AEW Dynamite Viewership & Ratings Report, 8/28/2024

The August 28, 2024, episode of AEW Dynamite marked a significant return to the United States after an exhilarating week in the United Kingdom. The episode followed the overseas debuts of AEW’s flagship shows “Dynamite” and “Collision” and the monumental All In event at London’s Wembley Stadium. The anticipation was high, with fans eager to see the fallout from the UK events and how the storylines would progress back on American soil.

This episode was particularly notable for several reasons. Bryan Danielson, one of AEW’s top stars, discovered who his next world title challenger would be, setting the stage for an exciting title match. Additionally, Ricochet, known for his high-flying and acrobatic wrestling style, made his much-anticipated debut on Dynamite. Jon Moxley, another fan favorite, returned to the company, leaving fans with more questions than answers about his next moves. With such an eventful episode, the big question was how many viewers tuned in to watch the action unfold on TBS.

According to Wrestlenomics, the August 28 episode of Dynamite averaged a total of 691,000 viewers. While this represented a slight decrease from the previous week’s 698,000 viewers, it was a significant improvement from the numbers seen in the past month, which had been affected by competition from the 2024 Summer Olympics. However, when compared to the same month in 2023, the viewership was down by over 20%, signaling a noticeable drop in audience retention year-over-year.

Despite the overall decline, the show had its high points. The peak viewership occurred in the first quarter-hour (QH1), with 765,000 viewers tuning in at the start of the show. This suggests that the initial buzz and anticipation were strong, although the numbers gradually declined throughout the episode, with the show’s overrun being the lowest point at 629,000 viewers. Notably, there were spikes in viewership during QH5, at the beginning of the second hour, and QH8, which featured Ricochet’s match against Kyle Fletcher and Bryan Danielson’s closing promo. These segments likely captured the audience’s attention, showcasing the appeal of both in-ring action and compelling storylines.

In terms of the key 18-49 demographic, which is crucial for advertisers, the episode earned a 0.22 rating. This was an 8% drop from the previous week’s 0.24 rating, indicating a slight dip in interest among younger viewers. However, there was a silver lining: despite the drop, the 0.22 rating was enough for Dynamite to rank first in all prime-time cable shows on Wednesday night. This is a significant achievement, as the show managed to outperform popular programs on FOX News and MTV’s “The Challenge.”

In summary, the August 28 episode of AEW Dynamite had its ups and downs in terms of viewership and ratings. While the overall numbers were down compared to the same period in 2023, the show still managed to attract a solid audience and claim the top spot in the key 18-49 demographic for the night. With compelling storylines and the addition of new talent like Ricochet, AEW Dynamite continues to be a major player in the world of professional wrestling, even as it faces challenges in maintaining its viewership numbers.