WWE RAW Earlier Start Time on August 24

WWE RAW Set for Earlier Start Time on August 24

WWE RAW will have an earlier start time on August 24 as WWE prepares to tape both RAW and SmackDown on the same night in Ottawa, Ontario. The change will see the show begin several hours earlier than its usual time on Netflix.

During the August 17 episode of WWE RAW, Michael Cole announced that the following week’s show at the Canadian Tire Centre will start at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT. The earlier schedule is being used because WWE will tape the August 28 episode of SmackDown immediately after RAW.

WWE RAW Gets Earlier Start Time Ahead of Double Taping

The August 24 WWE RAW episode is part of a busy stretch for the company, with WWE planning two separate double tapings within five days. The first will take place in Ottawa, where fans will see RAW before the August 28 edition of SmackDown is recorded.

WWE will then repeat the format on August 28 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. That event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. local time. WWE will tape the August 31 episode of RAW and the September 4 episode of SmackDown during the Cleveland event.

The unusual schedule is designed to give WWE’s wrestlers and production staff additional time away from the road following a busy summer. The company is using the double tapings to create a short break in its touring schedule before beginning its upcoming tour of South America.

With the two double-header events, WWE will record four weekly television episodes across only two nights. The schedule should then become less demanding before WWE returns to its regular live format.

WWE RAW is scheduled to return live on September 7 in Birmingham, marking the end of this period of pre-taped programming.

Despite the earlier start time, WWE already has several important matches and segments planned for the August 24 show.

The World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament will continue with both semifinal matches taking place on the same episode. Penta will face La Parka in one semifinal, while Dragon Lee will meet Rey Fenix in the other. The winners of those matches will move forward in the tournament and remain in contention for a future opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship.

Stephanie Vaquer will also continue her ongoing issues with The Judgment Day. She is scheduled to face Roxanne Perez on the show, adding another important singles match to the card.

The episode will also feature a contract signing involving Oba Femi and Bron Breakker. The segment is expected to further build their upcoming program and provide additional focus to the two WWE Superstars.

The earlier WWE RAW start time means fans watching on Netflix will need to tune in at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT on August 24. The schedule change is directly connected to WWE’s decision to tape SmackDown immediately afterward in Ottawa.