WWE's Stiff Competition From Trump-Hillary, NFL, Could Produce Lowest Raw Rating Ever
As WWE Raw continues to post historical ratings lowlights, viewership could bottom out to all-time levels on Monday, September 26. All-world polarizing figure Donald Trump is set make his one-on-one debate debut when he battles the similarly polarizing Hillary Clinton. The first presidential debate is expected to draw in the neighborhood of 100 million viewers.
Those are Super Bowl numbers.
In fact, the debate is expected to hurt the league that benefits most from the Super Bowl. Ad buyers are predicting Monday’s game between the Falcons and the Saints to draw 10 to 11 million viewers. This represents a 20% decline from last year’s average.
Since its return, the NFL—which has been faced with ratings woes of its own—has crippled Raw ratings. Though Monday Night Football’s rating of 8.1 for its season premiere was down from 2015, it caused Raw’s rating to dip even below Labor Day numbers, which are perennial low points for Raw’s viewership.
Now, with the biggest ratings draw in presidential candidate history set to verbally spar with the Clinton dynasty, it’s very possible that Monday’s Raw rating could be the lowest ever.
In recent years, Raw has been flirting aggressively with all-time lows in viewership. Raw’s 1.87 rating for the July 4 broadcast earlier this year drew a bottom-three rating in the history of over 1,200 shows. Raw has spent much of the new era catering to a hardcore audience by experimenting with a first-time world champion in Kevin Owens, and the freshly minted cruiserweight division. Even the brand split is a new experiment. At this time, WWE hardly has the firepower to compete with a juicy slate of programming.
Tell me if this sounds like a fair fight for viewership numbers: Kevin Owens or Donald Trump? Seth Rollins or Hillary Clinton? Brian Kendrick or Drew Brees? WWE cruiserweights or your Fantasy Football lineup?
Further hurting Raw’s ratings are new seasons of fall television staples such as The Big Bang Theory in addition to new series such as Kevin Can Wait, both of which brought in over 10 million viewers last week during their premieres. In the very mainstream world of fall television in 2016, WWE chose the wrong time to become a hipster.
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I'm hoping that this doesn't happen because I want the Brand Split to continue.
As WWE Raw continues to post historical ratings lowlights, viewership could bottom out to all-time levels on Monday, September 26. All-world polarizing figure Donald Trump is set make his one-on-one debate debut when he battles the similarly polarizing Hillary Clinton. The first presidential debate is expected to draw in the neighborhood of 100 million viewers.
Those are Super Bowl numbers.
In fact, the debate is expected to hurt the league that benefits most from the Super Bowl. Ad buyers are predicting Monday’s game between the Falcons and the Saints to draw 10 to 11 million viewers. This represents a 20% decline from last year’s average.
Since its return, the NFL—which has been faced with ratings woes of its own—has crippled Raw ratings. Though Monday Night Football’s rating of 8.1 for its season premiere was down from 2015, it caused Raw’s rating to dip even below Labor Day numbers, which are perennial low points for Raw’s viewership.
Now, with the biggest ratings draw in presidential candidate history set to verbally spar with the Clinton dynasty, it’s very possible that Monday’s Raw rating could be the lowest ever.
In recent years, Raw has been flirting aggressively with all-time lows in viewership. Raw’s 1.87 rating for the July 4 broadcast earlier this year drew a bottom-three rating in the history of over 1,200 shows. Raw has spent much of the new era catering to a hardcore audience by experimenting with a first-time world champion in Kevin Owens, and the freshly minted cruiserweight division. Even the brand split is a new experiment. At this time, WWE hardly has the firepower to compete with a juicy slate of programming.
Tell me if this sounds like a fair fight for viewership numbers: Kevin Owens or Donald Trump? Seth Rollins or Hillary Clinton? Brian Kendrick or Drew Brees? WWE cruiserweights or your Fantasy Football lineup?
Further hurting Raw’s ratings are new seasons of fall television staples such as The Big Bang Theory in addition to new series such as Kevin Can Wait, both of which brought in over 10 million viewers last week during their premieres. In the very mainstream world of fall television in 2016, WWE chose the wrong time to become a hipster.
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I'm hoping that this doesn't happen because I want the Brand Split to continue.
and embarrassing 
at the same time. Haven't had any alcohol in about 3 months. Probably going to drink while watching it.
