Early AEW Rampage Numbers Indicates Huge Spike In Viewership

The debut episode of AEW Rampage last August 13, which featured Christian Cage beating Kenny Omega to become the new IMPACT World Champion and AEW Women’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker retaining her AEW Women’s World Title against Red Velvet in the main event, was able to draw 740,000 viewers.

This past Friday’s First Dance special episode of AEW Rampage inside the United Center in Chicago saw the highly-anticipated and most-awaited AEW debut of former WWE Star “The Best In The World” CM Punk. Unlike the three matches previously advertised to take place on the show, CM Punk’s AEW debut was not heavily advertised nor was there a clear indication, but there were a number of teases and hints that Punk will be making his debut and fans who read wrestling news online had an idea that Punk will show up.

Dave Meltzer noted on an article he wrote for Sports Illustrated that early numbers for last Friday’s First Dance special episode of Rampage indicate that the TV ratings as well as the viewership numbers increased by 57% in people’s homes on the top ten TV market and 50% in the key 18-49 demo and if that number remains the same until the final ratings come out later today, then this past Friday’s Rampage will draw a total of 1.16 million viewers and a rating of 0.46 in the 18-49 key demo.

Meltzer then reported on a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio Program that in the Chicago market, last Friday’s episode of Rampage had a rating of 1.6 in the key 18-49 demographic during the first half hour of the show.