The Ottawa episode will begin two hours earlier as WWE prepares for a double taping
Summary
– WWE Raw will begin at 6 PM ET on August 24 instead of its usual 8 PM start
– The earlier start is tied to WWE pre-taping the August 28 episode of SmackDown
– Raw will take place from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario
WWE Monday Night Raw will have an earlier start time on August 24 as the company adjusts its television schedule around an upcoming double taping.
The episode will air live from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, and begin at 6 PM ET on Netflix. That is two hours earlier than Raw’s usual 8 PM ET start time.
According to Sports Illustrated, the schedule change is connected to WWE pre-taping the August 28 episode of Friday Night SmackDown during the same stop. The company is using the Ottawa event to handle both shows before returning to the United States later that week.
WWE is then scheduled to be at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 28, where the company will film the August 31 edition of Raw and the September 4 episode of SmackDown.
Those tapings will cover WWE’s final weekly television episodes before Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sunday Night’s Main Event is already shaping up as a major show. Cody Rhodes is scheduled to face Randy Orton in a WrestleMania 42 rematch, while Oba Femi will battle Bron Breakker in another featured match.
Before the Ottawa taping, WWE will also present the August 21 episode of SmackDown in Toronto. Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk is scheduled to defend his title against Kevin Owens, marking their first WWE singles match against each other.
Double tapings are not unusual for WWE, especially when the company is managing travel or giving talent additional time away. This time, the format means Raw viewers will need to tune in earlier than usual on August 24.
