WWE Network Shuts Down In Russia

WWE also ends partnership with Russia broadcaster Match.

by Andrew Pollard
WWE NETWORK
WWE

Today brings the news that the WWE Network has been shut down in Russia, "effective immediately".

WWE announced that the on-demand streaming service has ceased being available in Russia, and Vince McMahon's sports entertainment juggernaut has also ended its working relationship with Russian broadcaster Match.

In a brief press release, WWE stated:

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"WWE has terminated its partnership with Russian broadcaster Match and shut down WWE Network in Russia effective immediately.

The move eliminates access in Russia to any WWE programming, including the company’s weekly Raw, SmackDown and NXT shows, its on-demand library, and all of its premium live events, including WrestleMania 38.”

This move means WWE joins countless other organisations in parting ways with Russian partners as a direct result of the country's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

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Prior to this news, Disney and Warner Bros. have both confirmed that their upcoming movies will not be released in Russia, EA Sports is removing Russian teams from FIFA 22, and FIFA and UEFA have banned all Russian teams from international and national football competition.

In terms of WWE, the company at one point had Rusev - these days in AEW as Miro - and his manager Lana championing Vladimir Putin and having the Bulgarian Brute's rampages being done in Putin's name. Thankfully, that element of the Rusev character was quietly dropped in 2016 due to the escalating actions of Putin and Russia.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.