Backstage update on WWE Raw’s shift to a two-hour format

Some big news emerged from last night’s episode of “WWE Raw,” when commentator Joe Tessitore revealed that “Raw” would be switching to a two-hour format starting in October for the remainder of 2024. The move would mark the red brand’s first move away from a three-hour format since 2012, and has fans wondering if this change would only last until the end of the year, or would continue when “Raw” hits Netflix in January 2025.

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At this point, it appears the answer is the latter. Dave Meltzer commented on the programming shift on this morning’s “Wrestling Observer Radio,” revealing that “Raw” would be moving back to three hours with its move to Netflix. Additionally, the move from three hours to two hours was a decision made by USA Network, not WWE, indicating that the promotion was content to remain at three hours for the remainder of its USA tenure.

More details were also provided about WWE’s decision to remain with USA Network through the end of the year, something that wasn’t always a given since WWE’s original deal with the network expired in September. Meltzer noted that WWE had a choice about how to bridge the gap between October and the start of the Netflix deal, and that the choices came down to USA and the Peacock streaming service, which currently houses WWE’s video library. Ultimately, Peacock’s unwillingness to pay extra led to WWE’s short-term deal to stick with USA. As for the next three weeks, “Raw” will air in its usual three-hour block.

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