WWE Drops Steve Austin from Historic RAW Netflix Premiere Plans

One Big Thing

WWE has canceled plans for “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to appear on the January 6th RAW episode, which marks the show’s historic move to Netflix.

Why It Matters

The January 6th episode represents WWE’s first broadcast under its landmark Netflix deal, making it a pivotal moment for both the company and streaming television history.

Key Details

• Reporter Chris Featherstone broke the news about Austin’s canceled appearance
• The Rock and John Cena are still confirmed for the episode
• Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk headlines the announced matches
• Austin recently teased a possible WrestleMania 41 appearance

By The Numbers

• This marks RAW’s first platform change since moving to USA Network in 2005
• Netflix reaches over 230 million subscribers globally
• WWE signed a $5 billion deal with Netflix for RAW’s rights

Star Power

Despite Austin’s absence, the show features:

• The Rock’s first RAW appearance since 2019
• John Cena’s return to WWE television
• CM Punk’s first RAW match since his 2024 return

What’s Next

WWE continues to stack the historic Netflix premiere with major stars and matches to ensure a strong start on the new platform.

The Bottom Line

While Austin’s absence is notable, WWE has assembled enough star power and match quality to make the Netflix premiere a must-watch event for wrestling fans.

What matches or moments do you hope to see during RAW’s Netflix debut? Share your thoughts in the comments below.