Netflix Price Hike: What WWE Fans Need to Know | Streaming Costs Rise

Netflix subscribers will see a price increase across all tiers starting in May, a move that comes as the streaming giant continues to invest heavily in sports content, including its relatively new partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment. The standard with ads plan will rise to $8.99 per month, up from $7.99, even as the standard plan will increase by $2 to $19.99, and the premium plan will also see a $2 bump to $26.99, according to an announcement reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

The price adjustments, the first major increase since January 2025, also include a $1 increase for adding an extra member to existing plans, bringing the cost to $6.99 for the Standard with Ads plan and $9.99 for the ad-free tiers. While the increase impacts all Netflix users, it arrives at a pivotal moment for the company’s foray into live sports, particularly its expanding relationship with WWE.

Earlier this year, Netflix officially became the new U.S. Streaming home for the WWE library, absorbing content previously held by Peacock. This shift followed a special Stranger Things-themed episode of WWE’s Monday Night Raw broadcast on Netflix, signaling a deepening collaboration. The deal encompasses WWE’s Premium Live Events (PLEs) – including flagship events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble – up to September 2025, as well as award-winning documentaries and original programming.

The move to Netflix represents a significant change in the WWE’s media landscape. For five years, Peacock held the rights to the WWE video library. Now, while WWE maintains a presence on Peacock with Saturday Night’s Main Event specials and weekly SmackDown episodes, the bulk of its content has migrated to Netflix. Looking ahead, WWE PLEs occurring *after* September 2025 are exclusively bound to ESPN in the U.S., creating a fragmented distribution model for wrestling fans.

The financial details of the Netflix-WWE agreement remain undisclosed, but reports indicate it’s a multi-year deal valued at approximately $5 billion, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. This investment underscores Netflix’s broader strategy of incorporating live events to attract and retain subscribers. Monday Night Raw, which moved to Netflix in January 2025, has already grow a “weekly staple” in the platform’s global English Top 10, demonstrating the initial success of the partnership.

The increased subscription costs come as Netflix aims to recoup its investment in live sports and premium content. The company is betting that the draw of events like WrestleMania, coupled with the extensive WWE library, will justify the price hike for wrestling fans and attract new subscribers. Yet, the fragmented rights situation – with PLEs split between Netflix (pre-September 2025) and ESPN (post-September 2025) – could potentially complicate viewership and fan engagement.

Beyond the WWE deal, Netflix is also actively expanding its presence in the broader entertainment industry. The platform recently set a City Hunter 2 film in Japan, featuring Ryohei Suzuki, and is developing other original programming. This diversification strategy aims to position Netflix as a comprehensive entertainment destination, capable of competing with traditional media companies and other streaming services.

The impact of the price increase on subscriber numbers remains to be seen. Netflix faces competition from a crowded streaming market, and consumers are increasingly sensitive to price. The company will need to demonstrate the value of its expanded content offerings, including WWE, to justify the higher costs and maintain its subscriber base. The success of Monday Night Raw on the platform provides a positive indicator, but the long-term effects of the price hike will be closely monitored by industry analysts, and investors.

Meanwhile, WWE talent are also exploring opportunities outside the ring. Adam Scherr, known to fans as Braun Strowman, is actively pursuing ventures in Hollywood. Scherr recently hosted a brunch on the Oscars red carpet and is collaborating on a scripted TV series with Michael Eisner’s Tornante. He is also launching a production company, Meat Castle Media, in partnership with Magilla Entertainment. Scherr emphasized the creative freedom he’s found in these new endeavors, a contrast to what he described as creative constraints during his 12 years with WWE.

Scherr’s move into production reflects a broader trend of WWE performers leveraging their popularity to expand their brands beyond the wrestling world. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s involvement with the Netflix deal further highlights this crossover appeal. As WWE continues to navigate the evolving media landscape, its athletes are increasingly positioned as multi-faceted entertainers, capable of attracting audiences across various platforms.