WWE Raw has been a staple on Monday nights for the last 22 (yes, 22!) years. But this past Monday’s edition of Raw sunk to depth that WWE hasn’t seen in years. The show drew only 3.46 million viewers, the second-lowest viewership for a non-holiday edition of Raw since 1997. The only lower episode went up against a Giants-Redskins game in December of 2012, which drew over 16 million viewers for RGIII’s MNF debut.

Furthermore, as noted by the Wrestling Observer, there weren’t even any major sports games going head to head with Raw. Monday Night Baseball drew 669,000 viewers on ESPN for Rangers-Orioles. Nothing on broadcast TV, highlighted by a trio of reality shows, drew more than 7 million viewers on Monday night. Raw didn’t even win the 18-49 demo on cable, falling behind Love & Hip Hop Atlanta and holding even with Street Outlaws, the Love & Hip Hop post-show, and an 11:30 Family Guy rerun on Adult Swim.

While this low point is probably just a blip on the radar, especially considering that Raw had its most-viewed episode in three years back in April, I think pro wrestling is one of those few live events that’s adversely affected by DVR viewing. Fans aren’t just skipping the commercials – they’re skipping segments with characters they don’t like. Don’t want to watch a rambling 15 minute promo to start the show every week? DVR the show and just skip that promo. Don’t care about recap segments from something you just watched? Go ahead and click that fast forward button.

You could probably cut that three hour Raw down to under one hour if you skip all the filler by watching on DVR, and that’s something networks were probably well-aware of when they balked at giving WWE the mammoth new TV contract they sought last spring.

[Wrestling Observer]

About Joe Lucia

I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.

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