Wednesday nights settled into a predictable pattern for much of this year. The fight fans were the real winners, of course. But when it comes to TV numbers, AEW Dynamite was consistently on the higher list than WWE NXT for audience and ratings, even if the overall numbers weren’t as good as before the coronavirus blockades began in late of March.
However, that changed in the past two weeks. The NXT had larger audiences overnight and came closer in the leaderboards. It happened as the focus on competition has been revamped, with WWE counterprogramming AEW’s two-week Fyter Fest by bringing back the Great American Bash for NXT.
Now, we have some of the biggest stars that appeared on each show on July 1 claiming victory. Last Wednesday, NXT overtook Dynamite in viewers, but it still hasn’t caught up to AEW in key demographics. Something Chris Jericho was happy to explain to us:
Here’s a lesson on children’s television ratings. Last night @AEWrestling was NUMBER 6 in the demo of 18-49. For TV networks and advertisers it is the ONLY number that matters and we increased 31% in that area! So once again #AEWDynamite is the REAL winner in Wednesday night’s rating war! pic.twitter.com/JzZU5X779t
– Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) July 2, 2020
You are right, at least to the extent that someone in the television and advertising business has explained things to me. But NXT still had a lot of people 17 and under and 50 watching USA Network on Day 1. And according to the quarter-hour breakdown on the new Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Sasha Banks vs. Io Shirai had 33% more people watching them than Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, Best Friends, and eventually FTR & The Young Bucks, from 9:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
Dynamite Q8 – 645,000 spectators (64,000 less than Q7), 316,000 in 18-49 (17,000 less than Q7)
NXT Q8 – 900,000 spectators (118,000 more than Q7), 309,000 in 18-49 (49,000 more than Q7)
The Boss did not offer us mathematical or business advice. He didn’t even make direct reference to the numbers. But we know what he’s talking about …
We will let the experts figure this out.
I expect Keith Lee against Adam Cole and Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler to mix it up with Rey Fenix and Pentagon Jr. on Day 8 again.
