WWE Confirms Special RAW Start Time Ahead Of John Cena's Return To WWE

WWE moves RAW two hours earlier as John Cena prepares to return.© NDTV Library

WWE has moved next week's RAW up by two hours, and the reason is a double shift in Brooklyn. The show now starts at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT on Netflix from Barclays Center, with SmackDown getting taped the same night. It's the last RAW before Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 7, and John Cena is on the show. The company confirmed the new time on Monday, ahead of RAW's usual 8 PM ET start time.

CENA IS BACK ???? @JohnCena John Cena returns to #WWERaw NEXT WEEK in Brooklyn SPECIAL START TIME 6 ET/3 PT only on @netflix! ????️: https://t.co/4dfLY9XpJf https://t.co/yZcreuIDnO

— WWE (@WWE) October 27, 2026

WWE moves RAW to an earlier start time to tape SmackDown before Crown Jewel

Its post pushed the slot alongside Cena's return: “CENA IS BACK @JohnCena. John Cena returns to #WWERaw NEXT WEEK in Brooklyn SPECIAL START TIME 6 ET/3 PT only on @netflix.”

WrestleVotes connected the change to the November 6 SmackDown, which gets recorded right after RAW goes off the air so talent can travel to Riyadh.

Barclays Center's own listing bills the night as “Two Shows,” with doors opening at 4 PM ET. An earlier RAW also means the Brooklyn crowd isn't stuck waiting until late for the taping, which is how Cageside Seats described the thinking.

The listing advertises Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn too, the two champions who meet at Crown Jewel with the Men's Crown Jewel Championship on the line.

So the night is packed, and that's before anyone talks about the card. WWE won't get another live show to build toward Saudi Arabia once RAW ends.

John Cena returns while Royce Keys and Solo Sikoa prepare for a first-time match

Cena's appearance got confirmed through a video vignette that aired during this week's RAW.

He retired from in-ring competition after losing to Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event in December 2025, but he's still involved as a WWE ambassador, and earlier this year he hosted WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. 

Brooklyn will be his first appearance on WWE programming since Backlash. Nothing has been announced about the John Cena Classic, though the visit could bring some news on the competition.

Beyond Cena, WWE booked Royce Keys against Solo Sikoa in a first-time-ever match.

Keys leads 946, and Sikoa accepted his challenge. Keys is back in singles action for the first time since August, and he already issued a serious threat to Sikoa ahead of their showdown. 

The taped SmackDown has a notable match too, with Kevin Owens set to face his longtime rival CM Punk in a grudge match. That episode airs on November 6, the day before Crown Jewel, while RAW goes live on November 2.