Raw Rating: Christmas Eve episode drops to another all-time low, sharply down with pre-taped episode, key metrics and perspective

The Dec. 24 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw drew a record-low 1.22 rating on USA Network. Last year, on Christmas night, it drew a 1.69. Two years ago, on Dec. 26, drew a 1.94. The 2018 average is now 1.96. The ten-week rolling average is 1.64

The first hour viewership was 1.752 million, down from last week’s opening hour viewership of 2.558 million. The second hour viewership was 1.789 million, down from last week’s 2.367 million. The third hour drew 1.784 million, down from last week’s 2.367 million.

In the target demographic of 18-49 year olds, the only cable shows that beat Raw were NFL-related shows on ESPN. Raw’s three hours finished in spots 4, 5, 6 behind the NFL programs. The NFL Monday Night Football game drew a 2.3 rating in the 18-49 demo and 8.597 million viewers compared to Raw’s 0.6, 0.5, and 0.5 hourly ratings and just under 1.80 million viewers.

While the rating this week for Raw can be “excused” to a certain degree because it fell on Christmas Eve, last year’s Raw didn’t experience nearly the same drop-off for a Christmas night airing. Last year it dropped from 1.95 to 1.69, and this year it dropped from 1.74 to 1.22.

Monday Night Football was down to 8.597 million viewers compared to 13.006 million the week before, although it was a weaker game this week (Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders) than last week (New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers).

RELATED: 12/24 WWE Monday Night Raw Results: Keller’s report and analysis on special Christmas-themed episode including Rousey vs. Natalya, Corbin vs. Seth, Lashley vs. Elias