The August 9 episode of “AEW Collision” saw a slight increase in total viewership but experienced a drop in key demographic ratings. The show, broadcast live from Virginia’s Burgland Center, attracted 423,000 viewers, marking a 3% rise from the previous week’s 409,000, and a significant 25% increase compared to the following average of 338,000 viewers. Despite this growth, the rating in the important demographic fell from 0.10 to 0.08, though it remained slightly above the four-week average of 0.07. Viewership started at 425,000, peaking at 847,000 between 8:45 pm and 9 pm before leveling off to around 380,000 in the final quarter-hour, which featured tag team matches including LA Faccion Ingobernable against Adam Page, Mike Bailey, and Kevin Knight.
The episode highlighted the AEW TNT Championship match, where the newly crowned champion Kyle Fletcher successfully defended his title against Ishii Tomohiro. Other matches included Ricochet vs. Juice Robinson, Hair Shibata vs. Maxcaster, and a mixed six-man tag team bout. Additionally, the show revealed that commentator Nigel McGuinness, who has wrestled three times in AEW, will return to the ring next week for a four-way match against Daniel Garcia, Hechesello, and Lee Moriarty, marking his comeback three months after his last match.
Fan Take: This report is crucial for AEW fans as it shows steady growth in the fanbase despite demographic rating fluctuations, indicating growing interest and engagement. Nigel McGuinness’ return to the ring adds an exciting twist, promising fresh storylines and heightened competition that could further elevate AEW’s profile in the wrestling world.
