Raw Rating: Raw draws highest rating of the month, noteworthy hourly trend, perspective compared to last year (w/Keller’s Analysis)

Raw last night drew a 2.21 rating on USA Network, up from the 2.16 last week, and right in line with the 2017 average so far of 2.20. It’s above the ten week rolling average, which still includes the holiday weeks, of 2.16.

The dropoff from the first hour to the third hour was under half of the average going back four months. The dropoff was 132,000 compared to 278,000. That means Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte, Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn, and Braun Strowman vs. Big Show held the audience better than most content in Raw’s third hour lately.

A year ago, Raw drew a 2.73 rating, so they are still way off their 2016 numbers. The 2017 average for Raw so far is 2.20, down from a 2.54 average in 2016 this far into the year.

Keller’s Analysis: That’s a relatively non-newsworthy rating, although the holding of the audience as well as they did was the best in the data we received. I think WWE should consider trying to rebuild Show in a serious way to try to improve on his damaged character. He’s in great shape and is young enough still to be rebuilt into a special attraction, but they need to tell a story as dedicated to that goal as the push of Braun the last six months.