WWE and Netflix to Launch “Drive to Survive”-Style Reality Show as Part of New Partnership

As part of the first year of the WWE and Netflix partnership, a new reality show similar to the popular F1-focused docuseries “Drive to Survive” is planned.

Speaking at the JPMorgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference, TKO head Mark Shapiro discussed the relationship and revealed that the deal, which begins in January 2025, will include a series akin to “Drive to Survive” as well as documentaries on other WWE stars.

The “Drive to Survive” series, which launched in 2019, has been credited with a massive boom in F1’s popularity worldwide. The league signed a three-year extension with ESPN in June 2022 worth up to $90 million annually, a significant increase from their previous $5 million/year deal.

The WWE/Netflix deal, starting this January, will bring Raw to the streaming giant domestically and all WWE content internationally for those regions without existing deals.

Additional Announcements and Future Plans

• Saudi Arabia Expansion: Shapiro mentioned that they will expand their WWE deal with Saudi Arabia over the next 6-12 months. The head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alsheikh, indicated that an “enhancement” will be announced this month, potentially bringing future WrestleMania or Royal Rumble events to the country.
• UFC/WWE Event Packaging: Shapiro emphasized the strategy of packaging UFC and WWE events together, focusing on attendance, site fees, and pricing. He noted that site fees don’t have to be all cash but need to heavily incentivize bringing events to a city.
• UFC in Saudi Arabia: If next June’s UFC debut in Saudi Arabia goes well, Shapiro believes Dana White would be open to bringing more events there. The upcoming event already secured twice the fee of the first one, which hasn’t even occurred yet.
• UFC TV Rights Negotiations: Shapiro suggested that ESPN should consider buying out the PPV rights and placing all UFC events on their direct-to-consumer flagship streaming channel. While this hasn’t been pitched to ESPN yet, it showcases the “flexibility” they plan to bring to future negotiations.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming WWE and Netflix “Drive to Survive”-style reality show and the potential expansion of WWE events in Saudi Arabia? Share your opinions in the comments section below!