NXT struggled against major TV competition, seeing a decline in viewers and its key demographic rating
Summary
– Viewership dropped to 698,000, down from 799,000 last week
– The 18-49 rating fell from 0.19 to 0.15
– Preemptions in New York and Chicago hurt NXT’s reach
WWE NXT’s March 4, 2025 episode took a significant ratings hit as it aired head-to-head with the President’s address to Congress, which pulled over 36 million viewers across multiple networks. The episode recorded 698,000 viewers, down from 799,000 the prior week, while the key 18-49 demographic rating slid from 0.19 to 0.15
The impact of the Presidential address was expected, but preemptions in two of WWE’s strongest television markets—New York City and Chicago—worsened matters. Losing these audiences likely directly affected the decline, as those regions contribute heavily to NXT’s overall numbers. Despite the drop, NXT still outperformed its Tuesday night competition in some areas, particularly on digital platforms.
While ratings struggled, the episode itself featured notable developments. Shawn Spears defeated Tony D’Angelo to capture the NXT North American Championship, marking his WWE career’s first major title win. The Hardy Boyz made a rare appearance, drawing strong engagement online, while Sol Ruca and Zaria picked up a win over Chelsea Green and Piper Niven in a match that gained solid social media traction.
Despite the TV audience shrinking, WWE’s digital platforms showed continued strength. The Hardy Boyz’ segment led YouTube with 181,000 views, followed by Sol Ruca’s match with 96,000 and Trick Williams’ quick victory over Kale Dixon with 87,000. While these numbers don’t replace the loss in live viewers, they reinforce WWE’s growing digital footprint as more fans consume content outside traditional broadcasts.
NXT’s struggles on March 4 weren’t unique. The night’s TV landscape was dominated by non-entertainment programming, with cable news and network coverage drawing away casual viewers. Even AEW’s weekly programming has seen dips when faced with similar competition, showing this wasn’t just an NXT-specific issue.
The timing of the decline is particularly frustrating for WWE, as the episode was meant to build toward next week’s NXT Roadblock special. The show was promoted with major storyline advancements, but the Presidential address overshadowed those efforts. With Roadblock set to feature bigger matchups and no major political competition, a ratings rebound is likely next week.
