WWE looks like it'll have a bit of a youth movement as far as viewership is concerned if they have their way.
Fightful Select learned that the word going around is that WWE is really focusing in on the 18-34 demographic this week, after numbers for teens in particular were way up for the first week under a new Executive Director regime. Those within WWE actually told Fightful that teen viewership was up by 37.5 percent, which we're working to verify. (Edit: Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported this number last week)
Those we've spoken to say that the 'lost generation' of 18-34 is going to be a major target going forward. Paul Heyman himself has been pretty transparent about his role in saying that Vince McMahon will always have the final say, and that changes from Heyman's side are going to take some time.
We're told that Heyman sits in the middle of the production meetings among other writers instead of at the front of the room, and has spoken to several team members about Vince McMahon coming to grips with the fact that the program needs to be upgraded, and with that happening, true change could be on the way.
The edgier nature of Raw was pitched as a "third hour" idea months ago, and was short lived. After the success of last week's episode of Raw under a new direction for the duration of the show, the company is hoping to recapture that magic, and the lost teenage audience.
Some we've talked with are still taking the "wait and see" approach, but there is more optimism as it relates to things after last week's Raw.
