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January/February business numbers

3K views 29 replies 24 participants last post by  domotime2 
#1 ·
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Catching up on the business numbers for the past two months, we’ll start with January.

The Raw crew in January averaged 3,169 in average domestic house show attendance while the Smackdown crew averaged 3,695. Raw TV tapings averaged 7,760 and Smackdown TV tapings averaged 4,580. NXT Florida shows averaged 306 and NXT out of Florida shows averaged 1,498.

In January 2016, the house shows averaged 3,455, so they were almost identical, down 0.7 percent this year. Raw tapings averaged 9,250, or a drop of 16.1 percent this year. We don’t have Smackdown numbers for 2016. NXT Florida averaged 388 or a drop of 21.1 percent this year. NXT out of Florida shows averaged 1,558, or a drop of 3.9 percent this year.

Raw in January averaged a 2.19 rating and 3.22 million viewers. Smackdown in January averaged a 1.83 rating and 2.63 million viewers.

In 2016, Raw averaged a 2.53 rating and 3.62 million viewers, so ratings were down 13.4 percent and viewers were down 11.0 percent.

In 2016, Smackdown averaged a 1.84 rating and 2.64 million viewers, so the numbers were virtually identical but this year was a split brand and went live.

In February, the Raw crew averaged 3,450 in domestic house show attendance. The Smackdown crew averaged 4,498. For those keeping track, Raw was killing Smackdown in attendance until John Cena returned over Christmas, and since then, it’s been reversed. So the advantage of years of being the “A” show isn’t more powerful as a draw than Cena being back on television as the star of the brand. Raw TV tapings averaged 8,600. Smackdown TV tapings averaged 8,625. NXT Florida shows averaged 400 and NXT out of Florida shows averaged 1,400.

In February 2016, house shows averaged 4,600, so this year was down 11.4 percent. Raw tapings averaged 9,800, so this year was down 12.2 percent. Smackdown TV tapings averaged 7,300, so this year was up 18.2 percent (Cena almost never worked Smackdown tapings last year and in February he was advertised as the top star at every taping). NXT Florida shows averaged 288, so this year was up 38.9 percent. NXT out of Florida shows averaged 1,675, so this year was down 16.4 percent.

Raw averaged a 2.18 rating and 3.12 million viewers in February. Smackdown averaged a 1.83 rating and 2.66 million viewers.

In February 2016, Raw averaged a 2.56 rating and 3.62 million viewers, so this year’s ratings were down 14.8 percent and the audience was down 13.8 percent. Smackdown last year averaged a 1.77 rating and 2.49 million viewers, so this year was up 3.4 percent in ratings and 6.8 percent in viewers.
 
#3 ·
Yeah, pretty much. Hell, the first Smackdown Live that he returned to after Christmas, he had a dark match on the show after 205 Live and the majority of the audience stayed for it whereas other times at least a quarter or half the audience leaves during 205 Live. There were even reports that apparently several people left Smackdown last week after his and Nikki Bella's match, which was I think the second segment of the show.
 
#4 ·
Wait, Smackdown in February averaged a larger attendance than Raw? :lmao

Wow those are bad numbers. 11 percent viewership loss on the Road to Wrestlemania.
 
#5 ·
So, to this day, John Cena is still good for business? Wow! :CENA
 
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#9 ·
So Smackdown house shows > Raw house shows

Raw tapings > Smackdown tapings

Now I need to know how the house show circuit works specifically. What were the maximum seating numbers in each specific arena?

We can't just ignore details like that. Smackdown is not > Raw in ratings OR taping numbers. This is not black and white, more data is needed.
 
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#11 ·
Cena solidifying his status as the No.1 professional wrestler in the world once again. Funnily, this is after he has endured by far the weakest booked phase of his career since 2005 with multiple clean losses and lost feuds in the past year or so. #17? After seeing these numbers, Vince must be plotting the path for Cena #34.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Nah, he's plotting the path for Reigns #40. Vince has a long history of pushing guys who do not draw over guys who do, unless he is forced (with the threat of potential bankruptcy) not to do so. No such threat currently exists.

I'm sure the brand split will come to an end soon, and we'll only have 1 world title, which will undoubtedly be dominated by Roman.
 
#16 ·
So Cena is still the biggest draw in the company? Because Raw got Taker, Goldberg and Lesner plus more full time roster stars and Cena out draw them. If my assumption is right.
 
#20 ·
Exactly what I was thinking, those live attendance numbers across the board seem pretty bad. Those just seem like really, really low numbers. I know the wrestling business isn't what it used to be....But still. I wonder at what point these shows become not worth running if the attendance is that low.

I mean...7700 and 4500 respectively for Raw and SmackDown TV? And under 4k for the house shows? Just seems really, really low.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Without a frame of reference you can't say if they are good or bad.

That's the annual average over the last decade so January looks to be below average and February especially for Smackdown is well above average.

It's interesting though that Goldberg holds zero drawing ability any more because he appeared 3 times on Raw in January. We already knew his drawing power was dead looking at WCW attendance numbers in 2000-01 on the shows he appeared on

 
#21 ·
B...b...b...but WWE smarks tell me everything is great because reasons ...!
 
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#28 · (Edited)
What we learned:
- Cena is still a draw.
- SD Houseshows doing better than Raws Houseshows.
- Raw may have beaten SD in TV Tapings but since Cena came back its equal again.
- Roman doesnt draw and isnt near to a draw like Cena.
- They lost AGAIN viewers after 1 year and they are likely losing again till the ratings are under 2.0
- Smackdown is doing fine right now while Raw and NXT struggles a little bit.
- Part timers are saving Raw with their draw power. (beside of Lesnar,Goldberg,Cena & Taker nobody is a draw in the roster right now)
- The Product is shit.

Am i right? If not correct me.


Let compare these numbers with 2014, 2007 or 2001. shocking but the money is still coming...despite these shit numbers.
 
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