On November 15, 2024, AEW Rampage experienced a notable decline in viewership, coinciding with the highly publicized boxing match featuring Mike Tyson and Jake Paul streaming on Netflix. According to reports from Wrestlenomics, Rampage attracted just 186,000 viewers, which is significantly lower than the 237,000 viewers from the previous week. The show's rating fell to 0.06 among the key demographic of 18 to 49-year-olds, down from 0.07 the week prior.
This drop can be attributed to the intense competition from the boxing event, which peaked at approximately 60 million viewers during the Tyson vs. Paul bout. The competition didn't just impact AEW Rampage; it also affected WWE Smackdown’s ratings, demonstrating the widespread draw of the Netflix sports drama.
Despite the drop, AEW Rampage's numbers have shown some improvement compared to two weeks earlier, when the show scored 172,000 viewers and recorded a 0.05 rating. While it indicates some level of stabilizing viewership, the latest figures suggest the wrestling program is still struggling against larger draws like Netflix's sporting events.
Overall, AEW Rampage has been averaging about 307,000 viewers and holding onto a 0.101 demo rating for the year to date, which are lower than the same period last year, where it enjoyed 384,000 viewers and recorded a 0.118 demo rating. This decline reflects broader trends across the wrestling entertainment industry, as various shows vie for viewer attention amid increased competition.
The biggest talking point about the November 15 episode of Rampage involved matches featuring top talents like Ricochet and Dante Martin, which typically showcase energetic performances. These bouts continue to draw specific fan interest, particularly through platforms like YouTube, where highlights from the show attracted thousands of views for individual matches, signaling the complex relationship between live viewership and online engagement.
For example, one of the most viewed clips, showcasing Ricochet against Top Flight’s Dante Martin, logged over 82,000 views. Similarly, bouts featuring prominent AEW stars were consistently trending, emphasizing the importance of online platforms for building interest even when live ratings dip. This alignment of wrestling content with both live broadcasts and digital platforms indicates AEW's attempt to adapt to viewer preferences.
The current viewing trends raise questions about how traditional cable wrestling shows will adapt to the changing media consumption habits. With athletic spectacles like Tyson vs. Paul drawing immense audiences to platforms like Netflix, wrestling promotions might need to reevaluate their strategies to reclaim their share of the viewing pie.
Wrestling enthusiasts and industry experts alike will be watching closely to see how AEW navigates these challenges. How will they adjust to this new reality where streaming services can overshadow long-standing wrestling franchises? The correlation between significant events—like Tyson vs. Paul—and the ratings for AEW and WWE might reshape the wrestling entertainment narrative as key players refine their approaches to audience engagement.
This decline throws open discussions about the very nature of viewership today. Do fans prefer the convenience of streaming platforms and digital content over live attendance? Are major promotions like AEW and WWE equipped to evolve their formats to meet these new demands? The answers to these questions will determine the future of professional wrestling programming for years to come.
