Tag: ratings

WWE SmackDown draws best viewership in three months

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Friday night’s WWE SmackDown episode averaged 1.24 million viewers on USA Network, up 16.7 percent from the previous week. It’s the best audience for the show since September 19, which was before Nielsen switched over to its new Big Data + Panel ratings system.

The show took place on the eve of John Cena’s retirement match but did not include an appearance by Cena himself. It drew a 0.26 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s up 8.3 percent from the prior week but ties the second-lowest rating SmackDown has done in that category since October 31.

SmackDown topped all of television in the key demo on Friday night. The most significant sports competition was women’s college basketball on ESPN2 with two games that each partially ran head-to-head with SmackDown. Those games ranked second and fourth on the cable charts for the night.

As compared to the same week in 2024 (which used Nielsen’s old panel-only reporting system), SmackDown’s overall viewership was down 19 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 44.7 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for SmackDown, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was up 12.4 percent in viewers but was steady in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WWE SmackDown ratings —

Date18-49Total viewers
10/3/20250.231,030,000
10/10/20250.221,025,000
10/17/20250.281,182,000
10/24/20250.291,147,000
10/31/20250.20933,000
11/7/20250.261,141,000
11/14/20250.271,158,000
11/21/20250.291,210,000
11/28/20250.281,142,000
12/5/20250.241,063,000
12/12/20250.261,240,000
10-week average0.261,103,100

AEW Dynamite viewership up, 18-49 rating steady

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 516,000 viewers on TBS, up 4% from the previous week. It was the highest audience for the show since November 12th.

Dynamite averaged a 0.09 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s identical to last week’s rating and ties the lowest rating the show has done in that category since October 29th.

The show went head to head with a women’s college basketball game on ESPN that topped the cable ratings chart with a 0.18 rating in the 18-49 demo. It also went up against CBS’s Survivor which topped all television with a 0.73 rating in the key demo.

As compared to the same week in 2024, and under Nielsen’s previous ratings reporting system, the overall viewership was down 13.1% while the 18-49 rating was down 47.1%. This year’s numbers do not include viewership on HBO Max.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for AEW Dynamite on TBS as well as the 10 week average in both categories. This week’s show was up 6.3% in overall viewers but down 10% in 18-49 as compared to recent averages.

DateAEW 18-49AEW total viewers
10/1/20250.09465,000
10/7/20250.07321,000
10/15/20250.11534,000
10/22/20250.08477,000
10/29/20250.08459,000
11/5/20250.09497,000
11/12/20250.15600,000
11/19/20250.1491,000
11/26/20250.1512,000
12/3/20250.09496,000
12/10/20250.09516,000
*10 wk avg0.10485,200
*not includingcurrent week

AEW Collision ties record low 18-49 demo rating

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Saturday night’s AEW Collision episode averaged 267,000 viewers on TNT, down 6.3 percent from the previous week. This is the lowest viewership number for the show since the November 1 broadcast that went head-to-head with WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.

In the 18-49 demo, Collision drew a 0.03 rating. That’s down 50 percent from last week and ties the lowest rating the show has ever done in that category.

There was heavy competition on the night. Collision went up against WWE’s NXT Deadline PLE, as well as the UFC 323 prelims and several big college football championship games on various cable and broadcast networks.

As compared to the same week in 2024 (which used Nielsen’s old panel-only reporting method), Collision’s overall viewership was down four percent while the 18-49 rating was down 57.1 percent. This year’s numbers do not include people watching on the HBO Max simulcast.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision, along with the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 1.8 percent in viewers and 40 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

AEW Collision ratings —

DateCollision 18-49Collision overall
9/27/20250.05248,000
10/4/20250.03226,000
10/11/20250.06286,000
10/15/20250.11400,000
10/25/20250.04228,000
11/1/20250.03217,000
11/8/20250.06289,000
11/15/20250.03219,000
11/19/20250.07322,000
11/27/20250.06285,000
12/6/20250.03267,000
*10 wk avg0.05272,000

AEW Dynamite viewership and 18-49 demo rating down slightly

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

The December 3 episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 496,000 viewers on TBS, down 3.1 percent from the previous week. It’s the second-lowest audience total for the show since October 29.

Dynamite drew a 0.09 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 10 percent from the prior week and ties the third-lowest rating the show has done in that category since October 7.

The only major sports competition on the night was college basketball on ESPN. Parts of two different games aired head-to-head with Dynamite and averaged 844,000 and 928,000 viewers respectively.

As compared to the same week in 2024 (under Nielsen’s old panel-only ratings reporting method), Dynamite’s overall viewership was down 15.4 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 47.1 percent. This year’s numbers also do not including viewership on HBO Max.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for Dynamite, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s episode was down 0.7 percent in viewers and 10 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

DateAEW 18-49AEW total viewers
9/24/20250.14638,000
10/1/20250.09465,000
10/7/20250.07321,000
10/15/20250.11534,000
10/22/20250.08477,000
10/29/20250.08459,000
11/5/20250.09497,000
11/12/20250.15600,000
11/19/20250.1491,000
11/26/20250.1512,000
12/3/20250.09496,000
*10 wk avg0.10499,400
*not including current week

Note: The first week on the chart was before Nielsen switched to its new Big Data + Panel system.

WWE NXT ratings down for Deadline go-home show

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

The December 2 episode of WWE NXT averaged 532,000 viewers on The CW, down 7.6 percent from the previous week. This marks the lowest audience total for the show since November 4.

In the 18-49 demo, NXT drew a 0.08 rating. That’s down 33 percent from the prior week but ties the third-highest rating the show has done in that category since October 14.

The main sports competition was the NBA on NBC which averaged 2.65 million viewers overall and a 0.47 rating in the 18-49 demo. NXT was also up against CBS’ ratings juggernauts “NCIS” and “NCIS: Origins,” with those programs taking the top two spots on all of television in total viewers and the key demo.

As compared to the same week in 2024 (under Nielsen’s old panel-only ratings measurement system), NXT’s overall viewership was down 10.3 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 38.5 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for NXT, along with the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 10.6 percent in viewers and 20 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Note: The first two weeks on the chart were prior to Nielsen switching to its new Big Data + Panel system.

WWE NXT ratings —

DateNXT 18-49NXT total viewers
9/23/20250.17707,000
9/30/20250.1572,000
10/7/20250.12625,000
10/14/20250.12690,000
10/21/20250.07525,000
10/28/20250.07527,000
11/4/20250.08528,000
11/11/20250.07554,000
11/18/20250.11650,000
11/25/20250.12576,000
12/2/20250.08532,000
*10 wk avg0.10595,400
*not includingcurrent week

AEW Collision ratings down slightly for Thanksgiving episode

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

The November 27 episode of AEW Collision, airing on Thanksgiving night, averaged 285,000 viewers on TBS. That’s down 11.5 percent from the previous week when it followed Dynamite on a Wednesday.

Collision drew a 0.06 rating in the 18-49 demo, finishing 15th for the night on the cable charts, which were dominated by holiday specials and college and NFL football. That number is down 14.3 percent from the week prior but ties the second-highest rating Collision has done in that category since October 15 when it followed Dynamite.

As compared to the same week in 2024, which aired on a Saturday afternoon, Collision’s overall viewership was up 97.9 percent while the 18-49 rating doubled year-over-year. That episode in 2024 did an all-time record low for Collision at 144,000 viewers and a 0.03 demo rating.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision. This week’s episode was up 8.8 percent in viewers and 20 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

DateCollision 18-49Collision overall
9/20/20250.04184,000
9/27/20250.05248,000
10/4/20250.03226,000
10/11/20250.06286,000
10/15/20250.11400,000
10/25/20250.04228,000
11/1/20250.03217,000
11/8/20250.06289,000
11/15/20250.03219,000
11/19/20250.07322,000
11/27/20250.06285,000
“10 wk avg0.05261,900

AEW Dynamite viewership up on Thanksgiving eve

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

The November 26 Thanksgiving eve episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 512,000 viewers on TBS, up 4.3 percent from the previous week. This marks the second-highest audience total for the show since October 15.

In the 18-49 demo, Dynamite drew a 0.10 rating. That matches what Dynamite did the prior week and also ties the second-highest rating the show has done in that category since the October 15 episode.

The show finished sixth for the night in the prime time 18-49 cable charts. It went head-to-head with the NBA on ESPN which averaged 2.43 million viewers and topped the charts with a 0.71 rating in the key demo.

As compared to the same week in 2024 (using the old Nielsen panel-only reporting method), Dynamite’s overall viewership was down 4.5 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 33.3 percent. This year’s numbers do not include the HBO Max simulcast, so the total viewership at least was almost certainly higher this year.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for Dynamite, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s episode was down 0.6 percent in viewers and 9.1 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Note: Beginning on October 1, Nielsen switched to its new Big Data + Panel reporting method that has, for the most part, resulted in a severe decline in wrestling ratings, particularly in the 18-49 demo.

AEW Dynamite ratings —

DateAEW 18-49AEW total viewers
9/17/20250.14667,000
9/24/20250.14638,000
10/1/20250.09465,000
10/7/20250.07321,000
10/15/20250.11534,000
10/22/20250.08477,000
10/29/20250.08459,000
11/5/20250.09497,000
11/12/20250.15600,000
11/19/20250.1491,000
11/26/20250.1512,000
*10 wk avg0.11514,900

WWE SmackDown viewership and 18-49 demo rating up

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Friday night’s WWE SmackDown episode averaged 1.21 million viewers on USA Network, up 4.5 percent from the previous week. This marks the best audience total for the show since Nielsen switched over to its new reporting system for ratings.

SmackDown ranked second on cable, and third overall on television, with a 0.29 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s up 7.4 percent from last week and matches the highest rating the show has done under the new Big Data + Panel model.

The show went head-to-head with a college football game on ESPN that topped all of TV with a 0.47 rating in 18-49.

As compared to the same week in 2024, under the old panel-only system, SmackDown’s overall viewership was down 23.3 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 37 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for SmackDown, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s episode was up 5.1 percent in overall viewers and 3.6 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Note: The Nielsen switch began on October 1 and has resulted in severe declines for most wrestling programming, particularly in the 18-49 demo.

WWE SmackDown ratings —

Date18-49Total viewers
9/12/20250.371,316,000
9/19/20250.371,342,000
9/26/20250.351,238,000
10/3/20250.231,030,000
10/10/20250.221,025,000
10/17/20250.281,182,000
10/24/20250.291,147,000
10/31/20250.20933,000
11/7/20250.261,141,000
11/14/20250.271,158,000
11/21/20250.291,210,000
10-week average0.281,151,200

AEW Dynamite ratings down for Full Gear go-home show

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Wednesday’s Full Gear go-home edition of AEW Dynamite averaged 491,000 viewers on TBS, down 18.2% from the previous week and their lowest audience for the show since October 29th.

A one-hour AEW Collision, immediately following Dynamite, averaged 322,000 viewers. That’s down 19.5% from the previous time the show followed Dynamite and the lowest it’s done when airing on a Wednesday night.

Dynamite averaged a 0.10 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 33.3% from last week but was also the second-best rating the show has done in that category since October 15. Collision averaged a 0.07 rating, down 36.4% from the last Wednesday airing. Dynamite finished 9th on the cable charts while Collision finished 18th.

The audience retention for the third hour was 65.6% in total viewers and 70% in 18-49. That’s down from the 74.9% and and 100% that the show did last month when it followed Dynamite.

As compared to the same week in 2024 and using Nielsen’s former rating reporting system, the overall viewership was down 23.3% while the 18-49 rating was down 50%. This year’s numbers do not include people watching on HBO Max.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for AEW Dynamite on TBS as well as the 10 week average in both categories. This week’s episode was down 6.4% in overall viewers and 9.1% in 18-49 as compared to recent averages.

Beginning on October 1st, Nielsen started using the Big Data + Panel reporting system which has resulted in a severe decline in most wrestling show’s ratings.

DateAEW 18-49AEW total viewers
9/10/20250.13584,000
9/17/20250.14667,000
9/24/20250.14638,000
10/1/20250.09465,000
10/7/20250.07321,000
10/15/20250.11534,000
10/22/20250.08477,000
10/29/20250.08459,000
11/5/20250.09497,000
11/12/20250.15600,000
11/19/20250.10491,000
*10 week average*0.11524,200

*Not including current week

WOL: WBD potential sale, Full Gear, Smackdown, more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm is back with tons to talk about including the latest on a potential sale of WBD and how it could affect AEW, Tony Khan’s media call yesterday, Smackdown and Full Gear line-ups, AAA going half head-to-head, your questions and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WWE NXT gets ratings increase for Gold Rush week one

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Week one of Gold Rush 2025 earned WWE NXT a noticeable ratings increase.

Tuesday’s NXT special averaged 650,000 viewers on The CW, an improvement of 17 percent from last week. The episode aired live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City and featured several title matches, including Jacy Jayne defeating Tatum Paxley to regain the NXT Women’s Championship.

Gold Rush drew a 0.11 rating in the 18-49 demo, which is up 57 percent from last week. In both overall viewership and the key demo, these are the best numbers for NXT since October 14.

The top-rated show on all of television on Tuesday night was ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, averaging more than seven million viewers and drawing a 1.50 rating in 18-49. There was sports competition from college basketball, the NBA, and the college football playoff rankings show.

Gold Rush will conclude next Tuesday when part two airs on The CW. Spoilers for that episode can be found here.

The chart below shows a look at NXT’s ratings over the last 11 weeks. It should be noted that Nielsen switched to its new Big Data + Panel reporting system at the start of October, which has resulted in across-the-board decreases for wrestling programming. The CW issued a statement this week calling the drops for NXT “inexplicable.”

DateWWE NXT 18-49WWE NXT total viewers
9/9/20250.14654,000
9/16/20250.17737,000
9/23/20250.17707,000
9/30/20250.10572,000
10/7/20250.12625,000
10/14/20250.12690,000
10/21/20250.07525,000
10/28/20250.07527,000
11/4/20250.08528,000
11/11/20250.07554,000
11/18/20250.11650,000

WOR: AEW & WBD, Dynamite recap, Tony Khan on Ariel Helwani, news~!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Image: AEW

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including tons of notes on AEW and WBD, ratings notes, Tony Khan on Ariel Helwani, Ricky Steamboat, the WWE Raw angle on Monday, Arena Mexico lineup, plus tons of thoughts on AEW Dynamite and Collision from Wednesday.

A packed show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Dave’s thoughts on Bob Caudle, George Tahinos

7:14: The latest on potential WBD and streaming numbers

21:45: Tony Khan on Ariel Helwani

34:55: Ricky Steamboat comments on Women’s Blood & Guts match, Cam Skattebo angle from WWE Raw gets criticism

42:20: Dave’s thoughts on the two different versions of Raw replays, CMLL notes, ratings

59:22: AEW Dynamite recap

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

WWE SmackDown ratings up, best viewership in four weeks

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Friday night’s WWE SmackDown episode averaged 1.158 million viewers on USA Network, up 1.5 percent from the previous week. It’s the best audience total for the show since October 17.

SmackDown drew a 0.27 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s up 3.8 percent from the November 7 episode and is the highest rating the show has done in that category since October 24. SmackDown finished second on cable and fifth overall on TV in the key demo for the night.

There was head-to-head competition from college football games on Fox and ESPN, with those games and the pre-show for the Fox game taking the top three spots on the charts. CBS’ Sheriff Country was the only other program to beat SmackDown.

As compared to the same week in 2024, using Nielsen’s old panel-only reporting method, SmackDown’s overall viewership was down 6.2 percent while its 18-49 rating was down 15.6 percent. That episode in 2024 had lower-than-usual numbers due to taking place on the same night as Netflix’s Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing special.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for SmackDown, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down three percent in viewers and 12.9 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Note: Beginning on October 1, Nielsen started using the Big Data + Panel reporting method which has resulted in severe ratings declines for most wrestling shows.

WOL: Full weekend news recap & WWE Raw preview

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez returns to catch you up on ALL the news since Friday. The death of Bob Caudle, health updates on a variety of performers, WWE news including RAW tonight and John Cena’s future, AEW news including ratings notes and future events, TNA notes including Santana losing the TNA Title, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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AEW Dynamite sees huge ratings increase for Blood & Guts

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 600,000 viewers on TBS, up 20.7% from the previous week. It’s the largest episode for the show since Nielsen started using their new ratings reporting system.

Dynamite finished 6th on the prime time cable charts with a 0.15 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s up 60% from last week and is the largest rating the show has done in that category since August 20th.

The show went head to head with an NBA game on ESPN that topped the 18-49 ratings chart as well as cable news channels which were way up due to Jeffrey Epstein coverage.

As compared to the same week in 2024, and with Nielsen’s former ratings measurement system, the overall viewership was down 9.9% while the 18-49 rating was down 31.8%. This year’s numbers do not include viewership on HBO Max.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings as well as the 10 week average in both categories. Beginning October 1st, Nielsen started using the Big Data + Panel system which has resulted in a severe decline in most wrestling ratings particularly in the 18-49 demo. This week’s show was up 17.3% in overall viewers and 50% in 18-49 as compared to recent averages.