WWE 'Main Event' debut featuring CM Punk vs Sheamus a ratings success for Ion Television

The ratings are in for the debut episode of WWE Main Event from Oct. 3, 2012, on Ion Television and the champion vs. champion match featuring CM Punk vs. Sheamus drew the highest male audience in the last year for the channel.

Success!

That's according to a joint press release from the two, sent out today touting the great numbers.

Obama vs. Romney was not the only match viewers tuned into on Wednesday night. According to Nielsen overnight data released today, ION Television's brand new series, WWE Main Event, garnered the highest male audience in the last year with the most Men 18-49 (422,000), Men 25-54 (444,000), and Men 2+ (876,000). At 8:00pm ET/PT, the premiere of the new weekly series, which featured WWE Champion CM Punk^TM against World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus^TM, was the #4 program in the time period among Men 18-34, #4 among Men 18-49, and #5 among Men 25-54. In addition, WWE Main Event out-delivered the last game of the MLB regular season on ESPN and ESPN2 among all key men and adult demos. Finally, the premiere delivered 518,000 Women 2+, finishing ahead of most female cable networks.

"The viewers have spoken," noted Brandon Burgess, CEO, ION Media Networks. "Fans of the WWE are passionate and seem to have a knack for finding their favorite Superstars wherever they live. Needless to say, we are particularly pleased that WWE has found a new home on ION Television, and we congratulate our new partner in the success of the premiere."

"Our partnership with ION Television is off to a strong start," said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman and CEO. "We expect our fans will make WWE Main Event the number one show on the network as they have done for WWE programs with all of our other TV partners."

WWE Main Event, airing Wednesdays at 8:00pm ET/PT, features the WWE Superstars and Divas of Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, including John Cena®, WWE Champion CM Punk^TM, World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus^TM, Alberto Del Rio®, The Miz®, Kofi Kingston®, Eve® and Alicia Fox®. It's a must-see for longtime devotees and those looking for character-driven, high-octane entertainment. The original series will showcase live events filmed across the country, as well as a stop in Europe.

As noted by the Wrestling Observer, this doesn't note it but the show averaged 1.39 million viewers.

If you're one of those who failed to check out the show, click here for the results and live blog and here for complete reactions to it all.