Kemo
07-23-2019, 12:03 AM
WWE’s official response to their declining ratings earlier this year was to blame the absences of several WWE Superstars. They did so when reporting on their first-quarter earnings for 2019 back in April. Now, with WWE scheduled to report on their earnings for the 2nd quarter of 2019 on July 25th, their excuses for the declining ratings don’t appear to be adding up.
A recent report from Variety delved deeper into the relationship between WWE’s declining ratings and their Superstar absences. The results could be considered concerning for WWE.
“The company’s TV partners, NBCUniversal and Fox, are also reportedly getting anxious about the state of the WWE, having paid a combined $2.35 billion earlier this year to keep “Raw” and “SmackDown” on the air for five more years,” the report from Variety reads. “The networks haven’t said anything publicly expressing concern, but the data demonstrates they have every right to be worried.”
“While engagement metrics over the past two quarters were impacted by superstar absences, we believe they will improve as our talent return and we launch our new season following a successful WrestleMania,” Vince McMahon said in April regarding the falling ratings.
WWE will have trouble claiming that Superstar injuries and absences are to blame for the continued declining ratings in their earnings report this quarter, however.
“A Variety analysis indicates that although nearly all of the injured wrestlers McMahon referenced returned to the ring in the first half of 2019, ratings for WWE’s flagship TV properties, ‘Raw’ and ‘SmackDown,’ sunk significantly compared with the same period last year,” the report reads.
The Variety analysis looked deeper into the claims for 10 wrestlers specifically mentioned in the spring as having impacted WWE ratings with their absence.
Becky Lynch Q1 appearances: 18, Q2 appearances: 23
Roman Reigns Q1 appearances: 5, Q2 appearances: 20
Kevin Owens Q1 appearances: 6, Q2 appearances: 18
Seth Rollins Q1 appearances: 12, Q2 appearances: 16
Alexa Bliss Q1 appearances: 12, Q2 appearances: 15
Braun Strowamn Q1 appearances: 14, Q2 appearances: 15
Charlotte Flair Q1 appearances: 15, Q2 appearances: 12
Bray Wyatt Q1 appearances: 0, Q2 appearances: 9
Sasha Banks Q1 appearances: 14, Q2 appearances: 2
Dean Ambrose Q1 appearances: 13, Q2 appearances: 1
The full analysis can be read here (https://variety.com/2019/tv/opinion/vince-mcmahon-wwe-woes-1203273548/).
There is one notable name the Variety report did not address. Ronda Rousey’s name is not mentioned in the Variety article despite being featured prominently in WWE storylines for quarter 1 and then being gone for the the vast majority of quarter 2. How Rousey’s absence has impacted ratings is unclear, however.
A recent report from Variety delved deeper into the relationship between WWE’s declining ratings and their Superstar absences. The results could be considered concerning for WWE.
“The company’s TV partners, NBCUniversal and Fox, are also reportedly getting anxious about the state of the WWE, having paid a combined $2.35 billion earlier this year to keep “Raw” and “SmackDown” on the air for five more years,” the report from Variety reads. “The networks haven’t said anything publicly expressing concern, but the data demonstrates they have every right to be worried.”
“While engagement metrics over the past two quarters were impacted by superstar absences, we believe they will improve as our talent return and we launch our new season following a successful WrestleMania,” Vince McMahon said in April regarding the falling ratings.
WWE will have trouble claiming that Superstar injuries and absences are to blame for the continued declining ratings in their earnings report this quarter, however.
“A Variety analysis indicates that although nearly all of the injured wrestlers McMahon referenced returned to the ring in the first half of 2019, ratings for WWE’s flagship TV properties, ‘Raw’ and ‘SmackDown,’ sunk significantly compared with the same period last year,” the report reads.
The Variety analysis looked deeper into the claims for 10 wrestlers specifically mentioned in the spring as having impacted WWE ratings with their absence.
Becky Lynch Q1 appearances: 18, Q2 appearances: 23
Roman Reigns Q1 appearances: 5, Q2 appearances: 20
Kevin Owens Q1 appearances: 6, Q2 appearances: 18
Seth Rollins Q1 appearances: 12, Q2 appearances: 16
Alexa Bliss Q1 appearances: 12, Q2 appearances: 15
Braun Strowamn Q1 appearances: 14, Q2 appearances: 15
Charlotte Flair Q1 appearances: 15, Q2 appearances: 12
Bray Wyatt Q1 appearances: 0, Q2 appearances: 9
Sasha Banks Q1 appearances: 14, Q2 appearances: 2
Dean Ambrose Q1 appearances: 13, Q2 appearances: 1
The full analysis can be read here (https://variety.com/2019/tv/opinion/vince-mcmahon-wwe-woes-1203273548/).
There is one notable name the Variety report did not address. Ronda Rousey’s name is not mentioned in the Variety article despite being featured prominently in WWE storylines for quarter 1 and then being gone for the the vast majority of quarter 2. How Rousey’s absence has impacted ratings is unclear, however.