If you are searching what time does monday night raw start today, the answer depends on the specific WWE schedule for the week, and the latest episode featured a major change from the show’s traditional Monday-night slot. The August 24, 2026 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw began at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT, giving viewers a two-hour-earlier start than the usual 8 p.m. ET broadcast.
The special episode came from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, as WWE prepared for additional television tapings at the venue. Raw streamed live on Netflix, making the early start especially important for fans who normally tune in closer to prime time.
Key Points Summary
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║ – WWE Monday Night Raw had a special early start of 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT on August 24, 2026. ║
║ – The episode took place at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ║
║ – Raw streamed live on Netflix for viewers in the United States and international markets. ║
║ – Rey Fenix and Penta advanced from the World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament semifinals. ║
║ – The episode also featured Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez and a heated Oba Femi-Bron Breakker contract signing. ║
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What Time Did WWE Raw Start?
The latest Raw began at 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, August 24.
For viewers across the United States, the schedule was:
| U.S. Time Zone | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Eastern Time | 6:00 p.m. |
| Central Time | 5:00 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | 4:00 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | 3:00 p.m. |
That schedule was considerably earlier than the standard Monday Night Raw start time. Instead of waiting until 8 p.m. ET, fans needed to be ready two hours earlier.
The unusual timing was not a permanent change to the weekly Raw schedule. It was tied to WWE’s Ottawa production plans and the company’s need to accommodate additional television tapings at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Why Did Raw Start Two Hours Early?
The primary reason for the early Raw broadcast was WWE’s production schedule in Ottawa.
The company was using the Canadian Tire Centre for multiple television tapings, creating an unusual situation in which Raw would begin earlier than normal. WWE had planned to record additional programming from the same venue, making the August 24 episode different from a typical Monday broadcast.
For fans, that meant the most important lesson was simple: the normal 8 p.m. ET Raw start could not be assumed for this particular episode.
WWE has occasionally moved Raw to earlier time slots when special circumstances, international events or production requirements make a different schedule necessary. The Ottawa episode was another example of why checking the weekly listing can prevent viewers from missing the opening matches and segments.
Where Was Monday Night Raw Held?
The August 24 episode took place at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.
The venue provided WWE with a Canadian setting for another major Raw episode as the company continued building toward upcoming premium live and special-event matches.
Ottawa also became an important location for several storylines because WWE was combining multiple television production commitments at the arena.
The live environment added another layer to an already busy episode, with major championship developments, tag-team action, contract-signing drama and storyline twists taking place throughout the show.
How to Watch Monday Night Raw
WWE Raw is available live on Netflix for viewers in the United States and many other markets.
Fans watching the August 24 episode needed to open Netflix before the special 6 p.m. ET start time. Because the broadcast began earlier than usual, viewers who followed the traditional Raw schedule could easily have missed the opening portion of the program.
The move to Netflix has made WWE’s weekly schedule easier to access for many viewers, but it also means fans should pay attention to special start times listed for individual episodes.
The safest approach is to check the current Raw listing before Monday night, particularly when WWE is broadcasting from an international venue or announcing a special schedule.
What Happened on the Latest Episode of Raw?
The Ottawa episode was packed with developments that could shape WWE programming in the weeks ahead.
Several major matches were promoted before the show, including two World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament semifinals.
The card also included Stephanie Vaquer’s return to singles competition against Roxanne Perez, while Oba Femi and Bron Breakker were scheduled to finalize the contract for their upcoming match.
The evening ultimately delivered several unexpected developments as WWE continued moving multiple storylines forward.
Rey Fenix Advances in the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament
One of the night’s most important matches saw Rey Fenix face Dragon Lee in a semifinal of the World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament.
The stakes were significant because the tournament winner will earn an opportunity to challenge Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Fenix won the match, advancing to the tournament final.
His victory was one of the most important competitive results of the night because it put him one step away from a world championship opportunity.
The match also showcased two of WWE’s most athletic performers, giving the Ottawa crowd a fast-paced contest with the championship opportunity hanging over every major exchange.
Penta Also Reaches the Final
The other semifinal featured Penta against La Parka.
Penta emerged victorious, meaning the tournament final will feature Penta against his own brother, Rey Fenix.
That development gives the tournament an unusual and highly personal conclusion.
Rather than producing a traditional final between two unrelated competitors, WWE has created a Lucha Brothers showdown with a world title opportunity waiting for the winner.
The winner of that final is expected to become the next challenger for Roman Reigns, with the championship opportunity connected to WWE’s upcoming Mexico City event.
That makes the eventual Penta-Fenix meeting one of the most intriguing matches to watch as the storyline progresses.
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez
Another major match on the card saw Stephanie Vaquer take on Roxanne Perez.
Vaquer returned to singles action against Perez in a contest connected to the ongoing Judgment Day storylines.
The match eventually went in Vaquer’s favor, giving her an important victory.
The result also kept attention on the women’s division as WWE continues developing rivalries and championship-related stories across Raw.
The presence of outside interference added additional drama to the match, with Becky Lynch becoming involved and helping push back against Judgment Day.
That development could have implications for future Raw episodes as the various women’s storylines continue to intersect.
Oba Femi and Bron Breakker Contract Signing
The contract signing involving Oba Femi and Bron Breakker was another major attraction.
Contract signings are rarely calm affairs in WWE, and this one followed the familiar pattern of two highly competitive wrestlers trading insults before the situation became physical.
Femi and Breakker are scheduled to meet at Sunday Night’s Main Event, making the Raw segment an opportunity to formally establish their upcoming confrontation.
The two wrestlers have been presented as powerful members of WWE’s next generation, and their confrontation is designed to showcase two athletes who see themselves as future leaders of the company.
The segment ultimately descended into chaos, with the two competitors making their intentions clear ahead of their match.
LA Knight, Solo Sikoa and The Usos
The Bloodline storyline also continued to receive significant attention.
LA Knight and Solo Sikoa teamed together against The Usos in a tag-team match, creating another chapter in the complicated Bloodline saga.
The match appeared headed toward another major confrontation before outside forces changed the situation.
Royce Keys returned and joined forces with OTM, with the group attacking the competitors and making a major statement.
The arrival of OTM on the Raw roster added another new element to the storyline. Bronco Nima and Lucien Price made their main-roster presence felt alongside Keys, immediately placing themselves in the middle of an ongoing conflict.
The attack effectively prevented the tag-team match from reaching a normal conclusion and gave WWE another angle to develop on future episodes.
Why the Early Start Mattered to Viewers
A special start time can make a major difference for wrestling fans.
Monday Night Raw is traditionally associated with an 8 p.m. ET start, so viewers often plan their evening around that time. When WWE moves the show to 6 p.m. ET, fans who are working, commuting, attending school or following other Monday activities can easily miss the beginning.
That was particularly relevant for the August 24 broadcast.
Viewers on the West Coast had an even earlier start, with Raw beginning at 3 p.m. PT. For many fans, that placed the show in the middle of the afternoon rather than the evening.
The unusual schedule therefore made advance planning essential.
Is 6 p.m. ET the New Raw Start Time?
No.
The August 24 start time should not be interpreted as a permanent change to WWE Raw’s regular schedule.
The 6 p.m. ET start was a special arrangement connected to the Ottawa production schedule. WWE has continued to use different start times for selected episodes when circumstances require it.
Fans should therefore avoid assuming that every upcoming Monday Night Raw will begin at 6 p.m. ET.
The regular weekly schedule remains the better guide, while special episodes should be checked individually.
Why WWE Fans Should Watch the Schedule Closely
WWE’s current programming calendar is increasingly busy, with Raw, SmackDown, special events and international shows sometimes requiring schedule adjustments.
International episodes can also come with unusual local start times, particularly when WWE is working around arena availability or recording multiple programs in a short period.
For fans who follow every match live, a small change in the listed start time can mean missing an important opening segment, surprise appearance or major match result.
The Ottawa episode demonstrated exactly why checking the schedule before each show is worthwhile.
What Comes Next for WWE Raw?
The biggest ongoing question coming out of Ottawa is the World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament.
With both Rey Fenix and Penta advancing, WWE now has a particularly compelling final to build toward.
The winner will earn a championship opportunity against Roman Reigns, giving the tournament a clear long-term consequence.
The Fenix-Penta matchup also gives WWE an opportunity to tell a story centered on family and championship ambition rather than simply presenting another tournament final.
At the same time, the Oba Femi-Bron Breakker rivalry is heading toward its scheduled showdown, while the Bloodline story has gained another potential faction in OTM and Royce Keys.
Stephanie Vaquer’s victory over Roxanne Perez could also lead to additional developments involving Judgment Day and Becky Lynch.
Taken together, the Ottawa episode left WWE with several directions to explore on upcoming programs.
Monday Night Raw Start Time: What Fans Need to Remember
For the latest Ottawa edition, the key information was straightforward:
Monday Night Raw started at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on Monday, August 24, 2026, and streamed live on Netflix.
The earlier start was connected to WWE’s special production schedule in Ottawa and was not a permanent replacement for the show’s regular time.
The episode itself was significant, with Rey Fenix and Penta advancing to the World Heavyweight Championship tournament final, Stephanie Vaquer defeating Roxanne Perez, and Oba Femi and Bron Breakker escalating their rivalry ahead of Sunday Night’s Main Event.
The surprise arrival of OTM and Royce Keys also added a new dimension to the Bloodline storyline.
For viewers trying to determine what time does monday night raw start today, the most important takeaway is to check the individual week’s schedule rather than automatically relying on the traditional 8 p.m. ET start.
As WWE continues its packed 2026 calendar, special start times are likely to remain an important consideration for fans watching live.
What did you think of the latest Raw, and are you backing Rey Fenix or Penta to win the World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament? Share your thoughts and keep checking back for the latest WWE updates.