WWE Raw ratings up 10 percent from last week
Raw last night did 2.41 million viewers, up 10 percent from last week with a different ratings pattern than in months.
Even though the tradition is during the summer for the second hour to be rated the highest, of late that has not been the case because of the situation where fans tune out as the show gets going. Between the promise of the Brock Lesnar cash-in and Undertaker appearance, there was a big increase during the second hour, likely since that’s where the Lesnar-Seth Rollins angle started at the end of hour two.
Hour two also included the two women’s matches, the Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley arm wrestling match, and the Rey Mysterio-Samoa Joe angle.
It was the largest first-to-second hour increase since March 2, 2015.
Raw was sixth for the night on cable, trailing only news programming. There was no NBA competition, although Raw did go head-to-head with the Stanley Cup finals on NBC, which did 5.13 million viewers.
In this case, Raw started with a somewhat weak first hour, particularly given no NBA competition. During the second hour, women 18-49 gained 22 percent, men 18-49 gained nine percent, teenage girls gained 35 percent, and teenage boys gained 29 percent. Over 50 gained eight percent in the second hour.
Still, a 2.41 million average when you promised a MITB cash-in and probable title change and made it clear Undertaker and Lesnar would be appearing shows just how much they’ve lost in recent months overall.
The third hour dropped, even with Undertaker, but it still did better than the first hour, which almost never happens.
The three hours were:
- 8 p.m. 2.31 million viewers
- 9 p.m. 2.56 million viewers
- 10 p.m. 2.35 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.