The world of professional wrestling is constantly evolving, and with WWE's recent shift to streaming platforms like Netflix, questions arise about its current popularity and viewership. Let's delve into the data and factors influencing WWE's standing in the entertainment landscape.
WWE Raw on Netflix: Initial Impressions and Data
WWE Raw's move to Netflix generated significant buzz, marked by extensive promotion and a premiere episode resembling a WWE pay-per-view event. The Athletic described the production as feeling "more like a premium live event (PLE)," designed to attract a broader audience. Celebrities in the audience and music star Travis Scott's appearance alongside Jey Uso amplified the spectacle.
Initial coverage, however, presented challenges in accurately assessing viewership. Netflix compared VideoAmp’s ratings for WWE Raw for all of 2024 to the viewership of the premiere episode. When Netflix says VideoAmp says that 2.6 million households watched the first episode in America, up from 1.2M in 2024…well, that doesn’t tell us much. Samba TV reported that 660,000 viewers watched the first episode live on Netflix, compared to 750,000 on cable TV in January 2024.
WWE Raw keeps making the Netflix charts due to its completed “views”, which is total hours watched divided by run-time. As one would expect, after a big opening, it’s come down to earth. Fair enough! Again, we’d expect a very hyped opening episode, that had lots of prominent placement on Netflix itself, to do strong numbers.
The global numbers for the first seven weeks reveal a drop-off after the hyped premiere. Here's the global numbers:
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Why WWE Raw On Netflix Didn't Work In 2025...
Global Viewership Data
Here’s the first seven weeks of global data, showing that the focus on the premiere episode left the wrong impression for most media consumers:
| Week | Global Viewership |
|---|---|
| 1 | High |
| 2-7 | Decreasing |
Comparing WWE to Its Past Popularity
From my perspective, I really don't think Pro Wrestling is in a "boom" period again, and I honestly don't think it ever will be. Both major companies have perfected the ability to maximize their revenue, but like others have mentioned, I don't think Pro Wrestling is anywhere near as popular as it was during the Hulkamania or Attitude Era.
Both companies have managed to turn huge profits because they have taken advantage of the decline of traditional television and the fact that there are so many different ways to consume entertainment now. The TV networks and streaming services are desperate for cheap content that will provide a guaranteed audience on a consistent basis. So of course, WWE and AEW used that to their advantage and leveraged themselves into TV and streaming deals which if we are being honest, they're probably being overpaid for.
Factors Influencing WWE's Current State
Several factors contribute to WWE's current position in the entertainment industry:
- Streaming Deals: The Netflix deal, along with other TV and streaming agreements, provides a consistent revenue stream.
- Maximizing Revenue: WWE has successfully capitalized on various revenue streams, including advertising, merchandising, and live event ticket prices.
- Evolution of the Product: Since Vince McMahon's departure, there have been noticeable improvements in the creative direction and presentation of WWE.
Between the NBC/Universal deal, managing to get their developmental territory a paying TV deal (even if it’s The CW) the massive Netflix deal, Saudi Arabia, ridiculous amounts of advertising, merchandising, and jacking up live event ticket prices, WWE have definitely managed to make themselves pretty much financially bulletproof.
Read also: Wrestling Career of Daniel Bryan
Changes Since Vince McMahon's Departure
Since Vince got run out of town the first time, I didn't immediately go running back, because I knew it would probably take a few months to get the Vince stink off the creative, and plus his lackeys were still there, like Kevin Dunn. When they finally got rid of Vince the last time in January 2024, I did the same thing...I decided to wait for a couple months, and then I checked WWE out again.
For me, I would say from around the time of the Royal Rumble 2024 onward, the creative direction in WWE definitely started to improve. I think what Triple H has done, is create a more relaxed atmosphere backstage and allowed the talent to develop naturally. I do believe the talent are also being given more input into their own creative.
What I can say, is that the product has changed in a variety of ways. Firstly, in my opinion the long overdue removal of Kevin Dunn definitely brought a change to the look of WWE TV and major events. Secondly, WWE actually appears to be listening to fans now. Guys like LA Knight and Jacob Fatu get big reactions, so they get pushed.
SmackDown Viewership Data
The TV ratings and viewership data are in for the Oct. 31 episode of WWE SmackDown on the USA Network. Per Programming Insider, SmackDown netted 993,000 viewers and drew a 0.20 rating in the 18-49 year old demographic. These numbers significantly dropped compared to last week’s 1.15 million and 0.29, respectively.
Despite the stiff competition and the numbers decline, SmackDown finished number one on cable for the night, so it was still a win for WWE in that regard.
Read also: A look at Ric Flair's last match
Here’s our running tracker of SmackDown results from the past year:
- Nov. 1, 2024 - 1.43 million viewers / .42 demo rating
- Nov. 8 - 1.53 / .47
- Nov. 15 - 1.23 / .32
- Nov. 22 - 1.58 / .46
- Nov. 29 - 1.34 / .40
- Dec. 6 - 1.49 /.44
- Dec. 13 - 1.53 / .47
- Dec. 20 - 1.33 / .37
- Dec. 27 - 1.44 / .41
- Jan. 3, 2025* - 1.53 / .45
- Jan. 10 - 1.44 / .40
- Jan. 17 - 1.40 / . 42
- Jan. 24 - 1.44 / .44
- Jan. 31 - 1.58 / .51
- Feb. 7 - 1.51 / .48
- Feb. 14 - 1.38 / .42
- Feb. 21 - 1.74 / .51
- Feb. 28 - 1.73 / .52
- March 7 - 1.74 / .52
- March 14 - 1.57 / .52
- March 21 - 1.46 / .39
- March 28 - 1.35 / .40
- April 4 - 1.58 / .47
- April 11 - 1.55 / .45
- April 18 - 1.74 / .55
- April 25 - 1.60 / .51
- May 2 - 1.41 / .37
- May 9 - 1.46 / .41
- May 16 - 1.29 / .36
- May 23 - 1.38 / .33
- May 30 - 1.38 / .34
- June 6 - 1.42 / .42
- June 13 - 1.40 / .38
- June 20 - 1.52 / .38
- June 27 - 1.45 / .41
- July 4** - 1.17 / .32
- July 11 - 1.40 / .37
- July 18 - 1.55 / .45
- July 25 - 1.71 / .48
- Aug. 1 - 1.54 / .46
- Aug. 8 - 1.56 / .48
- Aug. 15 - 1.43 / .35
- Aug. 22 - 1.26 / .35
- Aug. 29 - 1.15 / .28
- Sept. 5 - 1.59 / .51
- Sept. 12 - 1.32 / .37
- Sept. 19 - 1.34 / .37
- Sept. 26 - 1.24 / .35
- Oct. 3º - 1.03 / .23
- Oct. 10 - 1.03 / .22
- Oct. 17 - 1.18 / .28
- Oct. 24 - 1.15 / .29
- Oct. 31 - 0.993 / .20