Sat Jan 04 12:30:00 UTC 2025: ## WWE Raw Concludes USA Network Run, Looks Ahead to Netflix Premiere with Explosive Matches
**NEW YORK, NY –** Monday’s WWE Raw marked the end of an era, concluding over 30 years on USA Network. While the show aired a retrospective video package, the focus remained firmly on the upcoming Netflix premiere on January 6th. The episode served as a significant promotional event, building anticipation for key matches, particularly the highly anticipated clash between CM Punk and Seth Rollins.
Punk and Rollins engaged in a heated verbal exchange, with Punk delivering a powerful promo reflecting on his WWE career and his motivations for returning. This segment is considered one of Punk’s best in recent years, showcasing his exceptional mic skills.
Other highlights included Drew McIntyre’s dominant victory over Jey Uso and the determination of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament finalists, Lyra Valkyria and Dakota Kai. The tournament winner will make history as the first-ever female Intercontinental Champion on January 13th. Valkyria and Kai’s potential victory represents a strategic move by WWE to elevate fresh talent to the main roster.
The show also unveiled a mysterious vignette featuring a masked wrestler, strongly hinting at the imminent arrival of former AEW star Penta El Zero Miedo. Speculation surrounds his potential role and how WWE will utilize his unique persona.
While the transition to Netflix is a significant step for WWE, some critics felt the final USA Network episode lacked the celebratory atmosphere befitting such a milestone. The absence of appearances or comments from established Raw legends, many believed, diminished the significance of this historic night. Despite this, the show successfully generated excitement for the upcoming matches and cemented WWE’s confident stride into the future on its new streaming platform.
First Piper 