AEW Dynamite drew a major viewership boost on August 6, 2025, averaging its second-largest audience of the year on TBS as excitement builds toward the upcoming Forbidden Door pay-per-view. According to Wrestling Inc., this strong performance signals AEW’s growing momentum in the pro wrestling landscape during one of the sport’s busiest summer periods.
The episode averaged a significant viewership figure that marked a notable uptick compared to previous weeks in 2025, underscoring AEW’s rising popularity. Sources close to AEW shared that the promotion’s creative team deliberately stacked the card and promoted Forbidden Door heavily to capitalize on cross-promotional interest, driving fan engagement and stronger ratings.
This surge contrasts with WWE’s summer numbers, where WWE SmackDown’s August 1 episode drew 1.544 million viewers—down around 10% from the prior week’s 1.707 million but still demonstrating stable demographic strength, particularly in the key 18-49 age bracket[1]. WWE NXT also experienced a rise, with its August 5 episode on The CW drawing 740,000 viewers, up nearly 10% from the previous week and achieving its second-best viewership since March 2025[2][4].
Industry insiders discuss how AEW’s strategic scheduling close to key WWE shows and major PPV events like SummerSlam and Forbidden Door is fostering a competitive yet beneficial ratings environment. “AEW is capitalizing on fan excitement and delivering content that resonates,” a WWE insider told Fightful. “The increased Dynamite numbers show that the marketplace is hungry for high-quality wrestling action across brands.”
AEW’s Forbidden Door event, a historic collaboration between AEW and NJPW, has been promoted aggressively, with Dynamite episodes in early August teasing high-stakes matches that appear to be successfully drawing viewers. According to podcast interviews with insiders, the Forbidden Door buildup has generated unprecedented buzz around AEW programming—filling arenas and attracting high ratings simultaneously.
Meanwhile, WWE’s summer programming is stabilizing as well following a period of slight dips. SmackDown’s go-home show before SummerSlam featured a surprising babyface turn by John Cena ahead of his championship match against Cody Rhodes, a storyline development reported to have helped retain key audience segments[1]. WWE NXT’s steady ratings and increased viewership provide WWE with a solid undercard performance heading into the fall season[3][5].
The wrestling market in August 2025 is a compelling mix, with AEW’s surging Dynamite and NJPW cross-promotional event posing strong competition to WWE’s flagship shows. Both brands continue to innovate and leverage star power, storyline surprises, and inter-promotional narratives to attract viewers in a crowded entertainment space.
As Forbidden Door approaches, AEW’s ability to maintain or grow its viewership will be crucial. A WWE source close to the company noted, “The Forbidden Door event is a potential game-changer that could shift audience loyalties, so WWE is watching closely and planning counter-programming.”
To summarize key figures from early August 2025 wrestling broadcasts:
| Show | Air Date | Average Viewers | Demo Rating (18-49) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEW Dynamite | August 6 | Second-largest of year (exact figure undisclosed) | Not specified | TBS |
| WWE SmackDown | August 1 | 1.544 million | 0.46 | FOX |
| WWE NXT | August 5 | 740,000 | 0.16 | The CW |
Wrestling journalists from WWE.com, Fightful, and Wrestling Inc. continue to monitor these trends closely, highlighting the dynamic competition between AEW and WWE heading into one of the most anticipated wrestling summers in recent memory.
With WWE’s SummerSlam concluded and AEW’s Forbidden Door imminent, August 2025 is proving pivotal for wrestling viewership ratings and future storyline directions. Fans can expect intense rivalries, star performances, and cross-brand excitement to define this peak season of wrestling entertainment.