If you expected Squid Game Season 2, which shattered viewing records upon its debut, to dominate Netflix’s Top 10 list for weeks on end, you might be surprised. At least in the United States, it has been dethroned from the #1 spot by WWE Monday Night RAW.
The new addition to Netflix’s lineup has quickly taken center stage, and it’s worth wondering whether this will be a consistent trend or simply a splashy debut.
RAW premiered with a colossal 183-minute runtime, over three hours of action, and included appearances by legends like The Rock, among others, to mark the event.
Unlike most Netflix offerings, this show includes traditional commercial breaks as part of its structure.
Echoing its long-standing tradition, RAW will air every single week for an astounding duration—a decade.
Yes, Netflix has committed to a deal reportedly valued at over $5 billion, securing the rights to this wrestling juggernaut.
With 1,650 episodes of RAW already under its belt, the service is gearing up to add hundreds more to its library.
Personally, I might find it tedious if it monopolizes the #1 spot on Netflix’s charts every week, but its popularity is undeniable.
Meanwhile, Squid Game continues to perform exceptionally well. Although Netflix hasn’t released its first-week viewership numbers yet, those figures are expected soon, and they could very well be record-breaking, considering the massive success of its premiere.
Fans of the series can look forward to Squid Game Season 3, which is expected to return in 2025—potentially as early as June, based on a brief Netflix data leak.
This third season will set the stage for Netflix’s other major releases later that year: Stranger Things Season 5 and Wednesday Season 2. With these heavy hitters, along with RAW and other unexpected successes, 2025 could shape up to be a landmark year for Netflix.
Elsewhere on the Top 10 list, Missing You, a new crime drama, has made an impressive showing, holding its own just behind Squid Game.
Virgin River and No Good Deed maintain their spots on the latter half of the list, along with the tidal wave drama La Palma.
Rounding out the list are Black Doves, a December hit, and The Equalizer featuring Queen Latifah, which has just joined the rankings.
Netflix’s acquisition of RAW signals a transformative era for the platform as it delves deeper into live content.
Regardless of how you feel about professional wrestling, this move represents a monumental shift for the streaming giant. The next decade will reveal just how impactful this partnership will be.