WWE touts Smackdown, Raw, and NXT viewership gains in key demo heading into WrestleMania XL

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE issued the following press release on Monday.

STAMFORD, Conn., April 1, 2024 – WWE’s flagship weekly programming, SmackDown, Raw and NXT, continues to deliver viewership gains among the key P18-49 advertising demo ahead of WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania XL in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.

Friday Night SmackDown on FOX

• In Q1 2024, SmackDown is averaging 892K total viewers among P18-49, up 15 percent versus the year prior.
• SmackDown has ranked No. 1 among P18-49 audiences across all total day Friday broadcasts for 11 of the first 12 weeks of the quarter.
• Feb. 16 episode of SmackDown scored 985K viewers among P18-49, making it the most-viewed broadcast program in primetime for the entire week of Feb. 12.

Monday Night Raw on USA Network

• In Q1 2024, Raw averaged 733K total viewers among P18-49, up six percent versus the year prior.
• Raw ranked No. 1 among P18-49 audiences on Monday cable for nine of the 13 weeks of the quarter.
• The unexpected return of Pat McAfee to the commentator table during the Jan. 29 episode delivered 811K total viewers among P18-49 – up 13 percent versus the week prior – and easily ranked No. 1 on cable.

NXT on USA Network

• In Q1 2024, NXT was up 31 percent among P18-49 versus the year prior.

“These ratings are a testament to our creative team, production crew and all of the WWE Superstars that work together week in and week out to produce these impressive results,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

All three shows are headed to new platforms in the U.S. over the next year. In October 2024, SmackDown will move to USA Network and NXT will make its broadcast debut on CW. In January 2025, Raw will make its groundbreaking debut on Netflix.

WrestleMania XL is available to stream in the U.S. exclusively on Peacock.

Powell’s POV: WWE has definitely produced strong television on Raw and Smackdown heading into WrestleMania. The NXT show has been more hit or miss in my opinion, but I have enjoyed the show more as we get closer to the Stand & Deliver event.