With the upcoming debut of Raw on Netflix, the WWE couldn't miss the chance to get fans excited and move its main stories forward. The Raw on Netflix: start aired on December 18, 2024, on WWE's digital platforms, and was every bit as good as pro wrestling fans have come to expect from WWE programming over the past year.
CM Punk and Seth Rollins were the highlights, and their fight will certainly be the biggest attraction of the first Raw on Netflix, on January 6th. Kevin Owens proved once again why he is currently the best heel in pro wrestling, while Gunther was his usual dominating and charismatic self. Overall, this initial show did what it was supposed to do, getting fans excited for January 6th and laying the groundwork for future stories. Here are the absolutely unmissable moments.
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Liv Morgan vs Rhea Ripley is happening on the premiere of Raw on Netflix
Will Liv survive again?
Adam Pearce made it official during the Raw on Netflix: Kickoff show: Liv will have to defend her world title against Rhea during the premiere episode of Raw on Netflix. It's not the biggest surprise, as the blood feud between these two women is bound to come to an end at some point, but Michael Cole's gleeful reaction to the announcement is already meme-worthy.
It will be interesting to see the result of this match. Liv is undoubtedly the breakout star of 2024 and has done an incredible job as Women's Champion. Rhea, however, is still as popular as ever, and it's hard to keep such a magnetic babyface away from the title for long. It's also possible that this will continue until WrestleMania, where WWE could grace us with its first intergender match, where Rhea will finally get her hands on Dirty Dom.
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Tribal combat will decide who is tribal chief once and for all
Is this chapter in the lineage's history coming to an end?
It's undeniable that Bloodline's story is the gift that keeps on giving, but the fact that Roman vs. Solo for the Tribal Chief title not being the most exciting match that takes place on the debut of Raw on Netflix is the best possible tribute to the quality of WWE programming. recently. Maybe it's the fact that we saw the two Bloodlines clash at Survivor Series, but it's hard not to see it as just an excuse to put Roman on TV.
However, fans would do well to remember that this could be the last page in the current chapter of Bloodline's story, so everything is possible. If Solo wins, that means his bloodline is THE bloodline, and Roman will have to find another way to be relevant – which could be an exciting development in itself. If Roman wins, will his bloodline return? Jey and Sami are established single stars now, so it's hard to see them return to full-time work on the faction. One thing is for sure: this isn't over yet (luckily for us fans).
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Logan Paul is coming for the world heavyweight title
The Polarizing Superstar is now a member of the Raw Roster
If Kevin Owens could win the best heel award due to his incredible work last month, Logan Paul could also easily snatch it due to his consistency. Paulo's praises have been sung enough already, but it's worth reiterating how great he is for a person who literally just entered the business. “You will keep watching because you are a viewer and I am a star” is possibly the coldest line anyone has ever said to an audience.
Logan Paul's announcement that he is seeking the world heavyweight title has already polarized fans. No matter how good he is in the ring or on the microphone, he is still seen as a celebrity and an outsider, so making him champion would certainly cause an uproar among some fans, especially since he would have to beat the more legitimate fighter. ever grace a WWE ring in recent years. Speaking of…
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Gunther will wipe the smirk off Logan's face
The champion will have to advance
Gunther has been in a bit of a strange situation lately. It's undeniable that he's doing everything he's supposed to do as World Champion, but it's also true that he's not the main star of the show. CM Punk and Seth Rollins' rivalry gained prominence, and the Ring General will have to step up its game if he truly wants to be, as Michael Cole said, the man who leads Raw into the Netflix era.
Logan Paul could be just the man to help Gunther do that. He is a mainstream star whose popularity is undeniable and will certainly put more attention on the product. He's also a good worker in the ring and continues to improve over time, even if he doesn't fight every night. He could be a great foil to Gunther, but the idea that WWE could pull the trigger and make Logan Paul the true champion of the Netflix era is ever present.
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Kevin Owens is the WWE Champion (?)
KO is finally doing what KO does best
It's been a long time since anyone stole a championship belt on WWE programming. It's an old trick, but it works well precisely because it's rarely used. The fact that the belt Owens stole was the legendary Winged Eagle belt that Cody Rhodes worked so hard to bring back it just makes everything even more fun. Owens' exchange with Michael Cole was golden, as always, and KO's declaration that December 26th will be his “first show as WWE Champion” was the icing on the cake. If Owen continues to play it straight, acting like he's the WWE Champion, this story can only get better.
Owens' presence is a little strange because he's technically on the SmackDown roster, but you have to remember that outside of the US, SmackDown will also air on Netflix, so it made sense for WWE to push this storyline forward during this Kickoff. No matter how popular KO is as a babyface, his heel work is Mount Rushmore-level, and he would be a perfect candidate to end Cody's first championship reign.
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CM Punk and Seth Rollins kick off 2025 feud
Hopefully this won't end on January 6th
If Punk vs McIntiyre were an easy contender for 2024 Feud of the Year, the story with Seth Rollins has the potential to surpass itjust because real life issues make everything so much more personal. WWE, and professional wrestling in general, is at its best when it blurs the line between fiction and reality. These days, that's very difficult to achieve, which is why building stories around real-life animosity has almost always yielded great results. When Punk and Rollins clash, whether with insults or fists, the audience can feel like they aren't fully acting. This has shades of Edge vs. Matt Hardy in 2005, and that's a good compliment.
Punk vs. Rollins will certainly main event the Netflix debut show (unless WWE finds a worthy opponent for Gunther and decides to give the world title the place it deserves). If the feud with Drew is any indication, WWE knows how to make the most of these blood feuds, so hopefully January 6th is just the first step. With the Royal Rumble approaching, this rivalry will certainly spill over into that match, and possibly go all the way to WrestleMania. Does this mean another Mania without being in the lead even for Punk? Or will this match be the highlight of Night 1? Only time will tell, but what is certain is that there is probably no better time to be a WWE fan than now.