WWE Unveils “Monday Night Raw” Cold Open, Highlighting Wrestling’s History and Television’s Evolution
Ahead of its Netflix premiere, WWE released a captivating cold open for “Monday Night Raw,” narrated by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. The video masterfully intertwines the rich history of professional wrestling with the evolution of television, highlighting their intertwined rise to prominence in American culture.
Levesque’s narration emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between the two: “As television changed, so did wrestling,” he observes, “And together, they changed America. The truth is, a great swath of American culture is born of that eternal battle between the face and the heel,” referencing the classic hero-villain dynamic central to wrestling storylines.
The video itself is a visually stunning montage, showcasing a diverse range of wrestling superstars spanning generations. From legendary figures like Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, and Andre the Giant, to current top performers such as Roman Reigns, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, and Rhea Ripley, the footage underscores wrestling’s enduring appeal and its ability to connect with audiences across time.
The cold open concludes with a rousing declaration: “From television to streaming, from America to the world, ladies and gentlemen, presenting the all-real, ever-fantastic, never-to-end story of WWE.”
“Monday Night Raw” made its Netflix debut on January 6th, 2025, airing live at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. This marks a significant milestone, following the announcement in January 2024 of a landmark $500 million-a-year deal bringing the show to the streaming platform as part of Netflix’s expansion into live content. Levesque has reassured fans that the move to streaming will not alter the family-friendly nature of the programming, stating at a Netflix event in December, “It’s a safe place for families, for kids, for everybody, to be able to view the programming. That will not change.”