WWE is poised to enter a new chapter as its flagship program, Monday Night Raw, begins streaming on Netflix this Monday, marking the start of a significant 10-year partnership valued at over $5 billion.

The first episode on January 6 will feature an impressive lineup including John Cena, who is set to retire later this year, along with Travis Scott, who penned the new theme song for the show. Other wrestling icons like Logan Paul, Cody Rhodes, and Roman Reigns are also scheduled to make appearances, contributing to what promises to be an exciting debut for wrestling fans.

This monumental shift comes as Netflix aims to enhance its portfolio of live sports programming, following on the heels of its recent broadcasts of the NFL Christmas Day games and high-profile boxing matchups, including the Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight. The platform has undergone significant transformations to adapt to live event streaming, a venture spearheaded by WWE executive Nick Khan, who foresaw the day when Netflix would host live programming during previous earnings calls.

Starting with Raw's 1,650th episode, fans can expect a thrilling experience as the show, which has aired since January 11, 1993, transitions from its previous network home on USA Network to become exclusively available on Netflix in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Latin America, with plans for further reach in the future. Hulu will continue to carry certain WWE content, while WWE's premium events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam will also be accessible on the platform internationally.

Viewers tuning in for the premiere will not miss a beat as episodes will be available for immediate viewing after the live broadcast, which is set to take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. EST. The inaugural episode will boast a lineup of matches featuring reigning women's champion Liv Morgan defending her title against Rhea Ripley, amongst others showcasing big names in the wrestling circuit.

The impact of this new partnership extends beyond exciting programming; executives believe that the collaboration will help expand WWE's audience. Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, mentioned, “It has great storytelling, characters along with memorable and surprising stories. The idea of combining our reach globally with this intense fandom just seemed like such a great opportunity.”

While concerns remain over the platform's capability to handle live broadcasts effectively, the response to earlier events has been largely positive, indicating that Netflix is learning from its prior missteps. The streaming service's journey into live programming has come with challenges, but the lucrative potential and vast audience offered by WWE could signal a turning tide.

As WWE kicks off this unprecedented phase of its broadcasting journey, it remains to be seen how this will influence the wrestling industry's landscape. Given the historical significance of WWE and the show's legacy, the world will be watching closely this Monday night as a new era for wrestling entertainment unfolds on Netflix.

For more details, visit the original reports by Forbes and AP News.