A first-time wrestling watcher bears witness to the formal Hollywoodification of one of America's most absurd and strangely appealing spectacles.

WWE's flagship Raw show has aired on Netflix for the first time with the return of multiple big names. The much-anticipated programme saw superstars including The Rock, John Cena and The Undertaker make appearances during the three-hour event in Los Angeles.

From the celebrities in the audience to music star Travis Scott accompanying WWE Superstar Jey Uso to the ring, Monday’s production felt more like a premium live event (PLE). It felt designed to appeal to a wider audience than typical pro wrestling fans — and the new distribution channel on Netflix was clearly intended to take advantage of the platform’s worldwide reach.