Update on WWE’s Current Talks for New TV Deal for WWE RAW

As noted before, WWE signed a new television deal with USA Network this past September for their SmackDown brand and a new television deal with The CW this past November for their NXT brand leaving just their RAW brand as the only notable property left to get a new deal in place.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources confirmed the reports of WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque was absent from this past Monday’s RAW show due to him and WWE CEO Nick Khan being in Los Angeles for talks for a new TV deal for their RAW brand.

Meltzer reported that WWE officials have been hoping to secure a new deal for RAW worth around $400 million per year but analysts currently believe that it will be closer to $387 million per year instead.

In regards to interested bidders, Meltzer reported that for most of WWE’s negotiations period, Disney has been believed to be the favorite to get RAW with FX being the new home network for it. Meltzer reported that Netflix, NBC & USA Network, Warner Brothers Discovery, and Amazon Prime have all been talked about as well.

In regards to WBD, Meltzer reported that those spoken to stated that Khan had last talked to WBD officials this past October with a pitch for an offer but he was turned down by the company. Several of those within WBD reportedly have told others privately in recent days that there is nothing to the idea or rumors about TBS or TNT being the new home destination for RAW. Meltzer reported that those within WWE had constantly viewed WBD as a longshot for a deal for RAW due to their current belief that WBD owned a minority ownership stake in AEW.

In regards to the status of WWE’s talks for a new TV deal, Meltzer reported that those spoken to stated that WWE is close to finalizing a new deal for their RAW brand that is believed to be worth around $387 million per year.