Despite the promotion bringing in the three biggest free agents of 2024, AEW Dynamite this week delivered some very disappointing numbers after investing a bunch of money in a trio of elite free agents.
AEW has made headlines over the last few months for being very active on the wrestling free-agent market. Not just one, but three game-changer performers were recently up for grabs in NJPW superstars Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, and WWE women’s division legend Mercedes Mone, AKA Sasha Banks.
Also Read: Mercedes Mone AEW Contract Details
Despite WWE’s best efforts to bring in all three, AEW reportedly handed out some massive contracts to sign the trio of free agents, including a three-year deal worth over $14 million for Okada. In recent media scrums, AEW boss Tony Khan has billed this month as one where the company makes a major leap in interest and profits. Well, the early numbers on this week’s AEW Dynamite did not deliver what the Khan was hoping for.
Mercedes Mone AEW Dynamite debut does not deliver ‘Big Business’ in TV ratings
On Thursday night, popular wrestling data outlet Wrestlenomics reported that this week’s episode of the company’s flagship show netted just 801,000 average viewers and a 0.27 rating with the all-important 18-49-year-old demographic.
That is a pretty disappointing number since the worst-kept secret in the industry was that Mercedes Mone would make her promotional debut at this week’s “Big Business” episode of the series. Furthermore, Okada officially joined the AEW roster last week and Ospreay has been getting a lot of attention on recent episodes of AEW television shows.
This week’s ratings were up from the 779,000 the show averaged last week, but the overall number was slightly lower than the last ratings over the last four weeks. And they are 6% below the over 900,000 AEW Dynamite averaged this time last year.
While things could certainly change as the trio of free agents sink their teeth into entertaining storylines, peak interest not being strong at the start of their runs is not a promising sign of the investment AEW has made into all three wrestling stars.
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