While pre-taped, the content of this week’s WWE Raw episode still managed to surprise viewers.
Since moving to Netflix in January 2025, Raw’s runtime has averaged about 150 minutes (2 hours, 30 minutes) with commercials included. The December 22 edition of Raw, however, was noticeably shorter as it spanned 94 minutes, with commercials filtered out of the broadcast altogether.
Across it near 33-year history, WWE Raw has operated on a variety of runtimes. From 1993 until early 1997, it stretched 60 minutes of air. In an effort to compete with WCW Nitro, WWE officials then expanded the runtime to two hours (120 minutes) in February 1997. This change remained in place until July 2012, when WWE officially elevated it to three hours (180 minutes). In the three months leading up to its Netflix debut, however, Raw reverted to a 2-hour format.
With the December 22 edition of Raw being 94 minutes, it is now the shortest one of the Netflix era. Overall, it is the shortest since 1997, when WWE faded out its 60-minute format.
Rhea Ripley and Asuka opened this week’s red brand broadcast with a back-and-forth singles match that resulted in the latter rolling up the former, thanks to interference from IYO SKY and Kairi Sane. In the main event, Austin Theory proved himself valuable to The Vision when he stomped and pinned Rey Mysterio in a tag match alongside Bronson Reed. In between, Bayley notably defeated Roxanne Perez after miscommunication between The Judgment Day; WWE NXT star Je’Von Evans also appeared poised for a main roster call-up by beating Rayo Americano.
