WWE Trying New Strategy To Keep Viewers During NBA Playoff Game

WWE made a heavy push to remind viewers that the United States Championship match between Theory and Cody Rhodes was starting at a very specific time during last night’s Raw. Typically, fans aren’t informed about match orders in advance. With the NBA Playoffs slicing into pro wrestling viewership across the board, WWE took a shot at creating some appointment viewing.

Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed how hard WWE pushed the US title match during last night’s Raw. On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Alvarez noted that the ratings usually fall off after 10:15. Dave explained that they may have been working to compete against last night’s NBA Playoff action.

“I don’t know if there was anything like as far as, you know, was there a basketball game at halftime? I don’t know. But there was very clearly a strategy because usually when they announce a match, they may tell you it’s the main event, or they may open the show with it, but they just don’t tell you. This one, it was almost like saying, ‘Hey, if you want to tune out to the basketball game, this is when you tune back in.

They hit it hard. It wasn’t like it was just said once. It was said over and over. The announcers were clearly told, ‘You hit this thing freakin’ hard, over and over and over for the first two hours of the show. At 10 PM we are doing this US Title match.’ And they promoted it like that.”

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The NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies tipped off at just after 10 PM. WWE may have been gunning to get eyes on their show and away from the NBA. Every wrestling show has been suffering due to the mass appeal of the NBA playoffs.

We will have to wait for the ratings to come out to see if the strategy paid off. It wouldn’t hurt WWE much if it didn’t, as the NBA is extremely popular among their shared demographic. Vince McMahon and his crew are doing what they can to weather the storm.

What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments!

Transcription by Ringside News