{"id":102227,"date":"2022-10-20T00:20:56","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T00:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/dynamite-nxts-oct-18-ratings-are-in-and-theres-a-lot-to-unpack\/"},"modified":"2022-10-20T00:20:56","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T00:20:56","slug":"dynamite-nxts-oct-18-ratings-are-in-and-theres-a-lot-to-unpack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/dynamite-nxts-oct-18-ratings-are-in-and-theres-a-lot-to-unpack\/","title":{"rendered":"Dynamite & NXT’s Oct. 18 ratings are in, and there’s a lot to unpack"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For the first time in more than a year, AEW dynamite<\/em> and WWE NXT went head-to-head on Oct. 18.<\/p>\n

The two shows were counter-programming for the first year-and-a-half of AEW’s existence, with dynamite<\/em> routinely outpacing WWE’s third brand, prompting a move to Tuesdays for NXT. With the Major League Baseball American League Championship Series airing on TBS tonight, dynamite<\/em> was moved to Tuesday this week. For one night, the \u201cWar\u201d was back on.<\/p>\n

A lot has changed since April 8, 2021, when the Wednesday Night War ended with a split decision. So who won the Tuesday Night Tussle?<\/p>\n

Based on the numbers alone (via Showbuzz Daily), dynamite<\/em> added another win to their record. AEW finished eighth among cable originals with an audience of 752,000 and a .26 rating among 18-49 year olds. NXT finished 12th with 676,000 viewers and a .18 in the demo.<\/p>\n

In relation to other shows and their recent track records, however \u2014 there’s a lot to consider. <\/p>\n

Both shows were facing tough competition from the start of the MLB National League Championship Series (Philadelphia’s win over San Diego had an audience of 4.1 million with a 1.00 rating on FS1) and the start of the National Basketball Association season (TNT’s doubleheader took the top two spots on the cable charts, with the Boston\/Philadelphia game that aired opposite the two wrestling shows finishing second with 2.98 million viewers and a 1.24 in 18-49).<\/p>\n

dynamite<\/em> had a great lead-in from the New York Yankees series-clinching win in the second round of the baseball playoffs. That game on TBS was watched by 4.95 million and scored a 1.20 in the demo. But it was also off its normal night, and it added up to the show’s worst numbers since a year ago when it was bumped to Saturday by hockey and went against a replay of that week’s SmackDown.<\/em> Yet it still outperformed everything that wasn’t related to baseball or basketball on cable last night.<\/p>\n

NXT was loaded up with main roster talent, and putting the final touches on the build to Halloween Havoc<\/em> PLE. It resulted in their best rating since 2021’s Halloween Havoc (then a special episode that aired in NXT’s usual spot on USA’s schedule).<\/p>\n

Expect everyone to claim some kind of victory here. At least until the quarter-hour breakdowns come out and give folks something else to argue about.<\/p>\n

Here’s a breakdown of AEW viewership and rating in the 18-49 demo over the last year:<\/strong><\/p>\n