AEW Smash Ratings Record In UK

It would seem that the United Kingdom is a booming market for AEW, having recently smashed its viewership record in the region.

Many fans are taking a closer look at quarter-hour ratings and key demographics for the first time since the Monday Night Wars between WWE and WCW. According to a new report from Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the UK is performing extremely well for AEW.

With Dynamite and Rampage airing on the ITV Network and viewers also being able to catch the action on FITE TV, Meltzer notes that the build-up to Forbidden Door saw the viewership record broken.

The AEW show that was the go-home show for Forbidden Door that aired on the 22nd [of June in the US] and aired on the 24th [of June in the UK] on ITV 4 set their all-time record.”

They’ve been doing big numbers for about the last five, six weeks, AEW’s really been on an upswing in the UK for whatever reason. I don’t know if maybe Will Ospreay has something to do with it but it started before Will Ospreay was on the show and before there were any hints of Will Ospreay. The big upswing started with the show that would have aired on the Friday before Double Or Nothing. And they’ve been very strong ever since.

All the biggest numbers so far this year were in the last six weeks, every week practically was one of the biggest numbers but this was the all-time record for AEW Dynamite. So they are on an upswing there.

As well as Will Ospreay defeating Orange Cassidy at Forbidden Door, there was also further interest for British fans as Zack Sabre Jr. faced off with the debuting Claudio Castagnoli.

With thanks to Inside The Ropes for the transcription.