2025 Royal Rumble becomes most watched WWE PPV/PLE ever: Report

Jey Uso won the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble

WWE’s Royal Rumble 2025 has shattered records and cemented its place as the most-watched pay-per-view/premium live event (PLE) in the company’s storied history, a report suggest. Thanks to WWE’s innovative global distribution strategy with its major shows airing on Peacock in the United States and Netflix in numerous international markets the event reached unprecedented viewership numbers.

Renowned wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer broke the news on Wrestling Observer Radio, stating: “This was the most-watched Royal Rumble around the world in history and actually the most-watched WWE pay-per-view event ever in history… So more people watched this Royal Rumble than watched any night of WrestleMania ever, let alone any Royal Rumble ever. That record will be broken at WrestleMania, but it was, in fact, the all-time record.”

The 2025 Royal Rumble’s success is largely attributed to WWE’s expanded reach via Netflix in international territories and its continued partnership with Peacock in the United States. WWE programming debuted on Netflix in January 2025 across several key international markets, including the United Kingdom, Mexico, and India. Meanwhile, PLEs have been available on Peacock since 2021 and will remain on the streaming platform until at least March 2026.

According to reports, the Royal Rumble 2025 drew 2.1 million views globally on Netflix, making it the joint-14th most-watched show on the platform between January 27 and February 2. It achieved a top 10 ranking in 27 countries and clinched the number one spot in Mexico and Bolivia. WWE announced that this year’s Royal Rumble broke all previous viewership records for the event, and in the United States alone, viewership was up nearly 14% compared to the 2024 Royal Rumble’s record-breaking numbers.

The Royal Rumble’s international appeal has been a driving force behind its success. By moving to Netflix in major markets, WWE has tapped into a massive, built-in global audience. Fans from around the world flocked to watch marquee matches, including the traditional 30-person men’s and women’s Rumble matches, which crowned Jey Uso and Charlotte Flair as their respective winners.

The event also featured Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship in a grueling ladder match against Kevin Owens, and DIY retaining the WWE Tag Team Championships against the Motor City Machine Guns in a dramatic two-out-of-three falls match.

WWE’s streaming strategy has proven to be a game-changer for the company. By combining Peacock’s robust U.S. audience with Netflix’s international reach, WWE has exponentially expanded its global footprint. With WrestleMania 41 on the horizon, these numbers set an exciting precedent for what could be the company’s next record-breaking event.

Royal Rumble 2025’s unprecedented success underscores WWE’s ability to adapt to the evolving media landscape, ensuring its iconic events continue to captivate fans worldwide. As WWE continues to innovate, it’s clear that the company’s blend of nostalgia, storytelling, and global accessibility is a winning formula.

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