Report: NXT Viewership is Falling "Way Down"

When the draft called up a big chunk of the NXT locker room, there was a great deal of concern about how the developmental brand would do without many of its biggest stars.

“Not well” seems to be the answer. According to this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, viewership of NXT on the WWE Network has gone “way down.”

That’s to be expected with many of NXT’s biggest stars now playing major parts on the main roster. Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Bayley, Enzo and Cass, and American Alpha have all moved up in the past year, and NXT’s weekly programming has struggled to fill the gaps.

NXT still has major draws like Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, and Asuka on board, but their homegrown talent hasn’t yet stepped up to fill the void left by so many major departures.

The WWE Network’s top ten on-demand programs this week were:

Clash of Champions
Ride Along with Michael Cole, JBL and Byron Saxton plus Ric Flair & Charlotte
Clash of Champions pre-show
Table for three with Big Show, Kane and Mark Henry
JBL interviews Kevin Nash & Scott Hall
Clash of Champions in the German language
Backlash
Ride Along with Enzo & Cass and the Dudleys
NXT
Ride Along with Styles, Anderson & Gallows and Jericho & Henry

NXT was by far the best weekly program WWE put on for a lengthy period of time, and its Takeover specials are still among the company’s best shows. Hopefully the brand can recapture its former glory soon.