On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed changes made to WWE’s Raw debut on Netflix earlier this week. According to Meltzer, WWE removed around twenty minutes from the original run-through of Raw, which had been rehearsed the day before. It was initially rumored that Becky Lynch was scheduled to make her return during the episode, and Penta El Zero Miedo was also expected to debut, but both segments were ultimately cut.
Meltzer confirmed that the final broadcast of Raw, which ran for approximately three hours with ads, had about twenty minutes trimmed from the original run, particularly at the end. Meltzer remarked, “They cut about twenty minutes out at the end from the original run the day before.” This was part of a broader effort to streamline the show, especially given the significance of Raw’s Netflix debut in the Los Angeles area, which saw the presence of multiple big-name celebrities.
WWE creative head Triple H recently commented that the runtimes for Raw on Netflix will be “flexible,” suggesting that future episodes may vary in length. Meltzer speculated that WWE likely wanted a “nice clean show” for the debut, which could explain the absence of major angles or heel beatdowns during the episode. With the focus on making a strong first impression for Raw’s transition to Netflix, it seems the creative team opted for a more polished presentation.
While the exact content removed during those twenty minutes remains unclear, it’s widely believed that Lynch’s return and Penta’s debut were part of the cut material. Penta is still expected to make his WWE debut on next week’s show, where Chad Gable will face a mystery luchador. A teaser video aired during Raw confirmed that Penta is indeed coming to WWE, raising excitement for his imminent arrival.
