WWE NXT made a significant impact with its debut on The CW, drawing in its largest audience since October 2023. The October 1 episode, which marked the beginning of a new era for NXT on broadcast television, averaged 895,000 viewers, a 44% increase from the previous week's episode on USA Network.
The premiere was a stacked event held at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, and featured several high-profile appearances, including CM Punk as a special guest referee for the main event title match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams. Other notable appearances included WWE Superstars Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
Viewership and Ratings
The episode peaked at 965,000 total viewers from 8:15-8:30 p.m., making it the #1 telecast on The CW this year among adults 25-54 (406,000) and adults 18-49 (354,000). This performance was significantly higher than The CW's Tuesday primetime season average, with a 143% increase in total viewers.
In the key demographics, NXT drew a 0.26 rating in the P18-49 demo, which is the highest key demo rating for NXT in over three months, since June 18. This strong showing indicates a positive start for NXT on its new platform.
Market Performance
The CW affiliates in major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Detroit saw more than a 100% increase in total viewers compared to last Tuesday's primetime programming. This significant boost underscores the appeal of NXT to a broader audience on broadcast television.
The success of NXT's debut on The CW follows another recent high-profile event, the premiere of NASCAR Xfinity Series racing on September 20, indicating a growing trend of viewers turning to The CW for live sports and entertainment.
Five-Year Agreement and Future Events
In November 2023, The CW Network and WWE announced a five-year agreement to bring NXT to broadcast television for the first time. As part of this agreement, The CW will air 52 live weekly events throughout the season. NXT, launched by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, has been a platform for the brightest young talent in sports entertainment since 2012. Nearly 90% of the participants in last year's WrestleMania were developed under the NXT banner.
The next episode of NXT is scheduled for Tuesday, October 8, and will feature a special live event from St. Louis with a guest appearance by WWE Superstar Randy Orton.
With its strong debut, WWE NXT is poised to continue its success on The CW, attracting both longtime fans and new viewers to the world of sports entertainment.
