WWE Raw ratings for Dec. 26 episode average 4.46 million viewers

by Geno Mrosko on Dec 28, 2011 7:00 PM EST in Raw

Though delayed, the ratings are finally in for this past Monday night's (Dec. 26) episode of WWE Raw, which featured Dolph Ziggler defeating CM Punk in a Gauntlet match to earn himself a WWE championship match next week and Kane cutting a long promo on John Cena imploring him to "embrace the hate."

And considering the fact that Punk, Daniel Bryan, Zack Ryder and Michael Cole were given decreased roles in a panic move over the bad numbers from last week, these ratings become even more important.

PWTorch has the numbers:

WWE Raw on Monday, December 26 scored a 2.93 rating, essentially flat with a 2.92 rating last week after the TLC PPV. It's the fourth consecutive week Raw has scored below a 3.00 rating.

Raw averaged 4.46 million viewers overall, up from an average of 4.29 million viewers last week. Raw also ended an eight week streak of second hour viewership declining from the first hour.

The good news here is that Monday Night Football closed its season this past week with the New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons game that featured Drew Brees breaking Dan Marino's single season passing yardage record, which surely took away from Raw. The History channel will still provide a stiff test but at least football is out of the way until next year.

The rating is also encouraging because the streak of losing viewers in the second hour finally ended. This is somewhat unfortunate for Punk, Bryan and Ryder, though, because Vince McMahon can now lay the blame at their feet for the porous number last week while the main event of John Cena and Kane this week actually improved viewership.

The difference in numbers may be small but it definitely has a great affect on how WWE builds its show. In the end, this looks like good news for Cena, bad news for the trio of babyface title holders who had their one night in the spotlight.

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I dunno about this..

They can’t really put it at Cena’s feet. They advertised Kane’s promo… but.. I think Punk is the main factor. He was looked at having 3 matches.. and then maybe getting Ace in the ring. I think that is why the 2nd hour came up. MNF was a blow out.. and the only reason to watch was for Brees record.. which with the blow out many thought would hold over till next week as they didn’t think Brees would not only still be on the field, but throwing the ball with 3 minutes to go. The game got out of hand early in the 2nd half, which was peak time for Raw’s 2nd hour. I think Punk gets more credit for this than anyone. The thought of him wrestling 4 matches didn’t come across so stale that people tuned out, rather they tuned in.

by Rawuncutnxrated on Dec 28, 2011 7:20 PM EST reply actions

Exactly

Punk was equally featured on the show and his job to Ziggler had more to do with Punk wanting to get Ziggler over than WWE wanting to de-emphasize him. There are two legitimate stars on Raw and Punk has surpassed Randy Orton’s level. So apparently people are going to start tallying who is getting the opening and closing segments of Raw to see who the company is “truly” pushing. Come on guys, aren’t we reading way to much into this.

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...

by Major on Dec 28, 2011 7:41 PM EST up reply actions

heh, its the internet

Everyone reads too much into everything

by hfl2013 on Dec 28, 2011 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

People tend to have different beliefs

I have heard this story about the 3 small babyface champions Raw ratings test for about a week now and I have to say I don’t believe a single word of it. WWE has historically thrown Dec ratings down the toilet. Which is why we have witnessed countless campy, corny and worthless Dec Raw’s and SD’s over the years.

Last weeks episode was a throwaway show, not a test for Punk, Zach Ryder and Daniel Bryan and certainly the ratings of a Dec show will not stop a push for Punk. Like I said people have their beliefs and I am an atheist on this one.

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...

by Major on Dec 28, 2011 7:27 PM EST reply actions

I also don't think that this rating is necessarily good or bad for anyone.

It’s pretty clear that Punk is now a main event player for years to come. It’s also pretty clear that the WWE is void of quality heels, thus the Ziggler win and subsequent push. You’ll see Sheamus and Ziggler get elevated over the next few months.

The other canard is that John Cena’s neck is not going to allow him to keep going eight, nine, ten years from now, and maybe not even three or four years from now. They have to start getting other guys over for the long term.

by Razztopia on Dec 28, 2011 7:49 PM EST reply actions

The Punk-Ace feud is like the bizarro world version of Austin Vs McMahon in that it chases off viewers vs the Austin-McMahon bringing in viewers.

by graves9 on Dec 28, 2011 7:53 PM EST reply actions

McMahon, was one of the best characters of all time, Johny Ace maybe the worst male character of all time. Also Stone Cold was loved by all, Punk isn’t totally over with Cenation.

by MVP Raiders on Dec 29, 2011 10:07 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

That is such hindsight bs

Vince was universally hated, which made him great. Ace is hated, which is making him great. I’m sure there are tons of Hart fans who did not love Stone Cold. The Austin McMahon fued was amazing but it lasted for years. This is just starting up. It’s gonna get good.

So go forth, my brethren, and proceed to mark the f*ck out

by C. J. Bradford on Dec 29, 2011 12:33 PM EST up reply actions