The CM Punk debut on AEW Rampage brought in record-making numbers for All Elite Wrestling. According to Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, the 8/13 “First Dance ” episode of Rampage garnered a number of 1,129,000 in total viewership. As far as the heralded 18-49 demographic is concerned Punk’s return roped in the remarkable rating of 0.53 (692,000) which ranked it the second highest number in company history, only behind the premiere of AEW Dynamite which posted up a 0.68 number on October 2, 2019.
AEW Rampage on TNT Friday was watched by 1,129,000 viewers total.
P18-49: 692,000 (0.53), higher than all but the debut episode of Dynamite in 2019.WWE Smackdown on Fox Friday was watched by 2,102,000 viewers total.
P18-49: 738,000 (0.57)?Read more: https://t.co/Z0rG5QbZu4 pic.twitter.com/aCztYnSJvm
— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) August 23, 2021
It was CM Punk who kicked off a very emotion-filled episode on Friday as he was welcomed back into pro wrestling in his hometown of Chicago at the United Center. Seven years proved to be long enough to attract a lot more eyes on the 10 PM EST timeslot for TNT. Last week’s premiere episode in Pittsburgh, PA had a total viewership of 740,000 with 396,000 in the 18-49 demographic.
“Our goal was to come out of the gate strong and establish Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on TNT as the place to catch the hottest commodities in professional wrestling,” said Tony Khan last week after last week episode. “Coming off our red-hot debut episode of ‘AEW: Rampage’ last Friday that featured Dr. Britt Baker retaining her AEW Women’s World Championship against Red Velvet in the main event match, we’re all excited for The First Dance this Friday night at the sold-out United Center in Chicago. It will be a special episode of ‘AEW: Rampage’ that will be enshrined in wrestling history as a night that fans will remember for a very long time.”
According to the numbers, Tony wasn’t lying.
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