Why WWE Can’t Change Raw’s Netflix Runtime on the Fly

With Monday Night Raw now fully in its Netflix era, WWE has been experimenting with different runtimes, including the recent shift to two and a half hours instead of the usual three hours. However, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE doesn’t have the freedom to adjust the length of Raw on a whim.

“They tell Netflix they are going two and a half hours, then they have to go two and a half hours,” Meltzer explained, emphasizing that WWE can’t suddenly decide to run longer or shorter mid-show. This means that, while WWE has some flexibility with its new streaming home, it still has to lock in run times in advance rather than adjusting on the fly like it could with traditional TV broadcasts.

This revelation raises questions about how WWE will handle unexpected moments, overruns, or segments that might need extra time. In the past, Raw occasionally ran past its scheduled end time, especially for big matches or surprises. Now, WWE will have to be much more structured with its timing, ensuring every segment and match fits within the confirmed slot.

With recent Raw episodes coming in at two and a half hours, fans are wondering if this will become the new norm or if WWE will return to the full three-hour format soon. Either way, one thing is clear—Raw’s length isn’t changing at the last minute anymore.