For the third consecutive Monday, WWE Raw will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern tonight (September 29). Despite the earlier start, both WWE and its streaming partner, Netflix, are primarily focusing on global audiences across different time zones. This strategy appears to maintain consistent viewership numbers regardless of when the show airs live.
Recent rumors suggest potential scheduling changes for specific upcoming Raws, particularly regarding John Cena’s final appearances in Boston on November 10 and his farewell at Madison Square Garden the following Monday. These adjustments are likely made with the global audience in mind, as evidenced by shows from the United Kingdom and Europe that previously aired in the afternoon U.S. time without negatively impacting viewership.
Beginning next week, WWE Raw will revert to its usual 8 p.m. Eastern start time, as per Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp. The adjustment for the past few weeks to a 7 p.m. start was influenced by logistical challenges in local areas, such as being in Dallas on October 6 and Sacramento on October 20, which would have required fans to arrive at the arena during inconvenient early hours on a weekday.
Tonight’s show remains at 7 p.m. Eastern, with the regular 8 p.m. schedule resuming the following three weeks. Future schedule changes may occur as needed to accommodate audiences worldwide.