Raw and Stranger Things cross universes to kick off 2026

WWE and Netflix have decided to kick off 2026 with an unexpected alliance. Less than two weeks away from the first Raw of the year, the platform has announced that the January 5th episode will feature an official crossover with Stranger Things, one of its most successful series. The special coincides with the first anniversary of WWE Raw's move to Netflix, a shift that forever changed the program's distribution.

With a direct message “THE WWE GETS STRANGER”, Netflix has confirmed on social media that the crossover will air live from Brooklyn at 8 PM ET. Although the details of the segment remain a mystery, the promotion suggests a thematic integration inspired by the supernatural universe of Hawkins.

The January 5th episode was already packed with sporting incentives. CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Bron Breakker, while Maxxine Dupri will put the Women's Intercontinental title on the line against Becky Lynch. Additionally, Asuka and Kairi Sane will defend the Tag Team Championships against Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY, setting up a key show in the early stages of 2026.

Stranger Things enters the final phase of its story

The crossover arrives as the countdown to the conclusion of Stranger Things begins. The Duffer Brothers' fiction, set in 1980s Indiana and focused on paranormal phenomena and secret government experiments, releases new episodes at Christmas and will close out its definitive season on New Year's Eve.

The collaboration with WWE will serve as additional promotion for that final stretch, while Raw celebrates its consolidation within Netflix's global catalog. What has not yet been revealed is whether the integration will be a thematic segment, a character appearance, a visual change in production, or a small "portal" to the Upside Down in the midst of the live broadcast.