Opinion

Bonnette: Don’t panic!

So three weeks in, what’s the deal with the ratings newzzz!!!

Published

6 years ago

October 21, 2019

Rob Bonnette

So three weeks in, what’s the deal with the ratings newzzz!!!

The first week they did 1.409 million, then fell to 1.14 million in week two and to 1.014 million in week three. That’s a 28 percent drop in two weeks, which has caused some people to get worried. After all it was largely thought by some of AEW’s biggest supporters that the opposite would happen, that once the show started and people got to see this new company that was going to push the business forward from the perceived (and in some instances real) stagnation that had taken place with the WWE as the only major player on the board. But that hasn’t happened and instead they’ve been treated by viewers the way they do most other TV shows with numbers dropping from their debut episode. And now the first signs of panic have come in the form of an article on PWInsider explaining just how people need to go about watching in order to get the ratings back up.

As someone who has had no shortage of criticism towards AEW let me say…….relax. As the boss here Greg Demarco, I and several others have pointed out, they are in absolutely no danger of losing their TV slot. To reiterate a point that’s been made by all of us, TNT did not have a single show in the top 150 on Wednesday night before AEW debuted. This week AEW was fifth in the ratings, after being eighth last week and second the week before. Trust me, they are fine. As long as they stay in that 150 TNT will be happy. For some further context the portion of the simulcast from week two on TruTV that got 122,000 viewers finished in the top 150 on it’s own, so they’d have to fall below that to even be in danger. Just like with Raw and SmackDown, it’s way too early to start firing off the doom and gloom tweets and think pieces. Like years too early.

A few things to keep in mind when you read those ratings reports…..

Don’t read them on a wrestling website

At least 90 percent of the ratings talk on the internet is garbage. Go to a website that talks about television and puts things in proper context instead. Winning the demo is more important that the total audience number, for example, and being on opposite major sporting events or a huge news story is always going to take a bite out of your numbers. Anyone that doesn’t share that in their assessment and only focuses on the total audience number is being extremely disingenuous with you so don’t give them the clicks or shares they desire. If it’s a twitter account that you feel you have to address then respond directly and don’t RT them to give them more reach or potential followers, which is what they want.

Rating don’t equal viewership

The Nielsen ratings don’t tell us anything close to what they used to. They are a measure of how many people are watching a particular show during it’s first run on television during it’s official time slot on broadcast television. That’s it. They don’t count people who DVR and watch it later (there is a category for that but they don’t count for our purposes here), or watch it on Hulu, or stream it, or pirate it, or who watch the clips on YouTube, or in the case of WWE programming who watch it on the Network later. In the case of AEW there is a replay that airs right after the first run that doesn’t count towards the live number either (and it would be wrong to try and add that audience in because a lot of them are people who watched the first run just like with Nitro back in the day, or fell asleep with the channel on, etc.).

And for comparison’s sake the same logic applies to NXT in that that it’s on the WWE Network 24 hours later, people DVR it and watch it after they watch watch Dynamite live, etc. A lot of us have been making this argument for years in regards to Raw and SmackDown to deaf ears, so maybe now that there’s an entity whose success you are invested in it will take hold. The overnight ratings are a measure of who is watching a show during it’s live timeslot on the broadcast channel itself. That is all and nothing more. And yes that matters to advertisers but to the networks the main things are whether or not a show is profitable, does it reach a particular audience that’s good for the network, and is it doing better than anything else they could put there.

Ratings don’t equal quality

The Wire is considered in a lot of circles to be one of the best television shows ever created. It also had a really low viewership and would have been canceled in its first season had it not been on HBO, a network devoted to prestige television. On the other hand Love and Hip Hop, Basketball Wives, etc are among the highest rated shows on cable every week. The NFL Pro Bowl, maybe the worst professional football that makes it on TV, gets a bigger audience than the NBA playoffs which most observers say is the best basketball out there. If you’re of the belief that AEW’s Dynamite is better than Raw, SmackDown, or NXT and consequently should be on the road to out rating all of them then I imagine you’re somewhat perplexed at the downward trend. But you shouldn’t be, because that’s just how these things go.

There’s no objective way to judge quality anyway. Some people like certain shows because they’re trashy, after all. So do not despair because the total audience numbers do not reflect what the people who watch the show actually think of the show itself. The first to second week drop was to be expected as some people who made it a point to tune in for the premiere either didn’t stick around or switched up their viewing time to the replay or on DVR, and the second to third week drop wasn’t anything horrible. As the NBA season gets underway both AEW and NXT will likely lose some of it’s total audience and demo numbers, so if a big hit comes over the next couple week you should just shrug that off, too. That’s going to happen no matter how good either or both shows are just like how Raw loses viewers during football season to Monday Night Football and during April and May to the NCAA championship and NBA playoffs. And as you should not attribute those losses to the quality of WWE’s Monday night programming (although lots of you do), you shouldn’t treat any lost viewers on Wednesday nights as if AEW or NXT is failing to meet some standards of it’s intended audience.

So in closing…..just let it go. They’re not in trouble. You’ll know that’s a problem if the replay gets cancelled or they get cut from two hours to one or get moved to Saturday or something, which for the foreseeable future has zero chance of happening. As far as getting more people to watch, that’s on the guys who run the company and not you. If you’re enjoying it keep watching it and if anyone asks you about it talk it up. But do not seek validation of what you like in the viewing habits of other people because that’s just a losing battle. The idea that if it’s good enough they’ll come is misguided; the reality is that they’ll come if they’re convinced to come and nothing more, no matter how good you and your contemporaries think it is.

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Related Topics:AEW Featured Featured Big NXT Ratings

Up Next

Andrew’s Top 5 Matches: Week Ending 10/20/2019

Don't Miss

Cook’s Top 5: Barbed Wire Weapons

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We all enjoy Pro Wrestling so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY – 4 Corners Podcast (sports)

WEDNESDAY – The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY – POD is WAR (Los Tres Friends)

FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network
Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts… Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Listen on your favorite platform!

iTunes | iHeart Radio | Google Play | Spotify
Listen, like, subscribe, and share!

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1