Tag: ratings

NXT vs. TNA Showdown beats AEW Dynamite in ratings battle

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

WWE NXT scored a ratings victory over AEW Dynamite with the shows going head-to-head on Tuesday night.

The NXT vs. TNA Showdown special averaged 625,000 viewers on USA Network, an increase of 9.3 percent from last week. With Nielsen changing its ratings methodology, this is still the second-lowest reported audience total for NXT since July 15.

AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday, airing on TBS outside of the show’s normal night, averaged 321,000 viewers. That’s down 31 percent from last week and is the lowest reported audience in the history of the show.

In the 18-49 demo, the NXT episode drew a 0.12 rating. That’s up 20 percent from last week but ties the second-lowest number the show has done in that category so far in 2025.

Dynamite drew a 0.07 rating in the demo, which is a decrease of 22.2 percent from last week and is a record low number for the show.

It should be noted that starting two weeks ago — when Nielsen began using its “Big Panel + Data” measurement system to determine ratings — there have been nearly universal severe declines for both WWE and AEW wrestling programming.

As compared to the same week in 2024, NXT’s average viewership was down 28.5 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 50 percent. AEW’s viewership was down 2.4 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 30 percent. Both shows aired head-to-head during this week last year as well.

Here’s a look at the last 11 weeks of ratings data for both programs:

AEW Collision ratings down with earlier start time

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Saturday night’s episode of AEW Collision averaged 226,000 viewers on TNT, down 16 percent from the previous week. This is the fourth-lowest audience total the show has done in 2024 so far.

In the 18-49 demo, Collision drew a 0.03 rating. That’s down 40 percent from last week and ties the lowest rating the show has ever done in that category. The rating placed Collision 19th on the daily cable charts in prime time.

For the second straight week, the ratings were calculated using Nielsen’s new “Panel + Big Data” system rather than the old panel-only model. The change has largely resulted in significantly lower numbers for wrestling than under the old panel-only measurements.

The show did air one hour earlier than usual on the East Coast and four hours earlier than usual on the West Coast. There was the usual heavy sports competition with college football games on several networks. Along with that, Collision went against the MLB playoffs and the UFC 320 prelims.

As compared to the same week in 2024, under the old ratings system, Collision’s overall viewership was down 8.9 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 40 percent. This year’s numbers do not include viewership from the HBO Max simulcast.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision. It’s important to note that prior to the September 27 episode, ratings were calculated under the old system. This week’s show was down 27 percent in overall viewers and 57.1 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WOR: AEW vs. NXT head-to-head, Escobar, ratings doom

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the AEW vs. NXT battle last night, how the new ratings system is killing wrestling, Santos Escobar re-signs with WWE, all the news and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Santos Escobar returns to WWE, John Cena’s last dates

2:20: New ratings system having a big impact on pro wrestling

18:50: Dark Side of the Ring renewed, Conor McGregor suspended, more UFC notes, death of Sabrina

28:42: NXT vs. TNA Showdown recap

44:43: AEW Title Tuesday recap

Right Click Save As

WWE SmackDown draws record low ratings with new reporting model

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Wrestling ratings continue to be hit hard by Nielsen’s new reporting model.

Friday night’s WWE SmackDown episode averaged 1.03 million viewers on USA Network, down 19 percent from the previous week. It’s the lowest audience total the show has done since returning to USA Network and is the lowest overall number for SmackDown since November 29, 2023 — when the show was moved to FS1 due to Fox airing college football in its time slot.

This and last week were the first two weeks of SmackDown numbers reported under Nielsen’s new “Big Data + Panel” methodology, which aims to provide more accurate data by replacing the old panel-only system. Thus far, that has resulted in much lower wrestling numbers than had previously been reported.

SmackDown finished third on cable on Friday night with a 0.23 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 34.3 percent from last week and is also the lowest rating the show has done in that category on USA Network. Overall, it ties the lowest rating SmackDown has ever done for a first-run episode of the show. A “Best Of” special on New Year’s Eve in 2021 did draw a lower rating (0.08) on FS1.

The MLB playoffs had the night off on Friday, but there was sports competition from a WNBA Finals game on ESPN that topped all of cable with a 0.44 rating in 18-49 and 1.858 million viewers overall.

As compared to the same week in 2024, when Nielsen still used the panel-only rating system, SmackDown’s overall viewership was down 32.2 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 51.1 percent.

AEW Dynamite ratings down against MLB playoffs

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 465,000 viewers on TBS, down 27.1% from the viewership total reported last week. It’s the lowest audience the show has ever done on a Wednesday night and the third lowest of all time. The previous lows were shows that aired on a Tuesday last year and a Saturday in 2021.

Dynamite averaged a 0.09 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 35.7% from last week’s reported number and is the lowest rating the show has done in that category in the show’s history, regardless of day or time slot. The show still finished 6th on cable.

Dynamite aired head to head with Game 2 of MLB’s wildcard series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees on ESPN which averaged 6.757 million viewers and a 1.56 rating in the 18-49 demo.

As compared to the same week in 2024, the overall viewership for the show was down 31.6% while the 18-49 rating was down 55%. This year’s numbers do not include people who watched on HBO Max.

It’s important to note that this is the first week where Nielsen is using the Big Data + Panel system of reporting TV ratings which has resulted in numbers much lower that most wrestling shows had previously done.

WOL: AEW vs. NXT, Hulk Hogan Trail, ratings changes

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm returns with tons to talk about including major ratings changes that will affect all shows, Hulk Hogan Trail, AEW vs. NXT on Tuesday, Smackdown tonight and who Sami’s opponent might be and why, your calls and emails, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Right Click Save As

WWE NXT ratings down, new reporting method introduced

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

The introduction of a new way of measuring TV ratings has led to some confusion over wrestling numbers.

Nielsen is using a new ratings method called “Big Data + Panel,” which — to this point — has mostly resulted in lower ratings for wrestling televisions shows than had been reported under the previous panel-only method of measurement.

Using the new method, Tuesday night’s WWE NXT episode averaged 572,000 viewers on The CW, down 19.1 percent from last week under the old way. This would be the lowest audience total for the show since August 6, 2024.

NXT drew a 0.10 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 41.2 percent from last week and ties the second-lowest reported rating the show has ever done in that category.

Under the old method, Tuesday’s show would have drawn a 0.16 rating in the demo. That’s still slightly down from last week but is a much smaller decrease than represented with the new method.

The show went against a big New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox MLB playoff game on Tuesday night.

Year-over-year comparisons — and even comparisons to the 10-week average — will not be as relevant with the new reporting system, though the latter will return once there is a couple months of appropriate data to compare.

Updated WWE NXT ratings for No Mercy go-home show

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Update —

There has been a correction to Tuesday’s WWE NXT ratings. The show actually averaged 707,000 viewers overall and drew a 0.17 rating in the 18-49 demo.

The viewership is down four percent from the previous week’s Homecoming special, but the 18-49 demo rating remained steady.

**********

Tuesday night’s WWE NXT episode averaged 617,000 viewers on The CW, down 16.3 percent from last week’s Homecoming special. This marks the lowest audience total for the show since August 26.

In the 18-49 demo, NXT drew a 0.12 rating. That’s down 29.4 percent from last week and ties the lowest rating the show has done in that category in 2025. NXT tied for last place on network television with most of those stations airing new programming for the first time this fall season.

The show also went head-to-head with a WNBA playoff game on cable that averaged 1.464 million viewers on ESPN and drew a 0.27 rating in the 18-49 demo. An MLB game on TBS also aired head-to-head with a 0.15 demo rating and 454,000 viewers.

As compared to the same week in 2024, which was the final week the show aired on USA Network, NXT’s overall viewership was down 0.5 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 36.8 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for NXT, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s episode was down 9.4 percent in viewers and 20 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WWE SmackDown viewership slightly up for Wrestlepalooza go-home show

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Friday night’s episode of WWE SmackDown averaged 1.342 million viewers on the USA Network, up 2% from the previous week. It’s the second largest audience for the show since August 15th.

SmackDown topped all cable with a 0.37 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s the exact same rating the show did last week in that category and ties the second best the show has done since the August 8th episode.

There was stronger than usual sports competition on the night. A college football game on FOX aired head to head and topped all television with a 0.58 18-49 rating and 2.657 million viewers overall. Also airing opposite SmackDown was another CFB game on ESPN as well as a WNBA playoff game on ESPN2.

As compared to the same week in 2024, the overall viewership was down 10.2% while the 18-49 rating was down 17.8%.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for WWE SmackDown on the USA Network as well as the 10 week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 7.4% in overall viewers and 9.8% in 18-49 as compared to recent averages.

WOR: Gerbasi, ESPN/WWE, Dynamite and NXT reviews!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of Tom Gerbasi, ESPN’s coverage of wrestling or so they claim, CMLL Anniversary Show Friday, UFC and Netflix, RATINGS, AEW and NXT TV reviews, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Tom Gerbasi passes away
6:55: ESPN says its journalists can cover WWE however they want, other media call notes
12:46: CMLL Anniversary show will have English commentary on Triller, Tate Twins accuse Tony Khan of removing Outrunners from upcoming independent match
19:34: Ratings
38:02: AEW September to Remember report
1:06:30: WWE NXT Homecoming report

Right Click Save As

WWE NXT ratings up for Homecoming special

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Tuesday night’s Homecoming episode of WWE NXT averaged 737,000 viewers on The CW, up 12.7 percent from last week. It’s the largest audience total for the show since August 5.

The Homecoming special took place from NXT’s original home of Full Sail University and included appearances by past NXT stars, along with Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Shawn Michaels, and William Regal. The show drew a 0.17 rating in the 18-49 demo, a number that is up 21.4 percent from last week and ties the highest rating NXT has done in that category since February 11.

The show finished 10th on all of television in the key demo and ranked sixth among network programming in prime time. The major competition was the Dancing with the Stars season premiere on ABC, which did the best ratings for that program since 2020 and topped TV with a 1.06 rating in 18-49 rating and 5.38 million viewers overall.

As compared to the same week in 2024, when the show still aired on USA Network, NXT’s overall viewership was up 8.9 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 19.1 percent, so the audience on network TV continues to skew much older than it did on cable.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for NXT, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s episode was up 8.8 percent in viewers and 13.3 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WWE SmackDown viewership, 18-49 rating down

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Friday night’s episode of WWE SmackDown averaged 1.316 million viewers on the USA Network, down 15.7% from the previous week. It’s the third lowest audience for the show since July 4th.

SmackDown averaged a 0.37 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 27.5% from last week but was the second highest rating the show has done in that category since August 8th.

The show finished second on all television in the key demo, trailing only a college football game on ESPN that aired head to head that averaged a 0.60 18-49 rating and 2.609 million viewers overall.

As compared to the same week in 2024, which was the debut episode on USA after moving from FOX, the overall viewership was down 23.6% while the 18-49 rating was down 32.7%.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for WWE SmackDown on the USA Network as well as the 10 week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 8.1% in overall viewers and 9.8% in 18-49 as compared to recent averages.

WWE NXT ratings for September 9 episode

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Tuesday night’s WWE NXT episode averaged 654,000 viewers on The CW, down 0.2 percent from last week. It’s the second-lowest audience total for the show since July 15.

NXT drew a 0.14 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s identical to last week and ties the second-lowest rating the show has done since the July 15 episode.

The show finished ninth out of 10 network TV programs airing in prime time in the key demo, beating only a repeat episode of CBS’ NCIS Origins. The only significant sports competition was a WNBA game on ESPN that aired head-to-head and averaged 1.034 million viewers and drew a 0.14 rating in 18-49.

As compared to the same week in 2024, when the show still aired on USA Network, NXT’s overall viewership was up 4.1 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 26.3 percent, so the audience continues to skew much older on network TV than broadcast.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for NXT, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down three percent in viewers and 6.7 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

AEW Collision viewership and key demo rating rebound

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Saturday night’s AEW Collision episode averaged 300,000 viewers on TNT, up 91.1 percent from the previous week (which was Collision’s lowest number of 2025). This is the best audience total for the show since July 26.

In the 18-49 demo, Collision drew a 0.07 rating. That’s up 75 percent from last week and ties the highest rating for the show since August 9.

There was competition from college football on several cable and network stations airing head-to-head, although Collision did feature matches with both Jon Moxley and Toni Storm.

As compared to the same week in 2024, Collision’s overall viewership was up 53.9 percent while the 18-49 rating was up 75 percent. Last year’s show aired on a Friday night opposite WWE SmackDown and did record lows in both viewers and 18-49.

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 5.9 percent in viewers and was steady in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WWE SmackDown ratings up big for AJ Lee return

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

With a loaded-up show including an appearance by John Cena and the long-awaited return of AJ Lee, WWE SmackDown got a sizable ratings increase on Friday night.

The episode averaged 1.585 million viewers on USA Network, up 38.2 percent from the previous week. It’s the largest audience total for the show since July 25.

SmackDown topped all of TV with a 0.51 rating in the 18-49 demo, nearly doubling the closest competition. That’s up 82.1 percent from last week and ties the best rating the show has done in that category since April 18.

Though not included in the TV charts, there was competition from a YouTube-exclusive NFL game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs that averaged more than 17 million viewers globally.

Lee’s return was not officially announced in advance, but it was all but confirmed with WWE heavily hinting that she would be on the episode.

As compared to the same week in 2024, SmackDown’s viewership was down 10.5 percent while the 18-49 rating was up 13.3 percent. The episode one year ago was the last SmackDown on Fox.

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 11.6 percent in viewers and 27.5 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.