SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The Wednesday Night Ratings battle stayed neck-and-neck last night (12/4) with AEW drawing 851,000 viewers and NXT drawing 845,000 viewers, a mere 6,000 difference in viewers.
In the key 18-49 demographic, AEW landed in the no. 8 spot and NXT in the no. 12 spot.
Last week, NXT beat AEW in the live-and-same-night viewership, but in the next three days, AEW virtually caught up. AEW gained 304,000 viewers for a total of 972,000 viewers, with NXT gaining 173,000 viewers for a total of 986,000.
So, the ratings battle almost couldn’t be closer at this point.
Among the male 18-49 demo, AEW drew a 0.41 compared to NXT’s 0.36, so AEW still has a lead but it’s not close to what it was in October.
The virtual catch-up is an understandable argument but I think it’s unnecessary. Its almost like a consolation prize or a participation trophy. I find it extremely hard to believe that WWE would be afforded this same “out”. The WWE Network numbers for NXT are never really brought up by anyone, who knows they could have been beating AEW this whole time if we add those. I just think it’s unfair, it is what it is. First night live viewership only should count. That’s the War.