Ezekiel Segment From WWE Raw Saw Big Jump In Key Demo Rating

Ezekiel and Chad Gable had what would normally be a fairly forgettable match on this week’s WWE Raw. The man who claims to be the brother of Elias scored an upset victory over Chad Gable. While a lot of viewers were watching for Cody Rhodes, even more tuned in after his promo to check out Ezekiel.

It was reported that WWE’s use of a countdown to let fans know when Cody Rhodes would be on the show was a great success. In the latest quarter-hour ratings, that once again proved true. Cody’s segment saw a huge jump in the key 18-49 demographic from 580,000 viewers to 609,000 viewers, according to Wrestlenomics.

The real shock came when Ezekiel’s match with Gable jumped to 615,000 during the quarter-hour. Although most fans tuned in to see Cody Rhodes, several thousand more joined in for the Ezekiel match. That quarter-hour finished with a 24/7 backstage segment which saw viewership drop precipitously, only getting worse for the Lacey Evans promo that followed.

The performers involved in the Ezekiel storyline have been doing their best with what many consider less-than-stellar material. Kevin Owens and Alpha Academy have had a major role in keeping fans interested. The 24/7 Championship scene may not be able to say the same thing, having lost nearly 40,000 viewers.

WWE might have something with the ongoing storyline of Elias’ brother. It might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but people are tuning in to see it. Strong in-ring performers and the Keystone Cops-esque story of Kevin Owens working with Alpha Academy to prove that Elias is Ezekiel has sparked an interest among fans.

The WWE Universe has been responding well to the Cody Rhodes countdowns. That sets up whatever segment that follows for success. Strong performances from mid-card storylines are exactly what the doctor ordered for WWE.

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