AEW Rampage and Battle of the Belts ratings down

AEW saw ratings drops for its live two-hour programming block on Friday night.

– Friday’s episode of Rampage averaged 404,000 viewers on TNT, down 14.4 percent from the previous week. It’s the lowest audience for the show since July 29.

Rampage had strong competition from an MLB wildcard round playoff game on ESPN as well as the usual college football on FS1.

The show finished 20th on the cable charts with a 0.13 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 18.8 percent from the previous week and is Rampage’s lowest rating in that category since August 26.

Rampage’s ratings were even or down in every single demo. The biggest decline came with women 18-49, which dropped 33.3 percent to a 0.08 rating. That’s Rampage’s lowest number in that category since June 17.

As compared with the same week in 2021, Rampage was down 19.5 percent in overall viewers and down 23.5 percent in 18-49.

– Battle of the Belts IV, which immediately followed Rampage on TNT, averaged 317,000 viewers. It finished 37th on the cable charts with a 0.10 rating in 18-49. The viewership total and 18-49 rating are both the lowest numbers AEW has drawn of the four Battle of the Belts specials that have aired thus far. Two weeks ago, Rampage in the same time slot averaged 486,000 viewers and did a 0.16 in the demo for a taped show.

The charts below show the last 11 weeks of Rampage ratings and the ratings for AEW’s four Battle of the Belts specials. It’s notable the previous Battle of the Belts aired in prime time on Saturday as opposed to late night on Friday.

AEW Battle of the Belts IV to air live after Rampage

AEW Battle of the Belts IV will air live immediately following next Friday’s Rampage, according to Dave Meltzer.

The goal is to make both Rampage and Battle of the Belts IV feel like a major two-hour show. According to TNT’s schedule, Rampage will begin at 10 PM Eastern per usual with Battle of the Belts IV airing afterward.

The previous three Battle of the Belts shows aired on Saturdays with the first event broadcast live and the following two taped the night before. 

The event will emanate from the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C., and will be the first of several Rampage events in October to be filmed separately from that week’s edition of Dynamite. 

The October 14 edition of Rampage will be taped on Thursday, August 13 from Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum. On October 21, Rampage will air live from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. Rampage on October 28 will then air live from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. 

AEW returning to Washington, D.C. for Dynamite, Rampage, Battle of the Belts IV

AEW is making its return to Washington, D.C. for a pair of live events this October.

AEW has announced that the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. will host a live episode of Dynamite on Wednesday, October 5 and a live episode of Rampage on Friday, October 7.

In addition to Rampage taking place on October 7, AEW Battle of the Belts IV will also be taped at the Entertainment & Sports Arena that night. The special will likely air on TNT on Saturday, October 8.

Tickets for both events will go on sale at 10 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, August 12.

The first AEW Battle of the Belts took place this January and the second was held in April. The third will air on TNT this Saturday (August 6).

AEW also filmed live Dynamite and Rampage episodes at the Entertainment & Sports Arena this January.

Here’s the updated list of announced AEW show locations:

  • Friday, August 5: Rampage/Battle of the Belts III at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI
  • Wednesday, August 10: Dynamite/Rampage at Target Center in Minneapolis, MN
  • Wednesday, August 17: Dynamite/Rampage at Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, WV
  • Wednesday, August 24: Dynamite/Rampage at Wolstein Center in Cleveland, OH
  • Wednesday, August 31: Dynamite at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
  • Friday, September 2: Rampage at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
  • Sunday, September 4: All Out at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
  • Wednesday, September 7: Dynamite/Rampage at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY
  • Wednesday, September 14: Dynamite/Rampage at MVP Arena in Albany, NY
  • Wednesday, September 21: Grand Slam Dynamite/Rampage at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, NY
  • Wednesday, September 28: Dynamite/Rampage at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA
  • Wednesday, October 5: Dynamite at Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C.
  • Friday, October 7: Rampage/Battle of the Belts IV at Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C.
  • Wednesday, October 12: Dynamite at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Thursday, October 13: Rampage at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada