2024 will be a big year for WWE programming and where it will air on TV, or elsewhere for the foreseeable future. Last year, we found out that SmackDown is headed to the USA Network, and WWE NXT will air on The CW. The only major brand to not announce where it is headed yet is WWE Raw, and the speculation around where it will land has been a buzzy talking point among fans. Notably, WWE has been in talks with Warner Brothers Discovery, which airs All Elite Wrestling. If that deal were to come together, it could have a major impact on the pro wrestling business.
Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand has a new piece out giving his predictions about how several sports media stories will play out in the coming twelve months. In it, Ourand states that one scenario he could see playing out would see ESPN renewing its deal with the UFC but also cutting a deal with TKO Group Holdings that would see WWE Raw moved to another Disney-owned channel, possibly FX. It was noted that this agreement would likely only happen if TKO is not able to find a suitor for WWE Raw that is willing to put up a substantial amount of money.
That concern was quickly squashed by Ourand’s next prognostication, as he believes Amazon will get the rights to WWE Raw and keep the series on Monday nights. In doing so, Amazon would be able to attract an audience of young males, which is a demo they believe they can see a lot of growth in as far as Amazon Prime subscriptions. It would also give Amazon another night with a live program offering.
WWE Raw currently boasts top stars like WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freaking” Rollins, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and WWE World Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley as part of its roster. Tonight’s episode of Raw will feature an address from Punk as well as a match between Rhodes and Shinsuke Nakamura, as well as one pitting Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa against each other.