WWE: Monday Night Raw Ratings Drop Against Tough Television Competition

It was another tough night for WWE Monday Night Raw.

With the NFL in full swing with Monday Night Football, WWE saw a sluggish night, as Raw struggled to gain in viewership throughout the show (via TV By the Numbers).

The Monday, September 17 edition of WWE Raw started on a fairly strong note with 4.11 million viewers during its first hour. The second hour of Raw was nearly the same with 4.12 million viewers. However, Raw's third hour saw its viewership drop to just 3.92 million. In Adults 18-49, Raw peaked with a 1.5 ratings share during its final two hours of the show.

NFL Monday Night Football dominated cable television with 15.5 million viewers, leaving Raw to another rough evening.

A Troubling Sign to See WWE Raw's Third Hour Drop Below Four Million Viewers?

This has to be some sort of a concern for the WWE, as its third hour is struggling to move in a positive direction. Despite the tough cable competition WWE faces on Monday night, it appears viewers are not interested in watching another hour of Raw. The new three-hour format has not sparked any sort of viewership boost to Raw, signaling that it may need to resort back to its original roots.

With NFL Monday Night Football leading the way on cable television, Raw has become a show to be left in the dust. A two-hour format could help gain more viewership, as Raw would not become so tiring for people to watch. It appears that if the WWE stays put in its current position, Raw will not be able to move forward and gain positive results in viewership, especially with tough competition on Monday night.

Does WWE Need to Change Its Current Product?

WWE should not hit the panic alarm. Raw is in a tough position on Monday nights, especially with facing the NFL. Although a change in its current product could draw more interest, WWE should stick with its course and continue to battle on Monday night. Changing its product in a rush could make things confusing for viewers who already are growing tired of the three-hour Raw format. However, WWE is in need of a boost to gain back its viewers with something exciting to watch about.