WWE Issues Statement, Shawn Michaels Posts Reaction To Biggest NXT Rating In A Year For CW Debut

WWE is happy with the ratings and viewership for the NXT on CW debut episode from Tuesday night, October 1, 2024 at AllState Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

As noted, the NXT on CW debut show drew 895,000 viewers on 10/1, marking a significant increase of 44.4 percent, or 275,000 more viewers, compared to the NXT on USA series finale last Tuesday night, September 24, 2024, from the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando, Florida, which pulled in 620,000 viewers.

Shortly after the ratings information for the WWE NXT debut show on The CW Network surfaced on Wednesday, WWE issued a statement, and the head of NXT behind-the-scenes, the WWE Senior VP of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels surfaced on social media to comment.

WWE.com released the following:

The CW Network delivers largest audience for WWE NXT in a year

BURBANK, CA (OCTOBER 2, 2024) – Last night’s WWE NXT broadcast television debut The CW Network delivered the largest audience for the weekly program since October 2023, with 895,000 Total Viewers, up +44% compared to last week’s episode on cable TV. The premiere peaked at 965,000 total viewers from 8:15-8:30 p.m. and was the #1 telecast on The CW this year among adults 25-54 (406,000) and adults 18-49 (354,000).

Fans following WWE NXT’s move to The CW saw Trick Williams regain the NXT Championship and featured guest appearances by WWE Superstars CM Punk, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. The episode fueled triple digit increases compared to The CW’s Tuesday primetime season average, up +143% in total viewers, and delivered triple digit increases in total viewers for major markets including New York (WPIX-TV), Los Angeles (KTLA-TV), Dallas (KDAF-TV) and Detroit (WKBD-TV) versus last Tuesday’s primetime programming.

Close on the heels of The CW’s premiere of NASCAR Xfinity Series racing September 20, WWE NXT’s successful debut on The CW marks the second impressive premiere in as many weeks for The CW, again Demonstrating that viewers are increasingly turning into The CW for live sports.

In November 2023, The CW Network and WWE announced a five-year agreement to bring NXT wrestling to broadcast television for the first time ever. As the exclusive home of NXT, The CW will air 52 live weekly events throughout the season. Launched by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, NXT has aired weekly since 2012 and features the brightest young talent in sports entertainment. Nearly 90 percent of the participants in last year’s WrestleMania were developed under the NXT banner. Led by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, NXT is extremely popular with younger audiences.

WWE NXT continues next Tuesday, October 8 (8:00-10:00pm ET/PT) on The CW with a special live event from St. Louis featuring a guest appearance by WWE Superstar Randy Orton.

Additionally, WWE Hall of Fame legend and lead executive behind-the-scenes for NXT, Shawn Michaels, wrote the following via his official X account:

“895,000 viewers tuned in to the NXT debut on The CW – our best numbers in a year. Great start. See you next week live from St. Louis!”

WWE NXT airs every Tuesday night at 8/7c on The CW Network.

895,000 viewers tuned in to the NXT debut on The CW – our best numbers in a year. Great start. See you next week live from St. Louis!

— Shawn Michaels (@ShawnMichaels) October 2, 2024

Last night’s #WWENXT debut on @TheCW Network delivered the largest audience for the weekly program since October 2023!

MORE INFO: https://t.co/uUpGDbbqWj pic.twitter.com/49wIUAOXNM

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) October 2, 2024