AEW Dynamite for June 19 did a historically low number for the company. Fightful Select reached out to numerous sources within AEW and WBD to get their thoughts on it.
According to Programming Insider, AEW Dynamite on June 19 drew 502,000 viewers. The number is down from the 681,000 viewers the show drew on June 12. It is the lowest viewership for a non-preempted show in Dynamite history.
Fightful Select spoke with AEW sources about their feelings on the number, and how they rationalized it. We were told that the typical lead in for AEW, Big Bang Theory, usually does a demo number of 200-250k for their final quarter hour. This week's lead in was Black Panther, which they said landed at under 85k in the demo for the final quarter hour, a significant drop-off. They believe that the missing people were the lead in watchers that didn't exist this week.
AEW were told that the "tune in" number ended up actually being strong because of the lead-in drop off.
AEW talent that we spoke to were surprised by the number.
When Fightful reached out to a WBD rep about the number, and said "Just a very odd week in general, and a confluence of stuff Juneteenth holiday in the middle of the week (when does a mid-week holiday ever happen in late spring/summer months?!). Competition with Olympic trials and college baseball all World Series in prime time. Amazing weather in much of the country (especially up here in the northeast), so lots more people out and about. Wouldn't really put much into one week's number, although I know the wrestling community likes to go nuclear with these kinds of one-offs," indicating they expect the number to increase next week.
Another WBD source says this number does not affect the potential of a new AEW-WBD deal.
Neither WBD or AEW sources brought up the Kendrick Lamar concert broadcast Wednesday, but based on online reaction it does seem like a key (or least A MINORRRRR) reason. Sorry about that one.
Kayla Braxton
Kayla Braxton is leaving WWE.
On June 6th , Kayla Braxton surprised many fans, taking WWE out of her social media username, which has spawned many questions of the backstage interviewers’ status within the company. When Fightful reached out to WWE, and Braxton, real name Kayla Becker, we were told she was "still with" the company. However, we learned more.
Braxton announced June 22 that she'd be stepping away from WWE next week. Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned that Braxton is currently working for the company under a verbal agreement between the two sides following her WWE deal expiring recently. The two sides have been discussions, but we're not told what came of them.
We're told AEW had been made aware of her contract status a couple of weeks ago, but we aren't sure if that was due to direct communication between Becker/ an agent, or AEW.
Braxton signed with WWE in 2016 and has worked across all brands involved in WWE and has been a common backstage interviewer and kickoff show panelist over the years. Braxton has also previously served as a ring announcer in WWE NXT, before making her way to the main roster permanently in 2019.
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