WWE NXT made a big splash in its first-ever broadcast television debut on The CW Network with 895,000 total viewers, up +44% compared to last week’s episode on cable TV. The telecast of WWE NXT aired from 8:00-10:00 p.m., generated a peak audience of 965,000 viewers from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m., and ranked as the #1 telecast of the year on The CW among adults 25-54 (406,000) and adults 18-49 (354,000).
Fans who watched the highly-anticipated premiere of WWE NXT on The CW were in for a real treat. The highlights of the show included Trick Williams regaining the NXT Championship, among many others, with special guest appearances by WWE Superstars CM Punk, Bianca Belair, and Jade Cargill.
The buzz around the premiere drove an incredible +143% in total viewers versus The CW’s Tuesday primetime season average and triple-digit increases in numerous major markets including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Detroit.
This is the second major victory for The CW in just two weeks and comes hot on the heels of another successful premiere: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing on September 20. The numbers are a good omen of a sharp pivot by the network, which lately has been drawing new viewers with live sports as a growing part of its roster.
The CW and WWE have announced a five-year deal that will place NXT wrestling on broadcast television for the first time in history. The CW will be the exclusive in-season home of NXT, airing 52 live events.
Since being relaunched in 2012 by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, NXT has been used as the breeding ground for the WWE’s next crop of talent. With nearly 90 percent of last year’s WrestleMania participants coming through the brand, NXT President, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels has continued to push the brand to reach a younger demographic and create the stars of the future.
The action continues next week on October 8 as WWE NXT makes its return to The CW, live from St. Louis, featuring WWE Superstar Randy Orton.
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