CM Punk understands that the rules might be slightly relaxed when WWE Raw moves to Netflix in January 2025, but he doesn't think that means it will be the verbal equivalent of the Wild West.
For the first time, WWE Raw will be moving off of cable television and onto a streaming platform when the long-running series premieres on Netflix on January 6. With the move to Netflix, there is an understanding that things will not be as strict in terms of censorship. Still, it doesn't mean that all bets are off, and everyone will be swearing like crazy.
CM Punk discussed this while appearing on "The Hot Tag w/ Brady" on 103.5 KISS FM. His example centered around Rhea Ripley and a certain C-word Australians are fond of.
"From the product? I don’t think you’re going to see much difference than what it is now. We’re pushing boundaries a little bit here and there. I just kind of want to temper people’s expectations because I think there is a section of the fanbase like, ‘Oh, they’re going to Netflix. There is going to be full frontal (nudity) and swearing.’ That is absolutely not the case. I think we’ve learned from the Attitude Era that you can only do that for so long before you try to outdo yourself every week and then it just becomes bad television. Every one and again you can push the envelope. I think what you’re going to see in difference of what the product is now is, I think there are still going to be commercials on Netflix, I’m not 100% about that, but we might be able to fudge it to where it’s not during matches. You’re going to see maybe some play with the format of the show. I’m not 100% sure on all that. Content-wise, I don’t think you’re going to see, as much as Rhea Ripley wants to come out there and talk like an Aussie and drop a C-word here and there, I don’t think you’re going to see that."
Rhea Ripley will likely stick to calling Dominik Mysterio a crafty runt on Monday nights, even if the show is on Netflix.
Learn more about the move to Netflix and the possibility of relaxed censorship here.
