The relationship between Netflix and WWE has blossomed into a major success since their historic partnership began in early 2025. Gabe Spitzer, Vice President of Sports at Netflix, recently opened up about how the streaming giant views its collaboration with the wrestling powerhouse—and the outlook could not be more optimistic. According to Spitzer, the alliance has surpassed expectations while offering exciting opportunities for global expansion and fresh marketing.

Netflix’s Strategic Approach to WWE Partnership

In an exclusive interview with Variety, Spitzer emphasized that Netflix entered the WWE partnership with a precise goal: not to alter WWE’s unique product but to augment it effectively. “It’s everything we could have hoped for and more,” he revealed. “We knew going in that we’re not going to change WWE. It was more, how can we add to it in small ways, and that’s what we’ve seen so far. [WWE’s] distribution has been pretty fragmented up to this point, and the hope was ‘Let’s combine the power of what you guys do with the power of what we do with our global distribution, and get our marketing teams together … and try to lift this.’”[1]

This sentiment underscores Netflix’s strategic vision: leveraging its unparalleled global streaming platform to unify WWE’s reach, historically fragmented across various networks and regions. The results have been impressive, with WWE RAW regularly landing in Netflix’s Top 10 global streaming charts for 27 consecutive weeks as of July 2025[1].

Global Expansion and Audience Growth

Netflix’s involvement goes beyond mere content streaming—it plays a critical role in WWE’s global growth strategy. WWE has ramped up its international events, hosting more than half of its premium live events outside the U.S. in 2024. Their alliance with Netflix is expected to fuel further expansion. Chris Legentil, WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, highlighted that working hand-in-hand with Netflix enables more strategic selection of emerging global markets to tap into new fanbases and boost subscriber counts for Netflix as well[3].

The partnership is already visible in WWE’s event locations spanning Saudi Arabia, Canada, Australia, France, Scotland, and Germany[3]. By linking global live events with Netflix’s vast distribution, both brands benefit from increased visibility and the chance to cultivate fandom worldwide.

Impact on WWE’s Broadcast and Viewer Experience

The transition of WWE RAW from traditional linear television to exclusive streaming on Netflix marked a pivotal moment for the sports entertainment industry. The 10-year deal, valued at over $5 billion, allows Netflix exclusive streaming rights in North America, the U.K., and Latin America, while also promoting other WWE properties like SmackDown and marquee pay-per-views internationally[2].

Brandon Ross, an analyst at LightShed Partners, explained that this move provides WWE with audience stability amid the shifting landscape of media consumption, predicting that the deal will likely increase global eyeballs and enhance revenue streams via touring and sponsorship[2].

The accessibility of WWE content on Netflix has also transformed the fan experience. Superstar Rhea Ripley praised the partnership for bringing “new eyes” to WWE. “The publicity that WWE has gotten just from partnering with Netflix has been so beneficial for not only the company but all of us. To see the amount of people that have started watching WWE just because we are on Netflix… it’s just like welcoming new people in,” Ripley said[4].

WWE superstar CM Punk echoed this enthusiasm, highlighting that Netflix’s platform makes WWE more accessible worldwide than ever before, surpassing traditional cable and network television reach[4].

Backstage Perspectives: An Insider’s View

According to a WWE insider close to the partnership negotiations, the relationship with Netflix is viewed internally as a game-changer. “From day one, the leadership at WWE recognized Netflix not just as a broadcaster, but as a partner invested in building the brand globally,” the source revealed. “They are proactive about marketing, analytics, and fan engagement in ways that we’ve never seen before. The collaboration between creative teams and Netflix execs is close-knit, which helps keep things authentic to WWE while growing our footprint.”

The insider also noted that WWE’s talent appreciates the fresh energy the streaming deal brings. “The wrestlers are excited because it means more global exposure, more diverse audiences, and new opportunities—not just in-ring, but culturally as well.”

Future Outlook and Innovations

Spitzer hinted that the partnership is still in its early stages, with plans underway to deepen involvement and innovate WWE’s presentation globally. “For us, it’s still early stages. We want things that are going to create global conversation. And I think with WWE, we already know they have that,” he said. “So we’ll continue to have conversations with the leagues that have rights coming up.”[1]

As WWE plans more international events and continues to unveil marquee storylines and championship matches exclusive to its Netflix audience, the synergy between the two entities seems set to grow. WWE’s strategy to carefully select international venues in coordination with Netflix’s data-driven insights is expected to maximize fan engagement and subscriber growth over the next several years[3].

Final Thoughts

The alliance between Netflix and WWE represents a milestone in sports entertainment broadcasting. Fueled by a mutual desire to grow globally and enhance fan accessibility, the partnership is delivering tangible results in viewership, international reach, and brand strength. With both sides committed to collaboration and innovation, the future of WWE on Netflix looks bright—and the wrestling world is watching.

As the WWE-Netflix relationship continues to evolve, fans can expect exciting developments that redefine how wrestling content is consumed worldwide.