The return of CM Punk to a national wrestling promotion led to one of the largest audiences in AEW history with Rampage topping 1.1 million viewers on TNT.
CM Punk’s debut for AEW at the sold-out United Center in Chicago led to an average of 1,129,000 viewers watching the 60-minute program with 692,000 (0.53) in the 18-49 demographic, as first reported by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics.
It was an increase of 52.5 percent in total viewers and 74.7 percent in 18-49 compared to the debut of Rampage last week.
The demo rating beat every episode of Dynamite except for the premiere that did 0.68 in October 2019.
The overall viewership was the fourth highest in AEW history behind the premiere of Dynamite on October 2, 2019, the April 14th episode this year (the first-week NXT moved to Tuesday nights), and Fyter Fest Night 2 on July 21st last month with Jon Moxley vs. Lance Archer in a Texas Deathmatch.
Brandon Thurston added that the opening quarter-hour of Rampage averaged 1,341,000 viewers and 842,000 (0.65) in 18-49.
Dave Meltzer noted that in Chicago, the CM Punk segment did a 1.70 in 18-49, which is a staggering level.
