When WWE announced its global 10-year partnership with Netflix earlier this year, it was branded as a game-changing deal. Starting January 2025, flagship shows like RAW, SmackDown, NXT, and all major PLEs including WrestleMania became part of the Netflix library worldwide. For fans globally, it meant ad-free access, on-demand content, and high-quality streaming. For India, however, the story has taken a complicated turn.

In India, WWE had built a loyal fanbase through its long-standing, accessible presence on SonyLIV. The sudden shift to Netflix has created a sharp divide among fans. The biggest point of concern? Affordability. Many viewers who once paid nominal monthly fees to access WWE content are now faced with Netflix’s higher subscription cost, making it harder for casual fans to keep up.

And the numbers back the sentiment. After a strong start with 6.9 million views for RAW’s Netflix premiere in January, the show’s viewership has steadily declined, dipping to 1.4 million by the end of June. SmackDown has struggled even more, dropping from 1 million views to just 600,000. Key PLEs like Backlash, Money in the Bank, and Night of Champions failed to maintain post-WrestleMania momentum, with viewership dropping as low as 1 million.

The creative direction has not helped either. Fans have called out the lack of compelling storylines, fewer top-tier superstars, and an overcrowded event calendar that leaves little room for character growth. With Roman Reigns absent, and John Cena's farewell arc not fully clicking, viewers are finding it hard to stay emotionally invested.

Globally, the Netflix deal is still being hailed as a bold and profitable evolution for WWE. But in India, where accessibility and emotional loyalty have long driven fandom, the transition seems to have come with unintended side effects. WWE might have expanded its global footprint, but it appears to be losing the grassroots charm that made it so iconic in Indian households.

WWE and Netflix now face a critical moment. If they want to sustain interest and rebuild momentum in India, they will have to address both affordability and content freshness. Because while fans will show up for blockbuster matches, they need more than spectacle to stay. They need stories, heroes, and a sense that the ring still belongs to them.

 

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