The Young Bucks On The Ratings War: As Long As We Get A Demo Rating TNT Likes, They’ll Be Happy
Every Thursday, wrestling fans await the rating and viewership numbers for AEW Dynamite and NXT. And while fans anticipate the ratings and use the numbers for fuel in the Wednesday Night War, the wrestlers involved with both companies have often stated that they are rooting for everyone to do well.
The Young Bucks are the latest to show support for their friends in NXT, while also providing insight as to what they look for when the numbers come out on Thursdays.
“I try not to put too much stock into [the ratings] because we’re such a new, baby show, and if you look too closely to the minute-by-minute, it’s really hard to understand any type of pattern because we haven’t done it long enough. The perception online is that it is much bigger than what it really is. The most important thing for us is we want to have a great show and make our fans happy,” said Matt Jackson on ESPN West Palm. “Of course, we want to make the network happy and the most important thing for them is the all-important demo. As long as we feel we get the demo number they like, they’re gonna be happy. The big picture number of ‘oh, who won this week?’ I think that’s more fun for the people to play along with online. We’re more concerned about appeasing the network and having those high demo numbers so the advertisers want to come in and buy commercials.”
Matt continued, “The Wednesday Night War thing is fun for people and nostalgic but it’s more a thing for the fans. I just spent some time with one of my best friends, Adam Cole, and I certainly don’t feel like I’m at war with one of my best friends. I wish him the best. I hope they have a great show every week. The perception of a war is kinda silly, we’re all rooting for each other.”
AEW has performed very well in the “war,” winning the 18 to 49 demographic in 13 out of the 14 weeks the two shows have gone head-to-head. You can keep up with the week-to-week viewership numbers by clicking here.
On Wednesday, WarnerMedia extended AEW Dynamite through 2023 with plans to launch a second show.
If you use any of the quotes above, please give a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.