AEW Dynamite Sees Big Drop In Viewership From Last Week, WWE NXT Viewership Rises

Week 62 of the Wednesday Night War saw AEW Dynamite defeat WWE NXT in viewership and ratings. Wednesday's live episode of Dynamite drew 806,000 viewers on TNT, topping the 766,000 garnered by last night's live NXT on the USA Network by 5.2%, according to Nielsen via Showbuzz Daily. AEW ranked #3 in the Cable Top 150, while NXT ranked #34. AEW tied for #62 in viewership, with CNN's New Day at 7am, while NXT ranked #67 in viewership. Last week's Dynamite show drew 995,000 viewers and ranked #2 in the Cable Top 150, and #55 in viewership. Last week's post-WarGames edition of NXT drew 659,000 viewers and ranked #37 in the Cable Top 150, and #75 in viewership. AEW drew a 0.32 rating in the 18-49 demographic, beating the 0.19 scored by NXT in the same demo this week by 68%. Last week's AEW show drew a 0.45 rating while the NXT episode drew a 0.17 in that demographic. This week's AEW show was down 19% in total viewers from last week, but on the higher end of what the show was doing before the past two loaded episodes aired. AEW was down 29% in the 18-49 demographic rating this week, but again, it was on the higher end of what Dynamite was drawing before the past two loaded shows aired. This week's AEW show was up 18% from the same week in 2019, but that same week last year, the December 18 show, was their worst number of 2019 - 683,000 viewers with a 0.25 rating in the key demo. This week's NXT show drew the best number of total viewers since Halloween Havoc, which drew 876,000 viewers on October 28. NXT's 18-49 demographic rating for this week was the second-best since Halloween Havoc, behind the November 25 show that drew a 0.20 rating. This week's NXT was down 3.7% from the same week in 2019. The Challenge on MTV at 8pm topped the night in the 18-49 demographic on the Cable Top 150, with a 0.45 rating, but drawing just 839,000 viewers. Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC topped the night on cable in viewership with 3.593 million viewers, ranking #11 on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.26 rating in the key 18-49 demo.

WWE Raw Draws Lowest Viewership Ever, Upcoming Booking Said To Be "Reactionary"

The ratings for this past Monday's WWE Raw are in--- and they're the lowest ratings that Raw has ever had.

WWE Monday Night RAW averaged 1.527 million viewers, which is down 12% from last week’s 1.737 million viewers.

The report has made it clear that people weren't tuning out of the show halfway through, but rather they just weren't watching it at all.

WrestleVotes is reporting that WWE higher-ups (including Vince McMahon) are said to be very unhappy about this development, and are likely going to do some reactionary booking to attempt to gain people's attention again.

source:  WrestleVotes

WWE NXT India Brand To Launch Next Year

WWE NXT India brand is reportedly scheduled to launch in 2021.

The new NXT India TV series will air in the Indian market and is expected to begin filming in January, according to a new report from Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics and John Pollock of POST Wrestling.

There's no word yet on talent for the brand, but the plan as of several weeks ago was to feature an eight-man single elimination tournament for the new series. This was not confirmed, but the tournament could be to crown the first-ever NXT India Champion.

 new NXT India series is expected to air on linear TV in India, along with a digital window through the WWE Network.

WWE currently has a distribution deal with Sony Pictures Networks in India. A five-year renewal for that deal was announced in March of this year. The deal also includes Sony having the rights to the WWE Network for its audiences through SonyLIV, which is their own OTT (Over-The-Top) streaming platform.

NXT India will join the main NXT brand here in the United States, and the NXT UK brand based out of London, England.

Triple H And Stephanie McMahon Make List Of 2020's Most Influential Names In Sports

WWE's Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and WWE's Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development Paul "Triple H" Levesque have been named to Sports Business Journal's 2020 list of Most Influential Executives. SBJ presented a different take on their 17th annual list of the Most Influential names in sports business, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The list included 79 names who made an impact on sports business in 2020, from league commissioners and media executives, to union leaders and impactful athletes. The issue is available for purchase now. Triple H and Stephanie were the only pro wrestling-related names to make the list. The list included the following blurb for the husband & wife WWE power couple: "As other leagues suspended their seasons, WWE continued offering fresh content, starting with shifting 'SmackDown' to its Performance Center in Orlando on March 15. Under the guidance of Levesque and McMahon, WWE never missed a 'Raw,' 'NXT,' 'SmackDown' or pay-per-view event. And the ThunderDome concept for shows further demonstrated WWE's mastery of production, even on the fly."

Lemmy Kilmister Credited Triple H With Rejuvenating Motorhead

The friendship between Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister and WWE legend Triple H is one of metal’s greatest bromances, and it came from mutual respect. Triple H reached new heights in WWE after Lemmy Kilmister sang his entrance music, but the gravel-voiced frontman benefited even further, giving The Game credit for Motorhead’s career rejuvenation. Triple H recently appeared on Metal Injection’s Squared Circle Pit podcast to promote NXT TakeOver: War Games, which will air live Sunday, Dec. 6 on the WWE Network. During the chat, The Game spoke about a heart-to-heart he had with Lemmy before a Motorhead gig. “We were talking and [Lemmy] goes, ‘You’ve gotta look out there tonight. Wait until you see all the kids that are at our event. We didn’t have any of that before we started with you,’” Triple H recalls. “He said, ‘It used to be an old-timer event at our shows where it was all these old metalheads that had kinda aged out. All of a sudden, we’re like this cool, young band and we’ve got kids here and teenagers and young adults that are at our shows again. It’s been like a refresh for us.’ To me, there was no bigger compliment.” Triple H also revealed the music that WWE chairman Vince McMahon listens to, including his all-time favorite band AC/DC. “He’s sort of a classic rock kind of guy. AC/DC is the big thing for him,” the wrestler and NXT leader says. “The Stones, Bob Seger — those are the things that really resonate with him … He loves the music, but to him, it’s the experience. Kid Rock, ZZ Top — all that stuff where they can give you that performance as well. Not just the music, but the performance is big, too — he loves that.” Read More: Lemmy Kilmister Credited Triple H With Rejuvenating Motorhead | https://loudwire.com/lemmy-kilmister-triple-h-motorhead-career/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

Triple H On WWE Working With Other Promotions: ‘We’re Open For Business’

During a media call promoting NXT TakeOver: WarGames, Triple H was asked about by All Elite Wrestling partnering with IMPACT Wrestling and if WWE or NXT would be open to such a collaboration. Triple H says WWE is open for business as long as it makes sense for both sides.

“We’re open for business in a lot of ways and a lot of things,” Triple H responded. “People’s thoughts and misperceptions, their perceived knowledge of what we do and how we think is often greatly misinterpreted and not accurate. Are we open to the right business opportunities? Yeah, at any given time we’re open to things. It just depends on what they are and if they’re beneficial to us in the long-term. When I say long-term I don’t mean three months, I mean 10 years. Long-term .That’s how we think. We’re not necessarily worried about minute-by-minutes. Open for business, I think Vince says that a lot and I’ve been around him long enough that if it’s the right thing and meaningful to business, he’s open to anything.”

Wrestling Legend Dan Gable To Receive The Presidential Medal Of Freedom

The National Wrestling Hall Of Fame issued the following announcement, confirming Dan Gable will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on December 7 at the White House.

Gable was contacted on October 14 to inform him that he would be receiving the award, making him the first wrestler to receive the nation’s highest honor for a civilian. Other athletes who have been honored include Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Jesse Owens, Billie Jean King, Michael Jordan, and Babe Ruth.

“It’s an honor,” said Gable. I’ve received a lot of awards and have a lot of trophies, but this is the highest honor a civilian can receive. It’s really hard to wrap my head around that.”

Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded by the President of the United States to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

Past recipients have been movers and shakers in a range of fields, including public service, medicine, journalism, entertainment, and business. The impressive list of past honorees includes Steven Spielberg, Angela Merkel, Nancy Reagan, Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

“To get an award like this, it’s a lifetime achievement award, not only for what you did, but for what you continue to do,” said Gable.

The namesake of the Dan Gable Museum in his hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, Gable was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1980 and into the Dan Gable Museum’s Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa in the Charter Class of 2002. He is also a member of the World Wrestling Hall of Fame, the USA Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.

Gable was a three-time Iowa state high school champion for Waterloo West and a two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist for Iowa State. He had a combined record of 181-1 in his prep and college career, losing only in the 1970 NCAA finals. Gable won the Pan American Games and the world championships in 1971 and the Tblisi Tournament and the Olympics in 1972. He did not surrender a single point in his six matches at the Olympics and was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the Tblisi Tournament, considered by many to be the toughest tournament in the world.

After stepping off the mat, Gable became the most successful coach in NCAA history, coaching the University of Iowa from 1978 to 1997. He led the Hawkeyes to 21-straight Big Ten titles and 15 NCAA team championships, including a record nine in a row from 1978 to 1986. Gable coached 152 All-Americans, 46 national champions and 12 Olympians, who combined to win eight medals (four gold, one silver and three bronze).

Gable’s influence on professional wrestling is strong, including Chad Gable’s ring name being inspired by him, and Kurt Angle also citing him as an influence.

WWE Hall Of Famer Pat Patterson Passes Away

From WWE.com: WWE is saddened to learn that Pat Patterson has passed away at the age of 79. A true trailblazer of the industry, Patterson was linked to many "firsts" in sports-entertainment throughout his storied career, including the first-ever Intercontinental Title reign and the creation of the Royal Rumble Match. In a career spanning six decades, the renaissance man left an indelible mark on the industry in the ring, on the microphone and behind the scenes. Patterson began his career in 1958 in his native Canada before becoming a fixture in the Bay Area for nearly two decades. After winning the AWA Tag Team Championship with Ray Stevens in 1978, Patterson moved on to WWE. Under the tutelage of The Grand Wizard, Patterson made an immediate impact and became the first Intercontinental Champion in September 1979. Patterson's most legendary WWE rivalry was undoubtedly his war with Sgt. Slaughter, which captivated the WWE Universe with Boot Camp Matches and a brutal Alley Fight at Madison Square Garden. Shortly before his in-ring retirement in 1984, Patterson joined Mr. McMahon as a color commentator. Even after hanging up his boots, Patterson was far from finished reimagining the possibilities of the sports-entertainment industry. In 1988, Patterson brought one of the ring's most groundbreaking ideas to life by creating the original format for the Royal Rumble Match. Patterson returned to the ring during WWE's electric "Attitude Era," creating many memorable moments alongside Gerald Brisco as one of Mr. McMahon's hilarious "Stooges." Patterson even pinned Crash Holly to claim the Hardcore Title. For all his efforts, Pat Patterson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996 by Bret Hart. In his 25-plus years in WWE, Patterson was synonymous with making history. From the Intercontinental Title to the Royal Rumble Match and beyond, his name will forever be revered in WWE lore. This amazing legacy was captured in Patterson's 2016 autobiography, Accepted: How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE, a moving chronicle about his life both inside and out of the ring.

WWE Creative Update On Vince McMahon And Bruce Prichard

Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com revealed the following about WWE creative: "Creatively, everything flows through Prichard at the moment and his word has been described as 'very much the Gospel' for Vince McMahon, which as you might image, being in that position translates into a lot of frustration and heat towards Prichard among talents privately." Vince has been completely hands-on with is the sword entrance that WWE Champion Drew McIntyre has been doing recently. Triple H reportedly filled in for Prichard on this week's Raw and those backstage described the situatioas a "breath of fresh air" according to PWInsider.

WWE NXT Tops AEW Dynamite On Night Before Thanksgiving

Week 59 of the Wednesday Night War saw WWE NXT defeat AEW Dynamite in viewership, but not the ratings in the key demographic. The numbers are just now being released due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Wednesday's NXT averaged 712,000 viewers on the USA Network, edging out the 710,000 viewers garnered by AEW Dynamite by just 0.3%, according to Showbuzz Daily. AEW ranked #7 in the Cable Top 150 for the 18-49 demo, while NXT ranked #25. AEW ranked #64 in total viewership, while NXT ranked #63 in viewership. Last week's Dynamite show drew 850,000 viewers (-16% from last week) and ranked #7 in the Cable Top 150, and #60 in viewership. Last week's NXT episode drew 638,000 viewers (+11.6%) and ranked #56 in the Cable Top 150, and #74 in viewership. AEW drew a 0.26 rating in the 18-49 demographic (-30%) while NXT drew a 0.20 (+43%) in the same demo this week. Last week's AEW show drew a 0.37 rating while the NXT episode drew a 0.14 in that demographic. This was the second-best NXT viewership and 18-49 demographic rating since October, besides the Halloween Havoc special, which drew 876,000 viewers and a 0.25 rating in the key demo. NXT viewership was down 12% from the 2019 Thanksgiving Week episode.

Stephanie McMahon On ThunderDome Boosting TV Ratings, Challenges Faced By WWE Due To COVID-19

At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in March, three of the four major sporting leagues in the U.S. were temporarily shut down, The Masters was postponed, and nearly every sporting event across the world was put on hold. Even Hollywood production houses hit the pause button on all their projects. However, WWE didn't miss a beat and continued producing shows at its Performance Center [Capitol Wrestling Center] in Orlando, FL, where it hosted all three of its weekly TV shows [Raw, SmackDown, and NXT] before introducing ThunderDome at the Amway Center. Stephanie McMahon, the Chief Brand Officer of WWE, recently appeared on the 2020 Forbes CMO Summit Virtual Series and spoke of the challenges faced by WWE at the start of the pandemic. "For WWE, we never stopped producing our content, and that was a very difficult decision in and of itself," said Stephanie. "First and foremost, we had to ensure the health and safety of our talents, crew, and employees." She went onto talk about how WWE had no choice but to adapt to the new normal. "WrestleMania, for example, was supposed to be an event attended by 80,000 fans [at Raymond James Stadium] and instead became a two-day event at our Performance Center, which is essentially a warehouse where we develop and train our future stars. "It was a stark contrast to what WrestleMania normally is," she added. Stephanie emphasized that the pandemic era has made WWE realize just how crucial the fans are to its programming. "We continue to produce 7 hours of live programming every week, and produce content for a myriad of channels and platforms. And we never stopped. What we found [through this experience]] is that our fans mean everything. They bring the energy, the excitement, and the spectacle, and without them, the shows are just not the same." While touching upon WWE's ratings decline at the start of the empty arena era, Stephanie said WWE tried to bring in developmental talent to be a part of the audience but "that wasn't enough" to bring back the excitement to the live programming. "We had hoped to be back in the arenas during the fall but that wasn't to be," she revealed. "So, we decided to double down and invest in the ThunderDome. Today, we have 1,000 virtual fans every show and nearly 100,000 fans who have signed up for this experience." She continued, "These fans are live, they give us real-time reactions, and we see their faces. We also mix in additional audio, which we found very helpful. We bring that audio into the arena [besides piping in the noise for TV] because the performers need to hear the audience too, and feed off that crowd." Stephanie said ThunderDome has also enabled its production crew to explore technologies such as AR, Drones, Pyros, and Lasers in ways that "we had never been able to do before." She added, "Through ThunderDome, we have brought the spectacle back to WWE and have seen our ratings increase because of that." WWE will be moving its ThunderDome set to Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, FL, starting with the episode of SmackDown on Friday, December 11.

WWE And Omaze Are Offering Fans The Chance To Tour The WWE PC With The Undertaker

The Undertaker just had his Final Farewell at WWE Survivor Series, but WWE is offering fans the rare chance to step into the ring with “The Phenom” Through Omaze and a collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the winner of a sweepstakes will get get to meet “The Deadman”” himself. The experience includes a tour of the WWE Performance Center, led by The Undertaker, and a picture with him, too. Plus, the winner gets to make their own ring entrance, Here’s the announcement from the official website: “Hear that? It’s the Undertaker’s bell. And it tolls for YOU. The Undertaker is inviting you and a friend to join him at the WWE Performance Center for an unforgettable experience. You’ll tour the training center for the wrestling stars of tomorrow with the wrestling legend. Take some truly epic photos. And even step into the ring with The Undertaker—don’t worry, not for a Tombstone Piledriver—but to create your own custom ring entrance! Flights, hotel and autographed WWE title belt included.” Fans can enter the running until it ends on February 24, 2021. No donation is required, but fans who buy numerous entries can increase their chances of winning while donating to the cause. The winner will be announced on March 10, 2021.