NXT’s Heatwave special was the most-watched episode of the show this year and finished among the top five cable programs.
The August 16th special averaged 723,000 viewers and approximately 235,000 (0.18) in the 18-49 demographic, per Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics and Showbuzz Daily.
It was NXT’s highest viewership since the Halloween Havoc special last October and was the second-highest key demo audience of the year behind the June 21st taped edition of the show that slightly edged out this week’s program.
Compared with last week’s numbers, the overall viewership increased by 21 percent with the 18-49 audience up 38 percent, and adults 18-34 grew by 43 percent this week (it was the highest 18-34 audience since July 12th).
In the 18-49 demographic, female viewership was up significantly and their second highest figure among women 18-49 of the year behind the New Year’s Evil special in January.
NXT 2.0 also adults 35-49 increasing by 37.5 percent and adults 50+ were up by 18 percent.
In Canada, the show finished fifth among sports programming and averaged 43,400 viewers and 17,200 in the 25-54 demographic on Sportsnet 360. The show aired against the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles, which was the most-watched sports program on Tuesday.
Heatwave was headlined by Bron Breakker retaining the NXT championship against JD McDonagh and Mandy Rose beating Zoey Stark to keep the NXT women’s championship.
