New Study Examines How Triple H Raised WWE Fan Interest Numbers 2023
According to a new report, business metrics support the notion that Triple H’s takeover of WWE’s creative department increased audience interest in the company’s product. Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics has published a new report examining several metrics that are affected by fan engagement, such as TV ratings and live events, and noting that they have increased from year to year under Triple H.
The report notes that year-over-year comparisons reveal a rise in Smackdown and Raw ratings, with Raw attracting 1.80 million viewers in eight months under Triple H (August to March) compared to 1.77 million viewers during the same time period under Vince McMahon.
How Triple H Raised WWE’s Audience Interest Metrics
This represents a 4% increase, which is contrary to WWE’s typical annual decline in viewership. From 2.14 million viewers in 2021 for the eight-month period under McMahon to 2.28 million viewers for the 2022 period under Triple H, Smackdown saw a 6% increase.
During the Triple H tenure, the average number of tickets sold for both Raw and Smackdown tapings increased, according to the report. Raw live event ticket sales increased by 25% from August to March in 2021 and 2022, from 6,787 to 8,463, whereas Smackdown live event ticket sales increased by 14%, from 7,532 to 8,555, from March to August of 2021 and 2022, respectively. The McMahon era saw a 2% increase in domestic house show attendance (from 4,436 to 4,357), but it was noted that this was entirely due to a significant jump in August 2022, when live events resumed following the pandemic, indicating pent-up demand for shows.
