Raw on Monday started lower than last week, but held its audience better likely due to the Miz/Maryse wedding vow renewal segment, finishing with 1.59 million viewers and a 0.42 rating in 18-49.
The number was up three percent in viewers, up 11 percent in 18-49, and up 13 percent in 18-34 from the previous week.
In 18-49, the first hour at 0.39 would have been among the worst opens in history, but the second hour grew to a 0.43 before hour three was at 0.41.
Raw was sixth for the night, trailing only NFL-related programming on ESPN. The Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints game did 12.31 million viewers and a 4.35 rating in 18-49 on ESPN opposite Raw, which was second in its time slot.
In total viewers, Raw was 14th, behind only news and NFL-related programming.
As compared to the same week one year ago, Raw was down 10 percent in viewers, down 19 percent in 18-49, and down 16 percent in 18-34.
For first-to-third hours, it is extremely rare for hour three to beat hour one -- and this week did so. Women 18-49 dropped three percent from hour one to three, but men 18-49 were up 10 percent, teenage girls were down nine percent, teenage boys were even, and people over 50 were down six percent.
Basically, the wedding segment kept everyone at a better than usual level, but men more than women. Traditional wrestling wedding segments historically have done better with women.
The three hours were:
- 8 p.m. 1.59 million viewers
- 9 p.m. 1.66 million viewers
- 10 p.m. 1.53 million viewers
