In January, Randy Orton dominated WWE YouTube viewership with multiple appearances in the month’s most popular videos, according to Wrestlenomics and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Orton’s attack on Drew McIntyre was the fourth most-watched clip, while his involvement in the tag team match alongside Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, and Jey Uso against the Vision ranked third. His official return to WWE, taking on Miz, was also among the top ten.
Finn Balor’s Belfast Appearances Draw Strong Interest
Finn Balor made a significant impression in the same rankings, featuring three times with segments from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Although Balor hails from Bray in the Republic of Ireland, the Belfast crowd showed solid support, traveling from afar to witness his performances up close. One notable moment was Balor leading fans in singing happy birthday to his mother during the event.
Royal Rumble Videos Dominate Overall Viewing Numbers
The most-watched WWE content on YouTube for the month was dominated by the Royal Rumble event, including the full men’s match and a highlight reel. These videos accumulated several million views, potentially boosted by the Royal Rumble airing primarily on the ESPN app, where streaming options may be limited for some fans. WWE analyst Dave Meltzer pointed out that the women’s Royal Rumble received less than one-sixth of the uptake compared to the men’s event, speculating that the mandated full-body suits in Saudi Arabia could have impacted viewer interest. A comparative analysis next year may provide better insights.
January’s Top 15 WWE YouTube Videos by View Count
1. Royal Rumble full men’s match – 3.85 million views
2. Royal Rumble highlight package – 2.36 million views
3. Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre Three Stages of Hell match – 1.37 million views
4. Randy Orton attacks Drew McIntyre (1/16 SmackDown) – 1.33 million views
5. Rhodes, Orton, Sami Zayn & Jey Uso vs. Breakker, Reed, Paul & Theory (1/30 SmackDown) – 1.26 million views
6. Finn Balor interview in Belfast – 1.19 million views
7. Breakker suspended by Pearce – 1.00 million views
8. Randy Orton returns to confront Miz – 915,000 views
9. CM Punk vs. Breakker highlights – 876,000 views
10. Randy Orton and Williams promo – 831,000 views
11. Title change: Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes finish – 806,000 views
12. Women’s Royal Rumble – 979,000 views
13. Rey Mysterio saves Grande American from Omos (AAA 1/17) – 795,000 views
14. Finn Balor’s Belfast ring entrance – 786,000 views
15. CM Punk offers Finn Balor a title opportunity in Belfast – 784,000 views
