Triple H Drops Revealing Interview on RAW on Netflix Plans – As WWE prepares to launch its historic RAW premiere on Netflix, Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque shared insights on the complexities of balancing major events, live TV, and long-term storytelling.
Speaking on The Press Box, Triple H reflected on the challenges involved in booking major shows, including the debut of RAW on Netflix, Survivor Series, Saturday Night’s Main Event, and SmackDown’s New Year episode.
Triple H addressed the ongoing backstage dynamics regarding talent lobbying for spots on WWE shows, especially for major events like RAW on Netflix and SmackDown. The WWE CCO shared that talent often express frustration over not being included in high-profile events, but explained that not every wrestler can be on every show, especially with limited time and space.
Laughing, Triple H explained, “Yeah, that’s every day. It’s not just about Netflix; it’s with everything we do. When something big is coming up, talent often ask, ‘Why am I not on this PLE? Why wouldn’t I be?’ And it’s like, well, your story doesn’t fit in at the moment. Not everyone can be on everything.”
He continued, emphasizing that even for the much-anticipated RAW on Netflix premiere, WWE couldn’t feature every talent. “It’s one show. We’re going to try to include a lot of people, but there’s only so much time. If you’re not on that show, maybe you’ll be on the next one or the one after that. But we can’t fit all 200 talents into one show—it’s just not feasible,” he stated.
Triple H also touched on the emotional nature of these discussions, where talent understandably want to be involved in the biggest moments. However, he stressed the importance of making talent feel heard while managing the logistics of a crowded roster. He acknowledged that while he couldn’t personally respond to every message or call, WWE’s approach was designed to balance individual needs with the bigger picture.
“It’s really tough to have all these conversations. If I tried to answer every call, I wouldn’t sleep or eat,” he explained. “But we have these conversations through others. The key is making talent feel like they have a voice and understand the bigger picture. The storytelling requires space, and spreading out appearances keeps things fresh and impactful.”
Triple H added that talent are beginning to understand the value of not being on every show, especially as WWE builds stories that span multiple events. “It took some time for everyone to understand that being on everything isn’t always the best approach. It’s why their stories are more meaningful when they’re not overexposed. It’s all about supply and demand. If we see the same thing too often, it burns out quickly.”
With this approach, Triple H believes WWE can manage its roster while still creating compelling narratives that engage both talent and the audience.
While acknowledging the concerns of overextending storylines, Triple H emphasized the importance of careful planning to ensure that RAW on Netflix doesn’t overshadow other shows, such as SmackDown. He explained the challenge of balancing multiple major events in close succession, noting that talent and writers must navigate tight schedules and pacing.
“We’ve sort of been working through this for a long time,” Triple H explained. “But I can’t recall a time where you’ve had Survivor Series, Saturday Night’s Main Event, the holidays, and now Netflix coming on the 6th, while still maintaining the importance of SmackDown. It’s about managing expectations and getting ahead of the storylines without overwhelming the audience.”
He also addressed the unpredictability of the wrestling industry, noting how unforeseen changes, such as Bronson Reed’s injury, can force plans to be scrapped and reworked. Despite this, Triple H believes that great storytelling often arises from these moments of chaos.
“When you plan things out and it all falls apart, sometimes you get something even better. You have to be flexible and always think on your toes,” he said.
Triple H discussed the presence of commercials during WWE Raw broadcasts on Netflix, offering insights into the perspectives of both WWE and Netflix regarding ad breaks.
He began by acknowledging Netflix’s business model, which relies on ad revenue despite offering a subscription service. “My guess on their part would be money is part of this,” Triple H said. “They’re paying us a lot of money. They’re in the business of making money, so they’ve got to have ad times and they’ve fit to sell things, even though it’s a subscription product.” He noted that Netflix has additional factors at play when incorporating ads into its programming.
For WWE, Triple H explained the complexities of commercial-free live television, particularly the challenges involved in producing a seamless show without ad breaks. “Commercial-free live television is incredibly difficult,” he laughed. He explained how the pacing of RAW requires immediate transitions, such as moving from matches to backstage segments, while constantly preparing for unforeseen situations like injuries or technical issues. “If something crashes, if somebody gets injured, there’s no place to go. There’s no commercial to go to. You can only go to so many backstage segments,” he said. “If they’re not ready to go, something happens and you gotta get out in the ring, if no one’s ready to go, ‘Alright, just run a package or something.'”
Despite the challenges, Triple H noted that having commercial breaks was somewhat helpful, as they provided breathing room for the production team. “Having those breaks in there to some degree is helpful. There’s less commercial time. It’s going to be more manageable, at least for now,” he said. He also acknowledged that the new format and structure would take time for WWE to adjust to, noting it would take a bit to get the pacing just right.
Triple H ended by addressing fan complaints about commercials, pointing out that the number of ads hadn’t changed. “It makes me laugh whenever people say, ‘There’s so many commercials this week.’ Well, same exact amount of commercials we had last week. I’ll give you that maybe we didn’t do as good of a job of managing the time in between the commercials, but it’s the same amount of commercials. We didn’t change anything.”
In contrast to the ad-supported experience, CNBC reported in January 2024 that Netflix subscribers on the standard no-ad plan would not see commercials during WWE Raw broadcasts.
As noted in a previous interview, Triple H revealed that WWE RAW on Netflix will feature a flexible runtime, allowing for greater creative freedom and pacing. He went on to elaborate on his vision for the show, mentioning that a more adaptable format would help present content in a way that feels fresh and engaging. According to Triple H, the ideal length for RAW could vary depending on the storyline and the intensity of the matches, with a focus on quality over quantity.
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Triple H Drops Revealing Interview on RAW on Netflix Plans
