The January 20, 2026 episode of WWE NXT delivered an eventful night, highlighted by the arrest of Tony D’Angelo after he disrupted the NXT Title Qualifier. According to Programming Insider, the show attracted an average of 608,000 viewers on the CW network, slightly down from the 618,000 viewers seen on the January 13 episode—a decrease of 10,000 viewers or about 1.6%.
This downward trend extended to the key 18-49 age demographic, where the rating dropped from 0.09 to 0.08, marking an 11.1% decline. It’s worth noting these figures represent only traditional TV viewership on the CW and exclude streaming and digital watchers on the network’s platforms.
The action on the 20th saw Tony D’Angelo launch an attack on Shiloh Hill after Hill secured a win in an NXT Championship qualifying match, and later target Sean Legacy and Eli Knight, prompting police intervention and leading to D’Angelo’s arrest backstage. Helio LeFleur had a noteworthy in-ring debut facing Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship but ultimately did not capture the title.
| Metric | January 13, 2026 | January 20, 2026 | Change | % Change |
|————————-|——————|——————|———|———-|
| Total Viewers | 618,000 | 608,000 | -10,000 | -1.6% |
| P18–49 Demo Rating | 0.09 | 0.08 | -0.01 | -11.1% |
Ringside News will keep tracking weekly NXT viewership and key story developments to provide ongoing insights. Fans are encouraged to share their thoughts on this slight dip in ratings in the comments.
Fan Take: This viewership decline is a reminder of the challenges NXT faces in retaining its audience amidst fierce competition. For WWE fans, the way storylines like Tony D’Angelo’s arrest unfold could be crucial in reigniting interest and boosting future ratings, ultimately impacting the sport’s evolution.
