When WWE announced the first Raw of 2026 would connect with sibling Netflix brand, Stranger Things, the news drew mixed reactions. An optimistic outlook had fans of both shows excited to see how the parts might interact, seeing each a bit out of its usual element. On the pessimistic side, there were those fans who have never watched Stranger Things, or else who have been conditioned not to expect much when WWE reaches beyond its own universe after a cavalcade of nonsensical celebrity and programming crossovers.
In the end, the Stranger Things-themed Raw did defy expectations in not falling into the traps fans necessarily would have expected. It’s hard to say, however, that the concept really delivered on its potential either.
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In the end, there were a lot of ways in which WWE might have set forth a Stranger Things crossover. Beyond celebrity appearances or leaning into gimmick matches, atmospherics like recurring lightning strikes or an appearance by the Mind Flayer on the big entryway screens could have offered a lot by way of presentation, suggesting this was more than a Raw with some Stranger Things decorations.
Ultimately, this episode felt like an overcorrection—in not going too far, WWE hardly went anywhere at all. The Raw itself was newsworthy with two titles changing hands and a strong showing in defeat for young Bron Breakker as he chased his first world title.
Maybe it was outside WWE's leadership's hands and Netflix itself called for this crossover or even this execution. Indeed, it remains to be seen if this is how WWE will approach this kind of cross-promotion with its partners at Netflix moving forward. Perhaps what happened here was above all, a reflection that Stranger Things needed no promotion as the last episode has already aired, with the final season wildly successful in driving streaming traffic. WWE got a bit of a rub from the show’s branding and, in the end, maybe that’s all anyone was after.