WWE Backlash ratings for ESPN2 simulcast revealed
The viewership and 18-49 demo rating for the one hour simulcast of WWE Backlash last Saturday are now available, courtesy of Wrestlenomics.
The outlet reported that the hour brought in 998,000 viewers from 6-7 pm Eastern Saturday with a .33 18-49 demo ratings. The data does not include ESPN Unlimited which aired the entire show.
That hour featured Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker and WWE United States Champion Trick Williams defending against Sami Zayn.
The numbers were understandably down from last month’s WrestleMania 42 of which ESPN aired the first hour of each night, one on ESPN and another on ESPN2.
It’s unknown if ESPN will continue to air the first hour of upcoming PLEs on their networks. The next opportunity will be Clash in Italy on Sunday, May 31 — an early show in the United States.
Recent WWE on ESPN ratings & 18-49 demo performance
| Show (First Hour) | Channel | Views | 18-49 |
| Backlash | ESPN2 | 998,000 | .33 |
| WrestleMania 42 Sunday | ESPN | 1,822,000 | .65 |
| WrestleMania 42 Saturday | ESPN2 | 1,616,000 | .62 |
| Averages | – | 1,478,000 | .53 |
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.