Interesting Study on the Average Age of Pro Wrestling Fans

Ever wondered the median age of wrestling fans? Regardless, you’ve found this article so you must be curious.

WrestlingInc recently posted an article of a study done by Magna Global for SportsBusiness Journal. The study lists the median age of wrestling fans based on television viewers. In a shocking turn of events, it seems that the median age of viewers has doubled!

According to the study, the median age of professional wrestling television viewers has doubled. In 2000 the study concluded that 28-years-old was the average. In 2016 however, the median age has been found to be 54-years-old. That is an increase of 26 years. It is also worth noting that while another 25 sports were included in the study, wrestling had the biggest increase in median age.

Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter believes these numbers are incorrect, but on the right track. By his logic, ‘Raw’ and ‘Smackdown Live’ have viewers that are in their 40s.

The premise is accurate but current average sounds high, Raw & SD are still in 40s https://t.co/ySZ5uA5ZHY

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) June 6, 2017

Regardless of whether the 40s to 50s age is correct, it is a much higher number than expected. This is caused by many people becoming fans of wrestling during the ‘Attitude Era’ in the late 1990s and early 2000s who remain fans to this day.

This is a problem due to the fact that WWE tend to have more kid-friendly programming and has had a TV-PG rating for nearly a decade. It was recently reported that WWE are having ratings issues. Might this age group be a reflection on the poor viewership due to the rating of the programming? Deadspin have highlighted a 2013 study done by Scarborough that shows that UFC is far ahead of WWE in terms of younger fans.

Even if it is smaller, WWE have continued to work with the fans. With the creation and constant innovation of the WWE Network, the company gives fans of every kind something they can enjoy, be it past or present content.

WWE Great Balls of Fire comes to WWE Network on Sunday, July 9

Editor’s Note:

This is very interesting. If you asked me, I would’ve said fans are now younger due to the era we see on television. I don’t mind the era personally, but I know many fans want more deep, dark and mature storylines that don’t exactly reflect the current WWE corporate values. Over time we should hopefully see some of this change, but for now we have what we have.

What do you think of this? Did you guess the average age of the wrestling fan? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page or Twitter account. Additionally, you can find me on Twitter at @SOSNH1995.