WWE NXT Tops AEW Dynamite In Viewership And Key Demographic This Week

After last week’s tie, Week 12 of the Wednesday Night Wars saw WWE NXT top AEW Dynamite in viewership and the key demographic.

Wednesday’s NXT drew 795,000 viewers on the USA Network, beating the 683,000 viewers garnered by Dynamite on TNT by 16%, according to Showbuzz Daily.

This is the second-lowest AEW viewership since the show began airing back in October. The November 27 episode drew 663,000 viewers.

NXT opened with a strong commercial-free opener this week, which saw NXT Champion Adam Cole retain over Finn Balor, and closed just as strong as Rhea Ripley defeated Shayna Baszler in the main event to become the new NXT Women’s Champion.

NXT beat AEW in the prime 18-49 demo for the first time ever by 8%. AEW drew a 0.25 rating in the 18-49 demographic while NXT drew a 0.27 in the same demo this week. It was the lowest rating for Dynamite in the demo yet. Last week’s AEW episode drew a 0.28 in that demographic while NXT drew a 0.24.

AEW ranked #30 in the Cable Top 150 for the prime 18-49 demo, while NXT ranked slightly above it at #27. AEW ranked #43 in overall viewership, while NXT ranked #37 in viewership.

Last week’s Dynamite episode drew 778,000 viewers and ranked #11 in the Cable Top 150, and #34 in viewership. Last week’s NXT episode drew 778,000 viewers and ranked #21 in the Cable Top 150, and #34 in viewership.

CNN’s impeachment coverage at 9pm topped the night in the 18-49 demographic on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.77 rating, drawing 3.340 million viewers. Tucker Carlson Tonight on FOX News topped the night on cable in viewership with 5.032 million viewers, ranking at #5 on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.57 rating in the key demo. The cable news channels dominated the night due to the impeachment coverage.

The Masked Singer on FOX topped the night on network TV in the 18-49 demographic with a 2.2 rating, and in viewership with 8.359 million viewers.

Below is 2019 NXT Viewership Tracker:

September 18 Episode: 1.179 million viewers (one hour on the USA Network)
September 25 Episode: 1.006 million viewers (one hour on the USA Network)
October 2 Episode: 891,000 viewers (season premiere, both hours on the USA Network)
October 9 Episode: 790,000 viewers
October 16 Episode: 712,000 viewers
October 23 Episode: 698,000 viewers
October 30 Episode: 580,000 viewers with a 0.18 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 6 Episode: 813,000 viewers with a 0.30 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 13 Episode: 750,000 viewers with a 0.25 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 20 Episode: 916,000 viewers with a 0.30 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 27 Episode: 810,000 viewers with a 0.24 demographic in the 18-49 demographic (post-Survivor Series episode)
December 4 Episode: 845,000 viewers with a 0.29 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 11 Episode: 778,000 viewers with a 0.24 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 18 Episode: 795,000 viewers with a 0.27 demographic in the 18-49 demographi

Below is 2019 AEW Dynamite Viewership Tracker:

October 2 Episode: 1.409 million viewers (premiere episode)
October 9 Episode: 1.018 million viewers (on TNT, 122k on truTV)
October 16 Episode: 1.014 million viewers
October 23 Episode: 963,000 viewers
October 30 Episode: 789,000 viewers with a 0.33 rating in the 18-49 demographic
November 6 Episode: 822,000 viewers with a 0.35 rating in the 18-49 demographic
November 13 Episode: 957,000 viewers with a 0.43 rating in the 18-49 demographic (post-Full Gear episode)
November 20 Episode: 893,000 viewers with a 0.39 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 27 Episode: 663,000 viewers with a 0.26 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 4 Episode: 851,000 viewers with a 0.32 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 11 Episode: 778,000 viewers with a 0.28 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
December 18 Episode: 683,000 viewers with a 0.25 demographic in the 18-49 demographic

Source: Wrestling Inc.

John Cena Reportedly Wants To Have A Significant WrestleMania 36 Role

John Cena reportedly wants to have a big role at WrestleMania 36.

It was reported today, via @Wrestlevotes, that Cena wants to do “something substantial” at WrestleMania in April. Cena appeared at WrestleMania 35 earlier this year for a segment with Elias, but word now is that he wants to do more than just an appearance like that this year.

WrestleMania 36 takes place on April 5, 2020 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. It was noted that Cena lives within the Tampa area and it seems like this WrestleMania is important to him.

Cena has spent most of the year focusing on his acting career. He worked two multi-man matches back on RAW in January, but hasn’t wrestled since then.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Continued Speculation On Edge Wrestling For WWE Again

There continues to be internal talk about WWE Hall of Famer Edge wrestling for the company again.

We noted back in October how there was a lot of talk about Edge returning to the ring for WWE after he signed a new contract. Edge denied these reports after it was reported that he was in Pittsburgh for WWE business, which is where WWE’s Dr. Joseph Maroon is based. It was also reported that Edge talked with both WWE and AEW before signing a new WWE deal. PWInsider reports that Edge’s recent WWE contract has a “pretty nice upside” but there’s no word yet on how much the contract is for.

It was speculated by PWInsider that we will see Edge return to the ring soon for WrestleMania 36 season, perhaps beginning with a surprise appearance at the 2020 Royal Rumble. This has not been confirmed but it was also speculated that we will see The Rated R Superstar work a few matches on major events.

While Edge recently denied a ring return is in the works, PWInsider notes that the talk has persisted within WWE and that there continues to be chatter on how he is headed back to the ring.

Stay tuned for updates on Edge’s WWE future.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Announces Release Of Killer Kross

Impact Wrestling has released Killer Kross.

The company announced this afternoon that Kross has been released from the company.

Kross debuted with Impact in June 2018. It’s been reported that the two sides have been in contract talks for a while now as his deal was to expire this month, but Impact had the option to roll-over the contract for 1 more year. Kross wanted out of the deal at one point.

Kross is in a relationship with Scarlett Bordeaux, who recently signed with WWE. It was reported in September 2018 that Kross had interest from WWE, but there have been no updates on if there’s still interest from WWE or AEW.

Below is the full release announcement from the Impact website:

Killer Kross ReleasedIMPACT Wrestling has come to terms on the release of Kevin Kesar (Killer Kross).

As seen below, Kross posted a “Chapter Zero” teaser to his YouTube channel, which includes clips from various promotions, including AEW, WWE and NJPW.

https://twitter.com/realKILLERkross/status/1207419524628275200

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Sting Interested In Coming Out Of Retirement For A Match With The Undertaker At WrestleMania 36

WWE Hall of Famer Sting still has interest in a match with The Undertaker.

The 60 year old Stinger spoke with Sports Illustrated this week and said he’s still open to the idea of stepping in the ring one last time to go out on his terms. Sting announced his retirement in 2016 after a neck injury, but said he would accept one last booking if he had the chance to face the 54 year old Taker at WrestleMania 36 in April.

“If there was a Taker situation at WrestleMania, I would listen to that phone call,” Sting said. “I could get in condition and I could pull it off.”

Despite the interest in one more match on his terms, it was noted that Sting is aware that the match is unlikely to ever happen. Sting said he still thinks about the situation every year.

“I think my career is done,” Sting said. “I still think about the Taker situation every year, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Sting also commented on the success that RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch has had over the last year or so.

“Becky’s taken the women beyond where they’ve ever been,” Sting said. “To see her headlining WrestleMania, and the reactions that she and some of the other women are getting, it’s incredible.”

After decades in pro wrestling, Sting finally made his WWE debut at the 2014 Survivor Series pay-per-view. He said he still feels the goosebumps from that night. Sting commented on the support he’s received in the final part of his career.

“I’m more and more humbled by the people and their support as the years go by,” he said. “That’s always been the case, but it’s probably even more so now.”

AEW Dynamite Preview 12/18/19

Tonight’s episode (winter season finale) will air live from the AmericanBank Center Arena in Corpus Christi, Texas.

* Chris Jericho vs. Jungle Boy in a 10-minute non-title match

* The Lucha Brothers vs. “Hangman” Adam Page & Kenny Omega

* The Butcher & The Blade (w/The Bunny) vs. Cody & Darby Allin

* Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Kris Statlander in a No. 1 Contender’s match for the AEW Women’s Championship

* SCU (c) vs. The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championships

* Awesome Kong in action

WWE NXT Preview 12/18/19

The final live WWE NXT episode of 2019 will take place tonight from the NXT Arena at Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL.

  • NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. Finn Bálor kicks off NXT and will be presented commercial-free
  • Rhea Ripley gets her NXT Women’s Title Match with Shayna Baszler
  • What’s next for NXT Cruiserweight Champion Angel Garza?
  • Will NXT UK continue to impress ahead of Worlds Collide?

Wrestling Legend Tracy Smothers Reveals He’s Battling Cancer

Former Florida Championship Wrestling, Continental Wrestling Federation, WCW, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, USWA (Memphis Wrestling Territory) WWE and ECW star “The Wild-Eyed Southern Boy” Tracy Smothers posted yesterday on Facebook that on November 14 he was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer.

Smothers explained in his post that he’s on his third treatment of chemotherapy. He also wrote about how the doctor told him he had a heart attack a while ago without even realizing it.

He wrote, “To all concerned I was diagnosed Nov.14 w Lymphoma cancer which now am on my 3rd treatment 3 to go Of Chemo which is shrinking the rapid growing tumors. Doc told me yrs ago I have blockage in my artery so here we are an have lost 45 percent of my heart use. Also he said I have lots of head, body trauma. Doc said I had a heart attack some time back an didn’t know it. I have felt bad for a while now but thought I was getting old, lol. This is not fatal as it’s between my Pancreas, Colon, neck. A big TY to all of u but I look at it as getting a tune-up, overhaul, tires rotated, oil change,etc.all in one lol. Remember LIFE is a BATTLE an I’m in it to win it so don’t hesitate in trying to be tough by putting off getting checked out in this day an age u never know?? GOD BLESS EVERYBODY..”

Smothers also wrestled in NWA, Juggalo Championship Wrestling and recently has been wrestling for a independent promotion in Indiana – New Focus Wrestling.

Below is Smothers’ post:

Impact Wrestling Preview 12/17/19

Scheduled for tonight’s Impact on AXS TV:

* Ace Austin vs. Petey Williams

* Daga vs. TJP

* Tenille Dashwood vs. Jordynne Grace

* Joey Ryan vs. Ace Romero

* Rich Swann vs. Ethan Page

* Sami Callihan to expose the truth about Tessa Blanchard

AEW Dark Preview 12/17/19

The following matches were taped for tonight’s AEW Dark episode on YouTube:

* AEW World Tag Team Champions SCU vs. Private Party.

* Bea Priestley vs. Kris Statlander

* The Best Friends and Orange Cassidy vs. PAC, Jack Evans, and Angelico

* Vickie Guerrero will be the guest commentator