Raw ratings up after the Olympics
Raw had its expected big increase coming the day after SummerSlam and with no major sports competition.
Still, the number can’t be celebrated too much, as the 3.30 million viewers was lower than the 3.33 million viewers the day after Battleground and 3.47 million viewers the day after Money in the Bank. Raw was fourth for the night on cable, trailing Rizzoli & Isles (4.75 million viewers), Major Crimes (3.94 million viewers) and The O’Reilly Factor (3.48 million viewers).
The previous two Raws, going against the Olympics, did 2.90 and 2.91 million viewers, the two lowest for non-holiday shows in the last 19 years.
The show started with the high point being the first hour, meaning curiosity coming off SummerSlam, as opposed to the usual second hour high point. The third hour was the usual drop, with the third hour drop particularly strong with women 35-49 years old.
The three hours were:
8 p.m. 3.46 million viewers
9 p.m. 3.37 million viewers
10 p.m. 3.11 million viewers
Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.