WWE dropped a major international streaming announcement during the September 14, 2026 episode of WWE RAW, revealing that Netflix will officially become the new home for WWE in Japan beginning October 1.
The announcement aired immediately after Je’Von Evans punched his ticket to Money in the Bank, with WWE confirming RAW, SmackDown and NXT are all making the move. The timing clears up a question that has been hanging over WWE’s Japanese television situation for weeks. Ringside News previously covered how WWE programming is leaving ABEMA at the end of September, with the service confirming its WWE content would disappear after September 30.
Now we know exactly where it’s going. WWE flashed a graphic during RAW stating, “Netflix becomes the new home for WWE in Japan,” with the RAW, SmackDown and NXT logos displayed alongside an October 1 start date.
The move also brings Japan closer to WWE’s streaming setup across much of the rest of the world. Netflix already carries RAW, SmackDown and NXT in many international markets, along with WWE Premium Live Events such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble. WWE’s original Netflix agreement was designed to add more countries as existing local media deals expired.
That international package is much bigger than what Netflix subscribers currently get in the United States. American fans can watch Monday Night RAW live on Netflix, while SmackDown remains on USA Network and NXT airs on The CW. WWE Premium Live Events in the United States are currently carried through the ESPN App with the ESPN Unlimited plan, while Netflix serves as a much broader WWE hub in many international territories.
Netflix has also made it clear that WWE’s international performance has become a major part of the partnership. As Ringside News previously covered, a Netflix executive recently said WWE has hit “every metric” since RAW moved to the platform, while pointing to international markets as an especially strong area for future growth.
Japan is now officially next in line. After three years with ABEMA serving as WWE’s primary streaming home in Japan, WWE will flip the switch on October 1 and send RAW, SmackDown and NXT to Netflix, giving Japanese fans a new destination for the company’s weekly programming.
What do you think about WWE moving its programming in Japan to Netflix? Do you think having more of WWE under one streaming service makes things easier for international fans? Let us know your thoughts and feedback.
