WWE Raw ratings down from post-WrestleMania episode

Raw last night fell back to normal levels after the giant numbers last week, averaging 1.82 million viewers and drawing a 0.59 rating in 18-49.

Raw was first on cable and was the highest rated show on all of television since the top network show, American Idol, did a 0.56.

The ratings pattern was notable because the first hour was unusually low, the second hour was way up, and then it fell in hour three, so the third hour was almost identical in viewers to the first hour, and it was ahead in the key demos.

On cable, Raw was first across the board. Second place Tucker Carlson did a 0.25 in 18-49, less than half of Raw. Raw’s 0.40 in women 18-49 beat second place Summer House at 0.24. Raw’s 0.80 in men 18-49 beat second place Tucker Carlson and PTI that did 0.30. Raw’s 0.44 with people 18-34 beat Summer House at 0.13.

Raw was ninth on cable in total viewers, behind eight news shows.

Raw was down from last week’s post-WrestleMania 39 edition of the show, but that was to be expected. It was down 20 percent in viewers, down 22 percent in 18-49, and down 24 percent in 18-34.

From last year, Raw was up one percent in viewers, up 10 percent in 18-49, and up 16 percent in 18-34, so the audience is skewing much younger than a year ago. Factoring in the loss of cable homes over the past year, the real gains are seven percent in viewers, 17 percent in 18-49, and 24 percent in 18-34.

The three hours were:

• 8 p.m. 1.76 million viewers
• 9 p.m. 1.96 million viewers
• 10 p.m. 1.73 million viewers