WWE Raw ratings down, still an impressive number
WWE Raw did another impressive number last night against the NFL, averaging 1.80 million viewers overall and drawing a 0.50 rating in 18-49.
Raw got a break when the New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians final game of the series was postponed due to rain. The Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers NFL game did 12.05 million viewers and a 3.75 in 18-49, which was lower than the Monday Night Football games had been doing.
Raw had a very strong first hour, and declined throughout the show with a very substantial third-hour drop for an episode anchored by Seth Rollins vs. Matt Riddle for the United States title.
The show finished fifth on cable, behind the NFL game, the kickoff show, the postgame show, and SportsCenter after the game. The game only aired on ESPN, with no ESPN2 simulcast nor a network feed.
Raw was down only one percent in viewers from last week, which was considered an exceptional number and had the advantage of coming after a PPV. It was down nine percent in 18-49 and down 14 percent in 18-34.
Raw also beat ABC programming including Bachelor in Paradise head-to-head, beat CBS after 8:30 p.m., beat NBC in the third hour, and beat Fox in the second hour.
Really, aside from the NFL and The Voice, Raw did the most impressive numbers of anything on television last night.
Raw was sixth on cable in women 18-49 (behind the four NFL shows and Love and Hip Hop Atlanta), sixth in men 18-49, fifth in 18-34, fifth in women 12-34, and sixth in men 12-34.
It was 14th in total viewers for the day, behind NFL-related shows and news programming.
As compared to one year ago, Raw was up 13 percent in viewers, up 28 percent in 18-49, and up 45 percent in 18-34. Last year’s show went against both the baseball playoffs and the NFL.
There were substantial third-hour drops from hour one with women 18-49 dropping 21 percent, men 18-49 dropping 18 percent, women 12-34 dropping 26 percent, men 12-34 dropping 27 percent, and people over 50 dropping 14 percent.
The three hours were:
- 8 p.m. 1.94 million viewers
- 9 p.m. 1.85 million viewers
- 10 p.m. 1.62 million viewers