyond the action in the ring, wrestling is becoming increasingly intertwined with other industries, giving fans more ways to engage with the sport they love.
WWE’s Shift to Streaming
In what is a groundbreaking move, the WWE will see its $5 billion agreement to stream on Netflix commence in January 2025. The new partnership will see the transition from traditional television to the streaming service for programs like Monday Night RAW. This will apply in multiple regions, including the US, Canada, and the UK, and will be the first time ever RAW has not aired on linear TV.
The move to Netflix has also caused a stir as the streaming giants are keen to acquire talents such as CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Cody Rhodes for the RAW roster. Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, the WWE’s Chief Content Officer, has already emphasised what the move to Netflix means for the future of the WWE.
AEW Go International
All Elite Wrestling, or AEW, is also making big moves, with international success on the cards. AEW is set to debut in Australia in February 2025 with their AEW Grand Slam Australia event in Brisbane. It’s expected there will be 40,000 fans in the Suncorp Stadium to watch stars like Chris Jericho, Christian Cage, and Adam Copeland battle it out in the ring. Tony Khan, AEW CEO, has suggested this is a significant step in AEW’s global growth, and it won’t be the last.
The Fan Experience Continues to Improve
The fans remain the lifeblood of wrestling in all its forms, whether it’s WWE, AEW, or another brand. Providing the best fan experience possible is what counts, and this starts with having multiple ways to keep people connected to the action. Now that WWE is set to stream on Netflix, it arguably makes WWE more accessible. Then there’s hours upon hours worth of on-demand content to dive into as well. This will no doubt in turn have sports betting sites considering the opportunity of giving fans a chance to put their knowledge and prediction skills to the test ahead of big events.
There’s a reason that the WWE and other wrestling brands continue to go from strength to strength, and that’s because they evolve. The WWE has been at the top of its game for decades, but the upcoming shows and events are more popular now than they’ve ever been. The decision to broadcast the pre-show live and for free on YouTube shows how WWE continues to move with the times.
The signs are good for wrestling as a whole, which is great news for fans. WWE has an innovative streaming deal, and AEW is going global. It’s the start of a new era for professional wrestling entertainment, and the future looks very bright indeed.
