Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite tribute episode honoring PAC attracted 899,000 viewers on TBS, marking the show’s highest cable viewership since October 2023.
Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer shared the data on X, noting that the program earned a 0.22 rating among the 18-49 age group and a 0.32 rating in the 25-54 demographic, with these figures excluding HBO Max streaming audiences.
The September 23 broadcast, which lasted three hours with the final hour designated as Collision, saw 641,000 viewers and a 0.10 rating in 18-49 for Dynamite, alongside 493,000 viewers and a 0.08 rating for Collision. Wednesday’s episode surpassed the Dynamite segment from that day by approximately 40%, or 258,000 viewers.
This 899,000-viewer count is the highest since the October 18, 2023 episode, which drew 901,000, while the 0.22 demo rating matches AEW’s best since November 13, 2024.
It’s worth noting that Nielsen altered its Big Data + Panel measurement method in January 2026, making direct historical comparisons less precise.
Held at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Wednesday’s show paid homage to PAC, who passed away on September 27 at 40 years old. The tribute opened with a ten-bell salute and concluded with a video highlighting PAC’s career.
Analysis
AEW’s cable ratings haven’t reached this level in several years, and these TBS numbers represent only part of the total audience. Since January 2025, Dynamite has been simulcast on HBO Max, but the streaming viewership has not been disclosed by Warner Bros. Discovery or AEW. Including HBO Max viewers likely pushes total viewership closer to or beyond one million. Additionally, HBO Max subscribers watch without commercials, which may lead some fans to prefer streaming over cable.
This significant ratings boost is clearly linked to the tribute’s poignant circumstances. It will be interesting to observe if this surge brings back former viewers or attracts newcomers to tune in for upcoming episodes.
Fan Take:
This spike in viewership highlights how powerful storytelling and genuine tributes can resonate deeply with wrestling fans, reaffirming AEW’s unique connection with its audience. If AEW can maintain this momentum, it could usher in a new era of growth and greater mainstream recognition for professional wrestling.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
