3 Key Points:
- AEW Collision experienced a decrease in viewership despite the hype around Mercedes Mone’s debut.
- The match between Katsuyori Shibata and Bryan Danielson was a highlight, showing a peak in viewership figures.
- Competition from college basketball and dynamics within the show contributed to fluctuating audience numbers.
Despite the anticipation built from Mercedes Mone’s recent AEW debut, the latest episode of AEW Collision saw a drop in its audience, marking a challenging week for the promotion. According to Wrestlenomics, the episode attracted 393,000 viewers, witnessing an 8% decrease from the preceding week’s 427,000. Notably, these metrics also reflected in the 18-49 demographic, which fell by a similar margin.
Interestingly, the decrease in overall viewership did not mirror the performance seen during the Bryan Danielson vs. Katsuyori Shibata bout, which opened the show on a strong note. This match alone garnered 454,000 views in its initial quarter-hour, establishing it as the peak of the night for total viewership. It managed to maintain steady interest, concluding with 441,000 viewers and an even higher demographic rating of 0.14 by its end.
Post this high-intensity match, the viewership saw a series of fluctuations, dipping to its lowest at 338,000 viewers during one of the program’s segments. Yet, the closing moments of the episode, including the House of Black vs. Infantry match and an Adam Copeland promo, saw a resurgence in viewer interest, indicating a complex viewing pattern throughout the evening.
This analysis underscores a unique scenario for AEW Collision, where despite a notable decrease in viewership and a competitive sports landscape, specific segments—particularly the Shibata-Danielson match—outperformed expectations, revealing a nuanced understanding of audience engagement within professional wrestling programming.
