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NXT got a rare total viewership victory over AEW by the slimmest of measurable margins this Wednesday night, drawing 1,000 more viewers (693,000 to 692,000). It also scored a ratings win – 0.57 to 0.53.
Viewership for AEW was up from the prior week (up 5,000 from 687,000). Viewership for NXT was up from the prior week by a wider margin (up 173,000 from 520,000).
The average NXT viewership this year is 689,000. AEW’s average viewership this year if 858,000.
AEW still beat NXT across the board in the key demographics and finished no. 32 in the cable top 50 among 18-49 year olds. NXT didn’t land in the top 50.
NXT headlined with a Johnny Gargano vs. Tomasso Ciampa and also a long-built-up six-woman ladder match to determine Charlotte’s first challenge. AEW headlined with Cody vs. Shawn Spears in a first-round tournament match for the TNT Championship Title.
Next week, NXT doesn’t have as strong of a line-up, while AEW is headlining with a heavily-promoted Jon Moxley vs. Jake Hager match for the AEW Title.
We’ll see if this continues. I am guessing NXT might have won since it was coming off Wrestlemania. But despite the ratings, AEW is putting on good shows considering the circumstances. Every match was solid and the Britt Baker Shida match was really good. The women’s division is not the strongest suit, but if you have more matches like that it can get better.
Yeah, I’m also thinking it was partly the Wrestlemania bump, plus NXT had a strong main event. I watched AEW. I thought Spears vs. Cody was good. I also could see how a lot of fans probably thought the winner was a foregone conclusion. The whole tournament seems heavily foreshadowed, which isn’t the wrong call. I think they’re going to need some more big draws until they reach Cody vs. Archer though to win the ratings.
Also, completely agree with your take on Shida vs. Baker. Baker has really come into her own as a heel. She’s a strong heel that’s helping to build some faces character-wise, while Shida really helped her in the ring. I feel like AEW is on the right track with the women. They just need to find a female face who is able to cut a promo and I think they’ll be fine.