Massive update on WWE SmackDown's first episode in 2025 - Reports

A recent report has shed light on WWE's massive plans for Friday Night SmackDown's first episode in 2025. The Stamford-based promotion is gearing up to present massive first episodes of both of its main brands.

World Wrestling Entertainment's business has been thriving under Triple H's creative leadership. Almost all of the company's biggest shows were sold out and broke several records in 2024. The Stamford-based promotion is now planning a big opening in 2025 as RAW is set to move to Netflix on January 6. Although SmackDown will also air on the streaming giant for almost every country starting next year, fans in the United States will still get to watch the blue brand's episodes on the USA Network.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE is in a tricky situation regarding SmackDown's first episode next year. In the report, Meltzer highlighted how the company's TV rights would be over at the end of this year and its Netflix deal would kickstart on January 6. This would leave the blue brand's episode on January 3 in a tricky situation for the rest of the world except the USA.

"So it’s one of those weird things where the way the contracts end and start. There’s a gap, which is actually only one show. But Canada, [the] UK, most of the world. I think the exceptions would be [the] US, Germany is an exception, [the] Philippines is an exception. But almost everywhere, the contracts, the television deals, end at the end of this year. Netflix picks up on January 6th. So there’s a January 3rd SmackDown show that airs [on Netflix] everywhere but the United States, pretty much," he said.

The veteran journalist also mentioned that the company was planning to air the blue brand's January 3, 2025, episode live on YouTube.

"And like I said, [the] United States and Germany and Philippines, and just about anywhere, there may be one or two other countries too, but it just kind of falls in the cracks. So in all those countries. WWE will be putting the SmackDown show up on YouTube that week. So that’s basically the situation there. Netflix will start with RAW on the 6th, NXT on the 7th, and SmackDown on the 10th, outside the United States pretty much all over the world. So that’s the situation. That date just kind of fell through in the middle," he added. [H/T: Wrestle Purists]

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RAW's Netflix debut will feature some of the biggest names in WWE

Since RAW's Netflix debut was announced for January 6, 2025, WWE has confirmed several big-name stars, including John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, and CM Punk for the show.

Some big matches have also been announced, including Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa and CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins. According to rumors, there may be some surprise returns as well with The Rock possibly coming back on WWE TV.

It remains to be seen what the Triple H-led creative team has planned for RAW's Netflix debut on January 6, 2025.