NXT

[PEN15v2]

You're thinking US only, which I know is what most stats are based on. But NXT is an international brand on TV, including in Canada. It's WWE Network only in the US.

[LK3185]

NXT on USA did 1,179 Million viewers

Prime 18-49 demo was .43

Not bad for them.

[PEN15v2]

I won't pretend to know much about US ratings, and I really don't get involved with numbers for Raw or SD at all. The only time I can think of discussing numbers was with Cult 4-6 months ago about AEW's potential, and I'm sure he could tell it wasn't in my realm of knowledge.

That said, those seem like good numbers. I think that can grow, but once AEW hits, I'm sure decent chunk will turn to TNT. I feel NXT will still "win the battle", but I really don't think it'll be a blow out, or by an amount that AEW/TNT will be concerned with. I saw someone suggest NXT would do 800k while AEW would do 500k. That seems to be reasonable, but again, I REALLY don't know much about US ratings.

[LK3185]

I'm no expert but for a debut that's been promoted on your shows that do at least over 2mil every week from ratings alone (which not everyone is covered since its just a sample size but still) its pretty good. Will be drop off but I think somewhere just under a million NXT will settle at. I think AEW will be a little less but there's potential for a similar debut number.

[PEN15v2]

Oh, for sure. It wouldn't shock me if AEW gets a higher rating for the debut. But as things move on, even by November/December, is where I think we'll see the viewership steady, and NXT will have the lead.

But, I'm not exactly predicting these guesses. AEW might have a bunch of tricks up there sleeves that no one can predict. But, if they are continuing with the style of programming they've shown so far, with the promotion and roster they currently have... NXT will keep the advantage thanks to Raw and SD cross promotion

[LK3185]

I think AEW has this unknown that is an advantage and disadvantage. We don't know exactly how the tv will go, the talent is unknown in a mainstream scale except for a few. People will tune into that first show and if AEW is smart, they will establish the characters, and then go to wrestling. Do something with videos.. I really don't think straight up matches will appeal to those that just watched NXT do that. Not saying you do skits or lead with 20 min promo, but put your characters out there that will attract the casual.

If they play to the same type of audience, both the numbers will decline.

[Kleckamania]

Those are great first night numbers on an unknown commodity, and it sounds like the show itself will have generated more in the future.


I can't find it in On Demand for cable :/ much disappoint.

I honestly think AEW will do better. And I think they will stay better for a bit. WWE is gonna show their colors when numbers lead to a need to tweak things.

And AEW has a lot of word of mouth. Adults know this product is aimed at them. Lots of grown ups disenfranchsied with WWE. Their success shows other feds that that demographic is in need of being tapped.

[Cult Icon]

I told Pen I would be wrong again!

This is a GREAT number to me. I was expecting at best around what that previous one hour special got, so for this to get above 1 million is a very strong start. I think it honestly bodes well for both them and AEW, as it shows there is an audience out there (even if it's not quite what RAW or Smackdown's is) who will tune in to see great wrestling. I don't expect either will draw that number consistently but this is a good start for NXT and I think a good sign of things to come.

As for the AEW debut, I think it'll beat NXT but I was thinking that anyway. For that week it will have the advantage over NXT because this is the very first show. It's like the first RAW, the first Nitro; it's a historic event, much like how Double or Nothing was. That will definitely get some eyeballs. How much they get after will be determined on what they do with that show, and I'd think they would have to have a show as good as the NXT one appears to be. I certainly hope it will be, as I will be at AEW's first show!

[Oliver]

I hope they do a silly pull out all the stops show for that first night against AEW for funsies. Like, I hope they drag John Cena out of his Florida mansion to come and work a 15 minute sprint with Johnny Gargano or something.

That said, they've already got Shayna vs Candice lined up for that show. Personally, I hope Shayna eats Candice's lunch (and then chokes Gargano out in the middle of the ring to send a message) but I can well imagine them doing a second title change in three weeks to make it 'unpredictable' and 'must watch' or whatever.

I just wish they'd gone with Goth Io vs Shayna for the title.

[Oliver]

Double post, sorry, but...

https://mobile.twitter.com/NXTCiampa/status/1174321567620325376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1174321567620325376&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fuproxx.com%2Fprowrestling%2Fwwe-nxt-highlights-this-week-usa-network-debut-velveteen-dream-vs-roderick-strong%2F

Your favourite Blackheart looks ready to come and take what's rightfully his. Watch your back, Adam Cole, because he's going to rip the catchphrases out of your throat

[Cult Icon]

Look we all think Johnny Gargano is a newb and that La Sombra and Tomasso Ciampa carried him to greatness (before he was then dragged down by Adam Cole, or as I call him, Finn Balor with long hair and a catchphrase), but I will hear no Candice slander. She's awesome, she's been deserving of this opportunity for Grodd only knows how long, and most importantly, I have her t-shirt from her PWG days! Would I, the coolest person in this forum since Pen hates the flips and mizfan decided to start his crusade against the Lucha Brothers teaming up, own the t-shirt of someone or something that wasn't cool? Yes...but that has nothing to do with this situation!

[Team Farrell]

I told Pen I would be wrong again!

This is a GREAT number to me. I was expecting at best around what that previous one hour special got, so for this to get above 1 million is a very strong start. I think it honestly bodes well for both them and AEW, as it shows there is an audience out there (even if it's not quite what RAW or Smackdown's is) who will tune in to see great wrestling. I don't expect either will draw that number consistently but this is a good start for NXT and I think a good sign of things to come.

As for the AEW debut, I think it'll beat NXT but I was thinking that anyway. For that week it will have the advantage over NXT because this is the very first show. It's like the first RAW, the first Nitro; it's a historic event, much like how Double or Nothing was. That will definitely get some eyeballs. How much they get after will be determined on what they do with that show, and I'd think they would have to have a show as good as the NXT one appears to be. I certainly hope it will be, as I will be at AEW's first show!

So, like, what happen if/when both AEW and NXT are outdrawing Raw and Smackdown? Raw came back at an average of 2.3 million viewers. Give NXT and AEW six months of strong shows and one fewer hour, who's to say they can't average that or better?

[Cult Icon]

So, like, what happen if/when both AEW and NXT are outdrawing Raw and Smackdown? Raw came back at an average of 2.3 million viewers. Give NXT and AEW six months of strong shows and one fewer hour, who's to say they can't average that or better?

I think we need to pump the breaks there a little bit Coach!

Could this end up happening? Anything is possible...but the only way it's happening in six months is if RAW and Smackdown just absolutely crater and AEW and NXT are borderline perfect coming out of the gate. And even then I think it would be closer to a year before either could challenge. At the end of the day RAW and Smackdown are the established brands in the wrestling landscape and one of them will now be on Fox. I don't expect the ratings to rise that much on Fox (at least as much as some people in WWE seem to believe) but they will go up to some degree, and that plus the established nature of the shows will give them a cushion over an AEW and an NXT that are still new to this level of audience and who, outside of a few names, don't really have big stars. If all goes well with both, they establish themselves as must watch brands and RAW and Smackdown continue to be hit and miss like they've been since 2001, then maybe in a year you could see it. But it may take even longer than that.

If that day comes I have no idea what will happen. I'd assume Vince would blow a gasket but NXT is a WWE brand so perhaps he wouldn't. I honestly think his reaction only becomes interesting if AEW does defeat NXT consistently out of the gate and then goes on to defeat RAW or Smackdown. And we're so far off from all those things that it feels wrong to bring it up.

[comfortablynumb]

Double post, sorry, but...

https://mobile.twitter.com/NXTCiampa/status/1174321567620325376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1174321567620325376&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fuproxx.com%2Fprowrestling%2Fwwe-nxt-highlights-this-week-usa-network-debut-velveteen-dream-vs-roderick-strong%2F

Your favourite Blackheart looks ready to come and take what's rightfully his. Watch your back, Adam Cole, because he's going to rip the catchphrases out of your throat

Goldie is coming home soon!

[LK3185]

If On the hypothetical, I think if AEW and NXT are beating Raw and Smackdown at any point it’s because they are doing something different than RAW or Smackdown and i assume that would mean more hard hitting wrestling, fast paced, less bad comedy etc

I cant see either show beating the top brands in WWE doing what WWE does. Its gotta be different

I dont think the NXT show was different enough but who knows