WWE Raw ratings down, still beats huge WNBA Draft number

Raw on Monday night against the strong competition of the WNBA Draft, took first place on cable with 1.81 million viewers and a 0.61 rating in 18-49.

The WNBA Draft due to Caitlin Clark, even though it was preordained she was being picked first, did 2.45 million viewers and a 0.58 demo rating. To show how crazy this was, that was more than WNBA championship series games do.

Raw's ratings were down from recent weeks. The usual pattern is a giant number the Monday after Mania and a strong number the week after, and then it goes back to regular levels before dropping as the NBA playoffs go deeper. This year will probably get a pick-up on April 29 with the WWE Draft episode.

Raw also beat every show on network TV. The leading entertainment competition on cable 90 Day Single Life, did 1.07 million viewers and a 0.17. The NHL game on ESPN after the big lead-in from the draft did 439,000 viewers and 0.14.

Raw was down 23 percent in viewers and down 27 percent in 18-49 from last week's episode the day after WrestleMania. It's a drop that should be expected given how big last week did.

Raw was 12th in total viewers behind the WNBA Draft and 10 news shows.

The show had its usual ratings pattern.

From one year ago, it was down 0.4 percent in viewers but up seven percent in 18-49, once again showing how much younger the audience was from last year.

Factoring in homes without access this year to USA Network, the real comparison figures would be up five percent in viewers and up 17 percent in 18-49.

The three hours were:

• 8 p.m. 1.93 million viewers
• 9 p.m. 1.82 million viewers
• 10 p.m. 1.68 million viewers