WWE: Monday Night Raw Slumps in 3rd Hour, Ratings Improve Slightly

It appeared that on Monday night, the WWE could see an upswing in the ratings with the NFL on the sidelines. However, in a sign that appears to plague the WWE from finishing strong, the third hour of Monday Night Raw continued to struggle to gain viewers.

On Monday night, WWE Raw saw a slight uptick in the ratings (via TV By the Numbers).

The first hour of WWE Raw had 4.16 million viewers. Its second hour increased to 4.78 million viewers. However, Raw struggled in its third hour, dropping to 4.49 million viewers. The second hour, which was the highest peak for WWE Raw, scored a 1.8 in Adults 18-49 rating. 

Overall, WWE Raw managed to remain high on Cable Television's Top 50 charts.

3rd-Hour Struggles a Sign That WWE Raw Is Too Long of a Show?

With the WWE not being able to hold over viewers for the final hour of its program, it's a sign that Raw has become dragged out.

Unfortunately for the WWE, the new three-hour format for Raw has not seen its benefits. Raw is struggling in its final hour to gain any sort of positive momentum. It is a sure sign that viewers are getting tired of its programming after two hours. 

How Long Will the WWE Stick with a 3-Hour Raw Format?

In order for the WWE to make a decision on switching back to a two-hour format, the third hour must continue to struggle.

That thought may come into play if Raw begins to drop near the low four-million range. As much as I credit the WWE for going to three hours to possibly grow new stars and create storylines, Raw has become more of a stale product. At the moment, there isn't enough excitement for viewers to keep watching Raw.

Predictions for Upcoming Monday Night Raw Episodes

With the fall television competition coming into effect, including NFL Monday Night Football, WWE Raw could see even further troubles in attempting to gain viewership. Its current product may need to see changes in order to attract viewers into watching their product.