AEW returned to Texas for the January 28th edition of “AEW Dynamite,” presenting a strong card that included three title matches. Kris Statlander successfully defended the AEW Women’s World Championship against Tekla, FTR held onto the AEW World Tag Team Championship against Mark Davis and Jake Doyle, and Mark Brisco, after retaining the AEW TNT Championship versus El Cron, made his debut by facing Tommaso Ciampa. This bolstered version of their main show aimed to attract a larger viewership—and it succeeded.
Reports from Wrestlenomics and The Programming Insider show that the January 28 episode averaged 653,000 viewers, marking a 31% increase over the January 21 show’s 498,000 viewers. This figure stood 35% above the average of 484,000 viewers from the previous four weeks and represented AEW’s highest average for either “Dynamite” or “AEW Collision” in 2026 so far. Moreover, this was the highest recorded viewership since the implementation of the big data plus panel measurement system introduced at the end of September 2025, surpassing the previous top mark set by the Blood and Guts special. Notably, earlier episodes on November 12 and September 24 used the older Nielsen system. As is typical, these viewer stats do not include HBO MAX streaming numbers.
The show posted a 0.09 rating, a 12% rise from the 0.08 rating the week before, achieving AEW’s highest 18-49 demographic rating of the year to date. Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer described the 50-54 year-old demographic figures as “ridiculous” due to their unusually high numbers. While Meltzer didn’t specify exact stats, Programming Insider confirmed that “Dynamite” ranked fourth in primetime cable viewership for men aged 25-54 with a 0.23 rating, trailing just behind NBA two-hour broadcasts on ESPN and Fox News.
Fan Take:
This surge in viewership is a promising sign that AEW’s investment in high-profile matches and fresh talent is resonating with fans, helping to grow their audience. If this trend continues, it could signify a bright future for AEW, positioning the promotion as an even stronger competitor in the wrestling world and expanding the sport’s overall appeal.
