A recent change in TV ratings measurement by Nielsen has caused a sharp decline in reported viewership for WWE NXT, leading to confusion among fans and analysts over the show‘s actual performance. The updated system, called Big Data + Panel, has so far consistently produced lower ratings for wrestling programs compared to the previous panel-only method.
Impact of New Ratings System on WWE NXT’s Audience Figures
On Tuesday night, WWE NXT attracted 572,000 viewers on The CW network, reflecting a 19.1 percent drop from the previous week’s reported numbers when measured by the new system. This marks NXT’s lowest audience figure since August 6, 2024. In the key 18-49 demographic, the show received a 0.10 rating, which is down 41.2 percent from last week and ties for the second-lowest rating ever recorded in this category.
By comparison, under Nielsen’s former method, the same Tuesday episode would have achieved a 0.16 rating in the demographic — a decline from the prior week but far less severe than indicated by the new data.
External Factors and Challenges Affecting Viewership
The Tuesday broadcast coincided with a highly viewed Major League Baseball playoff game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, which may have drawn viewers away from WWE NXT. This competition likely contributed to the lower audience engagement, compounding the effects of the measurement change.
Complications in Year-Over-Year and Weekly Comparisons
The introduction of the Big Data + Panel tracking complicates comparisons to previous years or the typical 10-week viewership average, as the new methodology alters the baseline measurement. Analysts expect that more reliable trend data will emerge only after several months of consistent reporting with the updated system, allowing clearer insights into WWE NXT’s ratings trajectory moving forward.
