WWE RAW Netflix Viewership Under Fire: Dave Meltzer Calls Out Misleading Numbers
WWE’s much-hyped move to Netflix has been seen as a streaming revolution. But not everyone is buying the buzz. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer has raised serious concerns over WWE’s Netflix viewership numbers, calling them inconsistent, misleading, and flawed.
On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio (May 29), Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez dove deep into WWE’s reported numbers and exposed major red flags—especially the claim that only 10% of viewers watch RAW live.
“Historically, about 75% watched live. That drop to 10% makes no sense,” said Meltzer.
“People don’t change habits that drastically in 2 months.”
Meltzer Dissects WWE’s Global Numbers
Even when giving WWE the benefit of the doubt, Meltzer argues the math doesn’t check out:
“If we use their 10% live viewership claim, that’s only about 270,000 homes globally—maybe 400,000 people watching live.”
This is a massive dip compared to WWE’s USA Network era, where live viewership consistently hovered around 75%.
How Netflix Defines “Live” is the Problem
Bryan Alvarez questioned how Netflix calculates “live” viewers:
If someone starts watching a minute behind, does that count as live?
Meltzer says yes—but Netflix may not count it, distorting numbers.
“If I watch at 5:01 but hit ‘Start from Beginning’, I count as part of the 90% who aren’t watching live? That’s crazy.”
India’s Impact on WWE’s Netflix Numbers
Another major factor? International data, especially from India, now being included:
“That 2.7 million number includes India — around 175,000–200,000 homes,” Meltzer said.
“But traditional Nielsen ratings never included India.”
So if you’re comparing these numbers to the past, you’re comparing apples to oranges.
Viewership Trends: Are WWE Ratings Dropping?
Despite the early success of the Netflix debut, Meltzer says the trend is heading downward:
“The past two weeks have been the lowest viewership periods since the move.”
“We’re likely seeing the floor in terms of WWE viewership.”
He also pointed out WWE’s shift from Nielsen to VideoAmp, a platform that reports lower ratings than Nielsen—by as much as 25%.
Final Thoughts: Is WWE Spinning the Numbers?
“Even when I give WWE more credit than they give themselves, the numbers don’t make sense,” Meltzer stated.
While WWE and Netflix continue to promote a global success narrative, Meltzer’s findings suggest a need for transparency and standardization in reporting viewership.
What Do You Think?
Do you believe WWE and Netflix’s RAW numbers are accurate? Or are fans being misled by marketing spin and confusing metrics?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below. 👇