Image: WWE
Raw held steady with 1.70 million viewers. but declined to a 0.52 rating in 18-49 for the go-home show for WrestleMania.
The number should be considered good by today’s standards, since the Baylor vs. Gonzaga NCAA men’s basketball final on CBS against the second half of Raw averaged 16.92 million viewers and drew a 4.12 rating in 18-49.
Raw was first on cable in 18-49, second on cable in women 18-49, first in men 18-49, first in 18-34, and first in both men and women 12-34. It was 10th in total viewers, trailing nine news shows.
As compared to last week, which went against the tournament but much lower viewed games, Raw’s audience was identical, but 18-49 was down seven percent and 18-34 was down 29 percent. WWE shows over the past week had been doing well above usual numbers in 18-34 but the basketball game was likely the reason for the drop.
Last year this week was the Raw after WrestleMania but with far lower production values in the Performance Center. The year-over-year decline was 19 percent in viewers, 26 percent in 18-49, and 34 percent in 18-34.
ESPN’s baseball game head-to-head did 483,000 viewers and drew a 0.12 in 18-49.
Raw’s first-to-third hour declines were mostly with women. There was a 21 percent drop in women 18-49, while men stayed even. There was a 31 percent drop in girls 12-17 and a 30 percent drop in boys 12-17, the latter unusually high, likely having to do with the basketball game, which didn’t start until 9:20 p.m. The idea that men 18-49 stayed steady in hour three is actually amazing. Over 50 only declined four percent, which was unusually small.
The three hours were:
8 p.m. 1.76 million viewers
9 p.m. 1.72 million viewers
10 p.m. 1.62 million viewers