WWE: Apology for Auschwitz Footage in Video Package, Brock Lesnar, More on NXT Apr. 4, 2023 Viewership

WWE Issues Statement Apologizing for Usage of Auschwitz Footage in Video Package At WrestleMania 39

As noted before, WWE was involved in an incident over the usage of controversial footage for their prison video package for Dominik Mysterio at this past Saturday’s WrestleMania 39 event. This video was later confirmed to have included footage from the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp resulting in the Auschwitz Memorial calling out the company for being “shameless” over its use for their show.

In a recent official statement to the Washington Post, WWE apologized for the usage of the controversial footage and stated that they had not known beforehand that it was from the Auschwitz concentration camp.

We had no knowledge of what was depicted. As soon as we learned, it was removed immediately.

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Brock Lesnar Comments on His WWE Career Future

ESPN MMA recently held an interview with Brock Lesnar. One of the topics discussed included Lesnar’s thoughts on the future of his WWE and wrestling career.

“Every time that I think that I’m done, I’m looking to… then I get in a ring, I get to the building, and that’s the part of the business that I really love. I left the business early because I just didn’t like the travel. I’m just a simple man, and it was just too much for me at the then. But I don’t know. I don’t know how much more that I’m gonna… I don’t know how long I’m gonna be around. I don’t know that.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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More on NXT Week 182 Viewership – April 4, 2023

The April 4th episode of WWE NXT saw NXT suffer a large decline in overall viewership and key demographic rankings and a small decline in key demographic ratings.

NXT drew 555,000 viewers and a 0.13 key demographic rating on USA Network. NXT’s key demographic ranking for that night was 42nd place.

Detailed viewership and key demographic breakdowns were not available in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Dave Meltzer reported that the main reason for NXT’s declines this week was due to very stiff news programming coverage of former United States President Donald Trump’s arrest, which took 21 out of the top 25 ranked shows that night. Another reason reportedly was due to the large declines from their female key demographic viewership and younger key demographic viewership groups, which were down 36.1% and 30.8% respectively compared to last week’s show.

In terms of non-news related head-to-head competition, the NBA game of Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers drew 1,034,000 viewers on TNT, the NHL game of Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Nashville Predators drew 292,000 viewers on ESPN, the MLB game of Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees drew 401,000 viewers on TBS, Curse of Oak Island drew 2,298,000 viewers on History Channel, 1000-lb Sisters drew 553,000 viewers on TLC, and Real Housewives of New Jersey drew 847,000 viewers on Bravo.

In terms of key demographic viewership, NXT had 169,000 viewers. Meltzer reported that the male/female viewership split was 123,000 male viewers (down 5.4%) and 46,000 female viewers (down 36.1%) for a split of 72.9% in favor of males.

In terms of yearly comparisons, NXT was down 12% in overall viewership and down 5.6% in key demographic viewership. Meltzer reported that NXT’s 18-34 viewership was equal compared to the same week last year.