During Rollins’ entrance at MSG, the crowd’s “CM Punk” chants created a charged atmosphere, setting the tone for the upcoming RAW on Netflix debut match scheduled for January 6. While Rollins faced Dominik Mysterio in the main event, fan attention remained focused on the brewing rivalry with Punk, who competed against Ludwig Kaiser earlier in the show.
The event featured several championship matches, including Damian Priest defending against GUNTHER in a Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Sami Zayn challenged Bron Breakker in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the Intercontinental Championship, while Liv Morgan successfully retained the Women’s World Championship against IYO SKY.
Looking ahead, Chicago fans will witness CM Punk challenge GUNTHER for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship this Sunday.
CM Punk discusses Netflix’s impact on professional wrestling
The transition to Netflix represents a pivotal moment for WWE RAW, with CM Punk drawing parallels to wrestling’s historical broadcasting evolution. During the RAW on Netflix Kickoff, Punk reflected on the significance of this streaming partnership.
Speaking about the industry’s progression from territory shows to mainstream platforms, Punk shared his perspective on this milestone:
If we look back at history, when there were territories and packed buildings like Shea Stadium, nobody thought it would make it to cable TV. And we did. We just had a successful Saturday Night’s Main Event at a packed Nassau Coliseum. I see this as a similar turning point.
Addressing the role of dedicated viewers in wrestling’s growth, Punk emphasized:
The hardcore fans are the lifeblood of the business. What being on network TV in the ’80s with Saturday Night’s Main Event did to create new hardcore fans and bring new eyes to WWE, I see Netflix doing the same thing. I think it’s going to be bigger than any of us dream of.
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