Kurt Angle on WWE’s Roman Reigns: He’s the best wrestler today
Former Olympic gold medalist and WWE wrestler Kurt Angle gives his thoughts on what he likes most about today’s WWE.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — A new era of WWE has begun.
As 2025 dawns, WWE is embarking on one of the most significant changes in its history, with the broadcast of its iconic Monday Night Raw on Netflix. Airing since 1993, Raw will make its first appearance on the streaming giant, marking a banner night for WWE.
The evening’s program consists of four matches, each of which can claim a main role. CM Punk and Seth Rollins will finally put their rivalry to the test in the ring, the right to wear the ula fala will be on the line in a tribal bout, and the biggest rivalry on the women’s circuit will continue with a title on the line These clashes don’t even take into account numerous appearances, including that of an “electrifying” athlete and the start of John Cena’s farewell tour.
Follow Les News for all the highlights and results from the first Monday Night Raw on Netflix.
After starting with a takedown, Reigns threw Sikoa out of the ring. The two wrestlers then locked up again on the outside, but Sikoa took advantage of the situation to slam Reigns’ head into the commentary table.
The momentum shifted when Sikoa brought out the weapons, throwing the steel steps at his opponent and using a chair afterwards. After Reigns countered the blows, the competitors continued to exchange, taking every opportunity to deliver brutal blows.
Reigns sent Sikoa through a table and went for the pin, but Tama Tonga intervened to stop the referee. Jacob Fatu then came into the ring to help Sikoa secure the victory, delivering a Samoan Spike, but Reigns managed to kick out before the count. Frustrated, Sikoa then delivered a Samoan spike to the referee.
With Reigns outnumbered, Sami Zayn and Jimmy Uso stepped in to restore balance before attacking Sikoa. Reigns speared, but the referee was still out of count. When the referee finally returned, Sikoa managed to free himself again to continue the chaos.
Then, twist: Kevin Owens appeared to attack Reigns, while Cody Rhodes came to manage his rival, taking the fight into the audience.
All that was left was Reigns and Sikoa. Both wrestlers attempted to execute their final moves, and it was Reigns who carried the spear. With his opponent on the ground, Reigns let out his war cry before delivering another spear. He then went for the pinfall and succeeded, with Reigns back as Tribal Chief.
As Paul Heyman prepared to lay the ula fala on Reigns, The Rock entered the ring. He took the ula fala and placed it around Reigns’ neck before hugging him.
Analyse : The same old confusion characteristic of tribal fighting, with the “OTC” gaining the upper hand. It was refreshing to see both teams dive straight into the action without waiting for tension to build.
It was predictable that Sikoa’s henchmen would intervene, but Owens was the surprise. Still, there was enough support for Reigns, and Rhodes’ appearance showed mutual respect between the two teams.
The fight in The Bloodline is far from resolved, and it’s likely to be reignited as WrestleMania approaches. However, Reigns is back on top and ready to claim his place in WWE, as many fans have been waiting for.
Fans didn’t have to wait long to see The Rock.
The WWE legend was the first to emerge from the entrance ramp, sparking enthusiasm from the crowd at the Intuit Dome as his music hit. He arrived with the People’s Championship he received at WrestleMania 40 weekend, and he asked his daughters to hold it before entering the ring.
The Rock spoke about how difficult it was to watch wrestling as a kid, and how the sport evolved to become accessible on a global scale. He announced that Monday’s event broke the record for the largest attendance in WWE history.
What happened next was a surprise. The Rock thanked WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes for carrying the company “on his shoulders” for the past year. The two were rivals at WrestleMania 40, and The Rock has now expressed his gratitude to Rhodes who was there. Both sides greeted each other respectfully before sharing a hug that stunned WWE fans.
He then recognized Roman Reigns, the “real Tribal Chief”, who is preparing to face Solo Sikoa in tribal combat for the right to wear the ula fala. The Rock said he would closely monitor the outcome of this match.
The evening began with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque revealing the new ring for Monday Night Raw. He said the whole world will be able to watch the show now that it is available on Netflix, launching his famous “are you ready” before the crowd explodes.
“Welcome to the Netflix era,” he shouted.
When will Monday Night Raw be on Netflix?
The first Monday Night Raw on Netflix is scheduled for Monday, January 6 at 8 p.m. ET.
Where will Monday Night Raw take place on Netflix?
Monday Night Raw on Netflix will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. This will be the first wrestling event to be held at the arena since it opened in August 2024.
How to watch Monday Night Raw on Netflix: TV channel, streaming
Monday Night Raw will only be available on Netflix. Viewers will need to have a Netflix subscription to watch the event, at no additional cost. Subscribers at any level of Netflix will be able to enjoy the stream.
Match card for Monday Night Raw on Netflix
Matches not presented in order
- Match for the women’s world championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
- Tribal fight for ula fala and the title of Tribal Chief: Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa
- CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
- Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre
There will be many other events in addition to the matches scheduled for Monday. WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes and Bianca Belair have also been announced for the show, but it is unclear what their involvement will be. Rapper Travis Scott will perform the new Monday Night Raw theme.
Returns are also on the program, notably that of Logan Paul.
John Cena’s farewell tour kicks off, as the 16-time world champion announced plans in 2024 to retire from in-ring competition in 2025 and plans to fight in several matches this year.
Prepare for the return of the “most electrifying man in sports”. The Rock has confirmed his participation in the event.
“I will be returning home to WWE tomorrow night as we make history on Netflix and begin an exciting new era,” he said on social media on Sunday. “Tomorrow night is dedicated to my grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, my grandmother, Lia Maivia, my father, Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson and my ancestors who ALL paved the way.”
It’s not yet clear how The Rock will participate in the event, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he plays a role in the tribal fight between Reigns and Sikoa. The Rock’s last appearance was in October, at the Bad Blood event where he challenged Reigns and Sikoa.
There’s nothing new about Monday Night Raw at the Intuit Dome. The structure is similar to that of WWE, allowing spectators to sit in seats behind the entrance ramp.
WWE’s transition to Netflix opens up new possibilities for the world of wrestling. The impact of this decision on the spectator experience and the cultural landscape of professional wrestling remains to be assessed. The possibility of attracting new audiences through an alternative broadcast format is a thought worth exploring by enthusiasts. What do you think?
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