WWE’s “Netflix Era” got off to a hot start, with Raw drawing its biggest U.S. audience in more than five years.
But while 5.9 million global viewers ultimately tuned in for Raw‘s debut episode on Netflix during its first week on the platform, the second episode saw a sizable — albeit expected — dip.
According to Netflix data, the Jan. 13 episode of Raw ranked fourth on its weekly viewership chart — just as it did for the Jan. 6 debut. Using its method of dividing total hours viewed (8.2 million) by the show’s runtime (two hours and one minute), the second episode of Raw on Netflix saw its global viewership drop from 5.9 million to 3.7 million — a 37 percent decline week over week.
All things considered, the drop was hardly surprising.
Throughout its history, pro wrestling shows — WWE and elsewhere — have typically experienced notable viewership drops following their second episodes on new platforms. As noted by WrestlingInc.com’s Eric Mutter, WWE SmackDown‘s second episode on Fox in 2019 dropped by 26 percent, while AEW Dynamite‘s second episode on TNT dropped by 28 percent in the same year.
While Raw‘s drop on Netflix was steeper than both of those, it’s worth noting that WWE loaded up its debut episode on the streamer with a WrestleMania-caliber card, including an appearance from The Rock. The first episode of Raw on Netflix also didn’t face much significant competition during its live broadcast, while the second episode went head-to-head against the Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings NFL Wild Card Round game.
Considering the third episode of Raw on Netflix, which aired live this past Monday, 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 see a larger drop before potentially rebounding.
As for additional data regarding Raw’s performance on Netflix — including domestic viewership — that will be up to the pro wrestling giant and/or the streamer to provide, as the show isn’t currently being tracked by Nielsen. But even with the viewership having dipped, it’s encouraging that Raw remained fourth in Netflix’s rankings, with all indications being that WWE’s partnership with its new platform has gotten off to a strong start.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.