WWE’s Archive Library Faces Limitations with Netflix Move

Monday Night RAW‘s impending transition to Netflix remains one of the most talked-about topics in pro wrestling right now. While it’s certainly a huge deal, fans are wondering whether Netflix will have an extensive archive of WWE content once the transition happens next year.

While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that Netflix will have very little WWE archive content. He explained that the platform will feature current shows and pay-per-views, but the archives will be limited.

Meltzer explained that while all current shows will be available weekly, and all pay-per-views will be accessible internationally except in the U.S., the archive content will be minimal. When the service launches on January 1st, only about 40 pay-per-views will be available, including events like The Wrestling Classic, Tuesday in Texas, Royal Rumbles, WrestleManias, and Hell in a Cell.

Some older ECW pay-per-views, such as December to Dismember, will also be included. However, Meltzer noted that the pay-per-views weren’t necessarily selected for their quality, as it seemed more like a random selection.

Meltzer also confirmed there will be no WCW, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-South Wrestling, or World Class Wrestling content. These libraries weren’t widely watched, which led to their exclusion. A few older episodes of NXT, Raw, and SmackDown will be available, along with new episodes airing live.

“People have been asking, internationally when everything moves to Netflix, how much of the library are we going to see? And the answer is, not much.

There’ll be all the current shows obviously will be on every single week. This is international, not United States, United States is only Raw. All the pay-per-views are gonna be on Netflix.

As far as your archives, there will be some but very little. On January 1, when everything starts, they’re gonna have about roughly 40 pay-per-views, will be the only thing up. Just intermittent – some recent, some years ago. But like 40-ish pay-per-views, dating back to the Wrestling Classic and Tuesday in Texas, Rock Bottom, there’ll be Royal Rumbles and WrestleManias of course. Hell in a Cell. The Invasion pay-per-view. Evolution pay-per-view, the all-women’s show. Some of the ECW pay-per-views – December to Dismember’s gonna be up there.

So it’s not like they picked based on… I think they just blinded themselves and threw darts at a wall, and whichever name they it they picked up, because it’s not like they picked the best pay-per-views, or recent, or anything. Clash at the Castle’s gonna be on.

So anyway, the point is it will only be, when it starts on Netflix, there will be 40 pay-per-views, there’ll be no WCW, no Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, no Mid-South Wrestling, World Class Wrestling. None of that taped library stuff. Which, people didn’t really watch a lot of it, so that’s what happened. But there will be a few WrestleManias.

There will be some old episodes of NXT, Raw and SmackDown. All the new episodes airing live of course.”

Dave Meltzer also revealed that WWE content on Netflix would gradually expand after the initial launch. He explained that a second wave of pay-per-views is scheduled to be released on February 7, including events like Stomping Grounds, Vengeance, Insurrextion, Night of Champions, and Armageddon. Another batch of pay-per-views will be added later.

Meltzer noted that Netflix plans to roll out WWE pay-per-views and select archive content in phases. However, programming from other promotions, such as WCW or ECW, will not be included on Netflix for at least the first four to five months.

“There will be a second run of pay-per-views that will be released February 7 I believe, a couple of pay-per-views – Stomping Grounds, Vengeance, Insurrextion, Night of Champions, Armageddon, not too many. And then on the 31st, there will be some more pay-per-views.

Netflix will be slowly rolling out WWE pay-per-views and some archives of WWE programming. There will not be any programming from any other promotions on Netflix, at least for the first four to five months.”

In addition to the limited WWE archive for older content, the entire archive for Monday Night RAW will be leaving Peacock once RAW moves to Netflix next year as well, but that was ultimately expected.

As the launch of WWE on Netflix approaches, fans may need to manage their expectations about classic wrestling footage. While current shows and a selection of pay-per-views will be available, the lack of iconic wrestling libraries could disappoint many fans.