WWE Raw ratings up despite going against Winter Olympics
Raw delivered well last night when going against the Winter Olympics, actually increasing over the week before.
Raw had some of its lowest numbers in history in 2016 against the Summer Olympics, but last night’s show did 3.10 million viewers, up one percent from the 3.08 million viewers the prior week.
Raw was the most-watched show on cable television and the fourth most-watched show overall. The Olympics did 20.30 million viewers, more than any NFL game and about anything except the College Football championship finals that will be on a Monday this year. The difference is the Olympics draws less of a crossover audience to wrestling than football, and in particular it’s almost even with men and women and less sports fans than mainstream fans.
The ratings were the usual pattern with the first hour being the highest, but losing very little in hour two. The third hour dropped 12 percent from the second hour, even with the five-way match for a spot in the Elimination Chamber and a strong Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus bout. But it was less of a drop than in prior weeks and most of the drop was viewers over 50 and teenage girls, as younger males peaked in hour three and 18-49 males only dipped slightly.
It appears the 3.0 million to 3.2 million level will be the range at least until the NBA playoffs, which is the next period that usually hits Raw hard.
The three hours were:
- 8 p.m. 3.28 million viewers
- 9 p.m. 3.22 million viewers
- 10 p.m. 2.84 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.