WWE has announced that starting October 1, Netflix will become the official platform for its programming in Japan, ending its previous partnership with ABEMA. This news was revealed during the September 14 episode of Raw in Mexico City, highlighted by a graphic showing the logos of Raw, SmackDown, and NXT along with the October 1 start date. WWE Japan also shared the update on X, promising more information soon.
Since September 2023, ABEMA has been streaming Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and WWE’s premium live events in Japan under a three-year deal. The streaming service confirmed last month that WWE content would be removed from its platform after September 30, ensuring a seamless transition between the two agreements.
Netflix already offers Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and WWE premium live events in most international markets, as outlined in a 10-year, $5 billion contract disclosed by TKO Group Holdings in January 2024. Japan was one of the few remaining markets with a separate local rights deal, alongside Germany, Austria, and Sub-Saharan Africa. WWE intentionally structured the Netflix deal to gradually absorb these territories as existing local agreements expire.
WWE President Nick Khan explained the strategy on The Varsity podcast, saying Netflix executive Brandon Riegg suggested consolidating international rights under one partner to maximize market reach more efficiently than entering individual smaller markets separately.
Netflix’s Vice President of Global Live Sports and Entertainment, Gabe Spitzer, mentioned on the Main Event podcast in May that Netflix had recently launched WWE content in Italy and Germany and planned to start in Japan later in the year. Spitzer revisited the topic on the Sports Media podcast last week, emphasizing that WWE’s partnership had exceeded expectations in the U.S. and that the focus is now on growing internationally. He noted that while Netflix carries only Raw in the U.S., it serves as the home for all WWE programming in most countries worldwide.
Fan Take:
This shift to Netflix marks a significant step in WWE’s global expansion, making it easier for fans in Japan to access all their favorite shows on a single, widely used streaming platform. For fighting enthusiasts, this consolidation could boost WWE’s international popularity and pave the way for more global live events and content tailored to diverse markets.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
