WWE Raw numbers fall against the NBA, lowest 18-49 since March 7 [Updated]

Photo Courtesy: WWE

With the NBA playoffs in full swing, WWE Raw was hit with a loss of viewership as the show hits its lowest mark since January.

The April 18th edition of the show from Buffalo averaged 1,647,000 viewers and approximately 615,000 (0.47) in 18-49, according to Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics.

UPDATE:

Showbuzz Daily has posted its chart.

The show finished third among cable originals only behind TNT’s two NBA playoff games.

The Denver vs. Golden State game was first with 3,216,000 viewers and 1.08 in 18-49, which began at 10:05 p.m. ET followed by the earlier game between Toronto and Philadelphia did 2,738,000 and 0.96 respectively. There was also a playoff game on NBA TV between Utah and Dallas that finished #15 with 514,000 and 0.21.

Raw began with 1,804,000 viewers and 0.50 in 18-49 and then dropped to 1,685,000 and 0.48 in the second hour and had another drop in the final hour with 1,456,000 and 0.44 in 18-49.

The third hour was tied for the lowest hour of Raw for 2022 with the final hour of the January 17th edition of the show. The last time the final hour of Raw was lower was November 15, 2021.

It was Raw’s lowest overall viewership for an episode on USA Network since January 17th and the lowest 18-49 audience since March 7th.

Compared with last week’s numbers, overall viewership dropped nine percent while 18-49 fell 13 percent and 18-34 dropped by 15.5 percent.

Throughout the show, the overall viewership fell by 19 percent while 18-49 dropped 12 percent and 18-34 declined 22 percent from the first to the third hour. The audience that held up strongest was females 18-49, which only fell by six percent throughout the show.

In Canada, the show averaged 270,800 viewers and 118,500 in the 25-54 demographic on Sportsnet 360. It was fourth among sports programming in Canada on Monday behind the Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers and two NHL games.

Throughout the week, they advertised a double wedding segment as well as a lie detector test involving Kevin Owens and Ezekiel, a United States championship match, and a women’s tag title match for the episode.

Next Monday’s show takes place from Knoxville, Tennessee with Bianca Belair defending the women’s title against Sonya Deville in the champion’s hometown.

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Born on a Friday, John Pollock is a reporter, editor & podcaster at POST Wrestling. He runs and owns POST Wrestling alongside Wai Ting.