The 1000th episode of WWE RAW was a ratings smash Monday, delivering the highest viewership totals in years and crushing all cable competition in the coveted adults 18-49 demographic.
Over the three hour broadcast, the episode averaged an impressive 2.3 adults 18-49 rating. Viewership clocked in at 6.02 million, which exceeds the typical average for a two hour telecast by more than one million.
Compared to all programming in primetime, it was third in the demo behind FOX’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and “MasterChef.”
Hours two and three, as expected, were particularly strong, both averaging a 2.4 rating and 6.3 million viewers. The fact that hour two exceeded hour three among total viewers (6.32 million to 6.30 million) is typically a negative reflection when it comes to fan interest, but given how many people were tuned in at 9PM, it is unwise to read too deeply into that trend. There was only so high the rating could realistically go.
WWE has no chance of matching this massive rating next week, but the hope is that enough viewers were hooked by CM Punk’s heel turn and AJ’s ascent to general manager to help next week’s show–the first “regular” three-hour telecast–perform at an admirable level.
