WWE Raw Show Length Still Unclear
Two weeks out from Raw's debut on Netflix, talent still unsure of how long show will air each week.
WWE has gone to great lengths to promote the debut of longtime flagship program Raw on streaming service Netflix next months, including airing a launch event from company headquarters last week.
But just two weeks out from the big day, one of the biggest questions remains unanswered: How long will each episode of Raw be?
Beginning in July 2012, Raw has aired as a three-hour program, a 12-year standard that only changed this fall when it shrunk back to two hours as part of its short-term extension on the USA Network. With the Netflix launch looming, many assumed that WWE would just stretch the show back out to three hours.
However, Fightful Select reports that talent who were present at the last Raw prior to Christmas "weren't told exactly how long WWE Raw would be on Netflix." Additionally, the outlet itself has inquired about show length during the past few months and not received an answer.
Fightful noted that one source in WWE pointed out that Netflix has no hard outs, meaning that WWE won't be subjected to a strict show ending at 11pm ET. As noted previously, this could mean that one week, Raw could end five minutes before 11pm, and the following week, it could have a 15-minute "overrun." Not having to worry about missing a hard out while trying to time a main event finish or show-closing angle could be a huge relief for WWE.
Recently, WWE announced that SmackDown, which moved from FOX to USA Network this fall, will extend to three hours each week beginning in January 2025.
It will be interesting to see if WWE confirms a show length prior to Raw's launch on Netflix on 6 January, or if they leave it intentionally vague and the show just runs until it ends each week.