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.
Fans Are Used To Celebrity Over-Involvement
Pro wrestling has a long history of celebrity involvement as promoters cash in on the mainstream appeal of famous parties drawing in new viewers and creating media buzz. WWE in particular has celebrities engrained in key moments like Mr. T being a part of the first WrestleMania or the stretch of celebrity guest hosts getting featured on every Raw, often as not leading to them actually wrestling or else serving as pseudo-authority figures.
There’s a version of the Stranger Things-themed Raw that would’ve seen a rotating selection of cast members from the Duffer brothers’ series cut promos, interact with WWE talent, or even get in the ring. All of this likely would’ve felt grating, especially if the actors and actresses weren’t actually invested in wrestling enough to play their roles effectively.
This Raw went to the opposite extreme, though, in not featuring any cast members. The absence of even a single performer associated with Stranger Things really made the theme feel tacked on without a clear indication that anyone involved with the show had any connection to what WWE was doing Monday night. That’s especially discouraging given the size of the show’s cast, with the possibility of having even relatively minor characters represented if the bigger stars weren’t available or interested. Heck, even a random WWE performer choke slamming somebody while dress in a demogorgon costume would've been something.
This outcome may relate to WWE's more recent approach to celebrity involvement, with performers like Bad Bunny, Logan Paul, and Jelly Roll showing a more overt, far more than casual commitment to taking wrestling seriously in ways not just any visiting celebrity is likely to.
Fans Are Used To Contrived Connections To A Theme
Beyond actors and actresses, fans may have anticipated other kinds of connections to show content, be it gimmick matches or a spotlight for supernatural style characters like Finn Balor’s Demon persona or the Wyatt Sicks who’d fit with the Stranger Things aesthetic.
While set pieces and props, not to mention the chapter titles between segments were a fun nod to the Duffer brothers’ show, the connections were subtle enough that it was easy to overlook them.
Whereas SmackDown recently featured a Miracle on 34th Street Fight between Joe Hendry and The Miz that helped drive home—beyond decorations—it was a Christmas edition of the show, that’s the kind of content Monday was missing to make Raw feel like it was meaningfully connected to its theme.
Raw Felt Too Disconnected From Stranger Things
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.
