WWE Originally Pitched NXT to Netflix Before Landing $5 Billion RAW Deal

WWE made major moves in 2024 by securing new media rights deals, including Monday Night Raw heading to Netflix. But before that, NXT locked in a prime-time spot on The CW, marking a major shift for WWE’s developmental brand. Now, TKO executive Ari Emanuel is revealing how NXT’s deal came together and how it almost led to an even bigger move.

Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Emanuel shared how initial talks with Netflix were focused on NXT before things took an unexpected turn.

“I had a breakfast with Bella. She runs all of content programming underneath [Netflix CEO] Ted Sarandos at Netflix. We did a presentation to her, and all of a sudden, we first started talking about NXT, and it immediately moved to Raw,” Emanuel explained.

While Raw ultimately landed on Netflix, WWE secured a separate deal for NXT to air on The CW Network, giving the brand its biggest TV exposure yet. NXT has already seen success on international Netflix markets, but this new U.S. deal puts the brand in front of a much larger audience.

The move signals WWE’s growing investment in NXT as a must-watch product, with stars like Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, and Tiffany Stratton leading the charge. With WWE’s developmental system now reaching more viewers than ever, the question remains—will NXT continue to be a proving ground for future superstars, or is it evolving into a third major brand alongside Raw and SmackDown?

What do you think about NXT moving to The CW? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!