“Squid Game” has been sitting comfortably at the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s top 10 list since its debut, but it’s finally been unseated — by an unlikely show.
“WWE Raw” has officially dethroned “Squid Game,” and it’s possible that the pro wrestling program will continue to dominate Netflix’s top 10 for months, years or a decade to come.
Season 2 of the sci-fi thriller premiered on Dec. 26, 2024, and it has racked up 68 million views within its first four days.
However, last January, WWE announced a 10-year partnership with Netflix. The $5 billion deal means that “WWE Raw” could air live on the streaming platform for the next decade, although Netflix has the option to opt out after five years.
“This deal is transformative,” Mark Shapiro, president and COO of TKO Holdings, which owns WWE, said in a press release. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”
Wrestler Carmella leaps at Bianca Belair during a "WWE Monday Night RAW" event in March 2023. "WWE Raw" made its Netflix debut in January 2025. AP
The wrestling show dates back to 1993, when it premiered on the USA Network as WWF’s “Monday Night Raw.” Its move to Netflix marks the start of a new era for “WWE Raw” and the streaming platform.
Netflix is relatively new to live events; its first live sports broadcast, the crossover event “The Netflix Cup,” aired in October 2023. However, the streamer has already had massive success with the genre.
Over 108 million viewers tuned in to watch Jake Paul’s fight with Mike Tyson in November 2024, according to Netflix. The streaming platform dubbed the brawl “the most streamed sporting event in history.”
While not everyone who was fascinated by the Paul vs. Tyson fight will be a weekly “WWE Raw” viewer, the live wrestling program is still a boon for Netflix, if the premiere week numbers are any indicator.
“WWE Raw” airs live on Netflix Mondays at 8 p.m. EST. The Monday, Jan. 6, premiere ran for over three hours and featured appearances from pro wrestling legends Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena.
Thanks to “WWE Raw,” “Squid Game” is no longer the No. 1 show on Netflix — but season 2 still holds the record for the biggest debut in the streaming platform’s history. Despite the show’s success, “Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is ready for a break after season 3, which Netflix filmed directly after season 2 and is slated to premiere later this year.
“I’m so exhausted. I’m so tired. In a way, I have to say, I’m so sick of ‘Squid Game,’” Hwang told Variety in December 2024. “I’m not thinking about my next project right now. I’m just thinking about going to some remote island and having my own free time without any phone calls from Netflix.”
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