Shawn Michaels Addresses WWE NXT CW Debut’s Huge Viewership Success

WWE is thrilled with the stellar ratings and viewership for NXT’s debut episode on The CW Network, which aired on October 1, 2024, live from the AllState Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The move from USA Network to The CW has paid off big time, delivering the largest audience for NXT in a year.

The NXT on CW debut drew a whopping 895,000 viewers, marking a huge 44.4% increase—an impressive jump of 275,000 more viewers—compared to the 620,000 who tuned in for the final episode on USA Network on September 24, 2024. WWE quickly issued a statement celebrating the success, with Shawn Michaels, the driving force behind NXT, sharing his excitement on social media.

According to WWE’s statement, NXT’s broadcast television debut peaked at 965,000 viewers between 8:15-8:30 p.m. The episode dominated The CW’s Tuesday night lineup, claiming the top spot in key demographics, including 406,000 adults aged 25-54 and 354,000 adults aged 18-49.

Fueled by major star power with appearances from CM Punk, Bianca Belair, and Jade Cargill, and Trick Williams reclaiming the NXT Championship, the episode saw significant growth across major markets, delivering triple-digit increases in viewership for cities like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Detroit.

This success follows The CW’s impressive premiere of NASCAR Xfinity Series just weeks earlier, cementing the network’s growing reputation as a go-to for live sports.

Shawn Michaels, the WWE Senior VP of Talent Development Creative, chimed in on social media, writing, “895,000 viewers tuned in to the NXT debut on The CW – our best numbers in a year. Great start. See you next week live from St. Louis!” With Randy Orton set to appear on the next live show, anticipation continues to build for what’s next in NXT.!

WWE is clearly riding a wave of momentum with NXT’s move to The CW, and with bigger stars and storylines on the horizon, the future looks brighter than ever for the brand. Fans will be eager to see if NXT can continue to deliver blockbuster ratings as the weeks go on.