By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

WWE Raw on Monday, January 7, 2013 scored a 3.14 rating, up 40 percent from the holiday shows to end 2012. It was the highest rating in 19 weeks dating back to August 27.

The second biggest story was the third hour, which drew an average of 4.65 million viewers and increased 7.5 percent from the second hour. It was the most third-hour viewers since July 30 - the night after Raw 1,000 and official switch to three-hour Raws.

WWE benefited from strategic placement of C.M. Punk vs. Ryback right at the top of the third hour, which coincided with the BCS Title game hitting halftime. WWE also benefited from the BCS Title game being a blow-out, which kept people on Raw for The Rock's return at the very end of the third hour leading into a 15-minute over-run.

Hourly Break Down: 4.29 million first hour viewers (most 1H viewers since Oct. 29), 4.32 million second hour viewers vs. meat of BCS Title game, and 4.65 million third hour viewers.

On cable TV Monday night, Raw ranked #2 behind the BCS Title game's 26.3 million viewers, which was the second-biggest cable TV audience of all-time. Raw was #2 behind the BCS game and drew the best adult male ratings since Aug. 27 before the start of competition from fall season TV & Monday Night Football.

Caldwell's Analysis: A victory for WWE, who stacked the show with The Rock's TV return and Punk vs. Ryback to oppose the BCS Title game. Despite puzzlingly weak hype for next week's 20th Anniversary show, WWE should be able to sustain the rating next week. After that, though, it will be interesting to see where WWE settles in January and February prior to WM29 hype kicking into the next gear in March.

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