• AEW Dynamite Draws Record Low Viewership
AEW Dynamite has joined a string of wrestling shows struggling in the ratings, posting its lowest audience ever for a regularly scheduled broadcast. The September 3 episode (which featured the return of a former World Champion) on TBS averaged 472,000 total viewers, including 148,000 in the 18–49 demographic (0.11 rating). These figures do not account for streaming numbers on HBO Max. The drop represents a 19 percent decline in overall viewership compared with the prior week, setting a new all-time low for Dynamite outside of preempted or rescheduled editions.
This milestone comes just days after WWE SmackDown and AEW Collision also hit record lows, marking a difficult stretch for televised wrestling across multiple promotions.
The sharpest decline came from males aged 18–49, who averaged 92,000 viewers – a steep fall from the 133,000 average across August and a 16 percent decline week-to-week. That figure marks one of the weakest male turnouts in the show’s history.
Females 18–49: 56,000 viewers, down 7 percent from last week and the lowest since July 16.
Adults 35–49: 111,000 viewers, holding relatively steady with just a 4 percent dip. Male viewership dropped 9 percent in this category, while female viewership ticked up by 9 percent.
Last week’s 18–49 total had already tied a record low for Dynamite; this week’s results pushed that number even lower. The consecutive declines show ongoing challenges AEW faces in retaining younger viewers, particularly men, who have historically been the program’s strongest demographic.
• Ronda Rousey Found Feud With Top WWE Star “F***ing Ridiculous”
Ronda Rousey joined WWE in 2018 and had a successful first run there. One of the most notable feuds she had during that run was with Alexa Bliss over the RAW Women’s Championship. The Baddest Woman on the Planet came out on top in that rivalry, as she defeated The Goddess to win her first title in WWE at SummerSlam 2018. However, she was not satisfied with her booking at that time.
In an interview with The Lapsed Fan, Rousey stated that the only reason WWE booked the feud between her and Bliss was because of The Five Feet of Fury’s merch sales being high. Here’s what she said:
“The fact that they had me fighting Alexa Bliss at all was f**king ridiculous, and you wanna know why they had me against Alexa Bliss? Because she had the most merch sales at the time… Like, what the f**k!? That’s your decision-making process?”
Rousey had her last match in WWE at SummerSlam 2023, where she lost to her friend Shayna Baszler.
• Major Name Is In Chicago Ahead Of SmackDown
WWE is preparing for what could be one of its most significant episodes of SmackDown this year, and the presence of Brock Lesnar may add even more star power to the night.
Fightful Select reports that Lesnar has been booked to travel to Chicago this week, with internal discussions pointing to him potentially appearing on Friday’s SmackDown. Sources within WWE indicated that he was originally scheduled to be in the city on Thursday, further fueling speculation of his involvement in the show.
The Chicago show already carries weight, as WrestleVotes revealed that it is expected to be the final SmackDown appearance of John Cena’s career. Cena and Lesnar are set to meet at Wrestlepalooza on September 20, though WWE has not officially announced the match on television.
The episode appears to be part of a deliberate effort to stack both SmackDown and the upcoming Wrestlepalooza card with marquee names. With Chicago known for its passionate fanbase, the company is expected to use this week’s show as a momentum-building platform leading into the ESPN debut of Wrestlepalooza.
If Lesnar does appear, Friday’s broadcast could serve as the launching point for his anticipated clash with Cena. With one legend departing and another stepping into the spotlight, WWE is clearly positioning Chicago as the setting for a pivotal moment on the road to its next major event.
And if that isn’t enough, CM Punk will appear and there are rumors that AJ Lee could make her first appearance on WWE TV after 10 years as well.
Also Read: Naomi Reacts To Rumors of AJ Lee’s WWE Return
• Top NXT Star Is Getting Called Up Before The End of 2025
NXT Superstar Tony D’Angelo is reportedly set to make the jump to WWE’s main roster before the end of the year. The update comes via WrestleVotes, which notes that the long-running “Don of NXT” is on track for a promotion to either RAW or SmackDown in the coming months.
D’Angelo’s mob-inspired persona, which has been central to his presentation since his 2021 debut, is expected to remain intact following the move. However, sources indicate the gimmick will likely undergo slight refinements to better align with the broader creative landscape of WWE’s flagship shows.
Since arriving in NXT, D’Angelo has become one of the brand’s most recognizable personalities. Leading “The D’Angelo Family,” he has been involved in high-profile storylines and held the NXT Tag Team Championship twice and the NXT North American Championship once.
While no official date or brand placement has been confirmed, anticipation is growing for D’Angelo’s introduction to a wider audience on Netflix or the USA Network.
