WWE’s “Netflix Era” began with a bang as Raw attracted its largest U.S. audience in over five years. While the debut episode on Netflix drew 5.9 million global viewers in its first week, the second episode experienced a predictable decrease. According to Netflix data, the January 13 episode of Raw ranked fourth on the weekly viewership chart, the same position as the Jan. 6 debut. By dividing the total hours viewed (8.2 million) by the runtime of the show (two hours and one minute), the second episode saw global viewership fall from 5.9 million to 3.7 million, marking a 37 percent decline week over week.
This drop was not unexpected, as wrestling shows, including WWE, historically experience significant viewership declines after their second episodes on new platforms. For instance, WWE SmackDown’s second episode on Fox in 2019 saw a 26 percent drop, whereas AEW Dynamite dropped by 28 percent on TNT the same year. Although Raw’s decline was steeper, it’s essential to remember that WWE launched its debut on Netflix with a WrestleMania-level card, featuring The Rock. Furthermore, the first episode faced minimal competition during its live airing, while the second was up against the Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings NFL Wild Card Round game.
Looking ahead to the third episode of Raw on Netflix, which aired live this past Monday and went up against the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between Ohio State and Notre Dame, it’s possible, if not likely, that Week 3 will experience an even greater drop before potentially rebounding. Regarding additional data on Raw’s Netflix performance, including domestic viewership, it will be up to WWE and/or the streaming service to disclose this information, as Nielsen is not currently tracking the show. Nonetheless, despite the decline in viewership, it’s promising that Raw maintained its fourth rank in Netflix’s standings, indicating a strong start for WWE’s partnership with the platform.
