WWE RAW Moves to Earlier Start to Counter Monday Night Football – WWE will be shifting Monday Night RAW to a special 7 p.m. EST start time for three weeks in September, and a new report has explained the reasoning behind the move. According to WrestleVotes, WWE and its new broadcast partner Netflix want to test how the show performs head-to-head with the NFL’s Monday Night Football, which returns this fall.
On WrestleVotes Radio, the outlet detailed that RAW will kick off at 7 p.m. EST on September 15, 22, and 29. A source told the outlet that the decision was made some time ago as part of a strategy to measure audience engagement during NFL season. The scheduling change is not permanent but designed as an experiment.
The adjustment comes at a critical point, as ESPN will air Monday Night Football doubleheaders on two of those nights, with the first games beginning at 7:15 p.m. EST. By moving RAW earlier, WWE hopes to capture viewers before the football broadcasts reach their peak. One insider described the move as a “smart one,” pointing out that the earlier time slot will allow RAW’s main event to finish before the most intense moments of the NFL action begin.
The test is expected to provide valuable data on whether WWE can maintain or even grow its audience despite competition from one of television’s most-watched sports programs. How fans respond to the earlier start could influence future scheduling decisions as WWE continues its transition to Netflix.
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WWE RAW Moves to Earlier Start to Counter Monday Night Football
