As part of their TV rights negotiations for WWE RAW, the company could move the red brand from Monday nights for the first time in history!
September 2023 has been a huge month for the business side of WWE. Alongside finalizing their deal to merge with UFC to form the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings, the company also secured a five-year deal to bring SmackDown back to NBCUniversal’s USA Network next year.
However, the company has yet to secure a new deal for Monday Night RAW, the NBCU deal for which expires in 2024. Now, a new report has given some insight into the main players for the show and a huge potential change for the red brand!
Sports Business Journal reports that NBCUniversal is currently the front-runner to secure a deal and will likely renew its contract for the show. Aside from the new SmackDown deal, WWE has other strong ties to NBCU including the WWE Network being hosted on its streaming service Peacock and NXT also being carried on USA Network.
However, the company is also hosting talks with other possible partners due to rampant cord-cutting across the United States. These most notably include Disney and Amazon.
The report’s most interesting note, however, is that WWE sources told the outlet that there is potential for WWE RAW to move to another night of the week as part of a new deal. They also note, however, that nothing concrete has been decided as of yet.
Should the company go ahead with the potential move, this would mark the first time in the show’s 30-year history that it hasn’t been hosted on a Monday weekly. In comparison, SmackDown has been hosted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in the past.
WWE RAW & NXT Could Leave USA Network In 2024
On top of moving away from Monday nights, another report has claimed both WWE RAW and NXT could leave their long-time homes of USA Network.
Earlier this week, The Hollywood Reporter noted that SmackDown moving to USA Network next year will mean “the end of Raw and NXT on USA” as a direct result.