Tag: pro wrestling ratings

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

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

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.

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.

WWE NXT viewership up, 18-49 demo rating down

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Tuesday night’s WWE NXT episode averaged 554,000 viewers on The CW, an increase of 4.9 percent from last week. It’s the best audience total for the show since October 14.

In the 18-49 demo, NXT drew a 0.07 rating. That’s down 12.5 percent from last week and ties the lowest rating NXT has ever done in that category. NXT finished last on network television with less than half of what the next-lowest show did in the key demo, though The CW is generally a lower-rated station than the other major networks.

The show went head-to-head, as it will all season, with the NBA on NBC, which was second on network TV to ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. The NBA broadcast drew a 0.42 rating in 18-49 and averaged 2.237 million viewers overall.

As compared to the same week in 2024 (under the previous Nielsen panel-only reporting method), NXT’s overall viewership was down 12.2 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 56.3 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 10.9 percent in viewers and 41.8 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Note: Starting on October 1, Nielsen began using the new Big Data + Panel measurement system. The change has resulted in severe declines for most wrestling shows, particularly in the 18-49 demo.

WWE NXT ratings up slightly this week

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Tuesday night’s WWE NXT episode averaged 528,000 viewers on The CW, a slight increase from the almost identical number (527,000) the show did last week. This marks the best audience total for the show since October 14.

In the 18-49 demo, NXT drew a 0.08 rating. That’s up 14.3 percent from last week and is also the highest rating the show has recorded in that category since the October 14 episode.

The show went head-to-head with an NBA game on NBC, as well as cable news coverage of the 2025 U.S. elections which dominated the cable charts for the night.

As compared to the same week in 2024, when Nielsen was still using its panel-only ratings measurement system, NXT’s overall viewership was down 14.7 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 52.9 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 episode was down 16 percent in overall viewers and 33.3 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Note: Beginning on October 1, Nielsen switched to its new Big Data + Panel measurement system that has resulted in severe declines for most wrestling television shows, particularly in the 18-49 demo.

AEW Collision ratings down, ties record low 18-49 number

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Saturday night’s Fright Night episode of AEW Collision averaged 217,000 viewers on TNT, down 4.8 percent from the previous week. It’s the lowest audience total for Collision since September 20, when it aired in the afternoon prior to the All Out pay-per-view.

In the 18-49 demo, the show drew a 0.03 rating. That’s down 25 percent from last week and matches the lowest rating Collision has ever done in that category regardless of date or time slot.

Collision went against big competition from sports and other wrestling. Game seven of the MLB World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays was the highest-rated baseball game in seven years, ranking first on television with 24.8 million viewers and a 5.85 rating in the 18-49 demo. There was also a slate of college football games, along with Collision going against WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event on Peacock.

As compared to the same week in 2024, under Nielsen’s old panel-only ratings system, Collision’s overall viewership was down 37.8 percent while its 18-49 rating was down 66.7 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s episode was down 23.5 percent in viewers and 50 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Note: Starting on October 1, Nielsen began using the Big Data + Panel ratings measurement system, which has generally resulted in lower-than-usual ratings for most wrestling programming but has not affected Collision as much as others.

WWE SmackDown draws record low ratings on Halloween

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Friday night’s Halloween edition of WWE SmackDown averaged 933,000 viewers on USA Network, down 18.7 percent from the previous week. It’s the lowest audience total the show has ever done on USA Network and lowest overall number for SmackDown since an episode that was moved to FS1 in November 2023.

SmackDown drew a 0.20 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 31 percent from the prior week and is also the lowest rating the show has done on USA. Other than a clip show on New Year’s Eve 2020, it’s the lowest rating SmackDown has ever done on any network.

Along with airing on Halloween (traditionally a bad night for wrestling shows), SmackDown went head-to-head with game six of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. The baseball game averaged 17.4 million viewers on Fox alone — in addition to airing on other platforms — and drew a 3.28 rating in the 18-49 demo, topping all of television in both categories.

As compared to the same week in 2024, under Nielsen’s old panel-only measurement system, SmackDown’s overall viewership was down 34.7 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 52.4 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 down 24 percent in viewers and 39.4 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Note: Starting on October 1, Nielsen switched to the new Big Data + Panel ratings measurement system, which has resulted in lower-than-usual ratings for most wrestling shows.

AEW Dynamite ratings down against World Series

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 459,000 viewers on TBS, down 3.8% from the previous week. It’s the lowest audience the show has ever done on a Wednesday night.

Dynamite averaged a 0.08 rating in the 18-49 demo. That ties what the rating was in that category last week and is also the record low for the show on a Wednesday, beating only the 0.07 when the show moved to Tuesday and went head to head with NXT.

The show went head to head with Game 5 of MLB’s World Series which topped all television with 14.567 million viewers and a 3.02 rating in the 18-49 demo on FOX. Dynamite finished 7th on the prime time cable charts, also going head to head with an NBA game on ESPN that averaged 1.28 million viewers and topped that chart with a 0.38 18-49 rating.

As compared to the same week in 2024, under Nielsen’s former ratings measurement system, the overall viewership was down 26.9% while the 18-49 rating was down 57.9%. 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. It’s important to note that Nielsen switched to the new Big Data + Panel ratings measurement system that has had a negative effect on ratings for most pro wrestling shows. This week’s episode was down 13.5% in overall viewers and 33.3% in 18-49 as compared to recent averages.

WWE NXT ratings steady against World Series game four

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Tuesday night’s WWE NXT episode averaged 527,000 viewers on The CW, almost identical to the 525,000 viewers the show did last week. It’s the second-lowest audience NXT has done since Nielsen switched to its new Big Data + Panel ratings measurement system.

NXT drew a 0.07 rating in the 18-49 demo, the same number as the show did last week. It ties the lowest rating NXT has ever done in that category.

The episode went head-to-head with game four of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, which topped all of television with 14.87 million viewers across several Fox platforms and a 3.05 rating in 18-49 on the main Fox network. It was the second-highest viewed World Series game four in the last nine years.

As compared to the same week in 2024, under the old panel-only system, NXT’s overall viewership was down 10.4 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 50 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 18.4 percent in viewers and 46.2 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Note: Nielsen began its new measurement system in October, which has generally resulted in much lower ratings for wrestling TV shows.

AEW Collision ratings down against NXT Halloween Havoc

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Saturday night’s AEW Collision episode averaged 228,000 viewers on TNT, down 43 percent from the previous week (which aired after AEW Dynamite on Wednesday night). The viewership number is down 20.3 percent from the last time Collision aired in its regular time slot on October 11.

In the 18-49 demo, Collision finished 12th on the prime time cable charts with a 0.04 rating. That’s down 63.6 percent from the October 15th episode following Dynamite and down 33.3 percent from the October 11 broadcast. This ties the third-lowest rating the show has ever done in that category.

The show had much stronger than usual competition which included WWE NXT’s Halloween Havoc airing head-to-head on Peacock as well as the MLB World Series on Fox and college football on various cable and network channels.

As compared to the same week in 2024, under the old panel-only Nielsen ratings system, Collision’s viewership was down 29 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 55.6 percent. This year’s numbers do not include viewers on HBO Max.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. It should be noted that Nielsen started using its Big Data + Panel ratings measurement system at the start of October, but Collision’s numbers have not been negatively affected as much as other wrestling shows. This week’s episode was down 21.1 percent in viewers and 33.3 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.