WWE: Update on Beth Phoenix Expired WWE Contract & Career Future, A&E WWE Ratings, More on NXT July 23, 2024 Viewership

Update on Beth Phoenix’s Expired WWE Contract & Career Future

As noted before, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix’s contract with WWE reportedly recently expired and is no longer with the company.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that despite not wrestling any matches for well over a year, Phoenix is in terrific shape and could return to the ring if she chose to do so.

In regards to the future of Phoenix’s wrestling career, those spoken to reportedly stated that there has been some talk backstage within AEW about the idea of potentially bringing her to their company. It was reported that it is currently not known if AEW has held any actual talks with Phoenix nor if they have any potential debut plans for her. One source spoken to reportedly stated that Phoenix likely would only return to wrestling once her husband Adam Copeland comes back from his fractured tibia injury.

It was reported that several promoters have recently inquired if Phoenix is interested in taking indies bookings if she were to resume her wrestling career.

In regards to her ring name, it was reported that Phoenix would be able to to use her “Beth Phoenix” ring name outside of WWE due to her owning it.

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A&E WWE Programming Ratings – July 21, 2024

This past Sunday’s Biography: WWE Legends episode drew 208,000 viewers on A&E. This episode also drew a 0.05 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This was up compared to last week’s episode’s 160,000 viewers and 0.05 rating. This episode focused on Mark Henry.

Source: Programming Insider

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More on NXT Viewership for July 23, 2024

The July 23rd episode of WWE NXT saw NXT gain a small increase in overall viewership but also suffered a slight decline in key demographic ratings.

NXT drew 633,000 viewers and a 0.19 key demographic rating on USA Network. NXT’s key demographic ranking for that night is currently not known.

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

Dave Meltzer reported that the main reasons for NXT’s mixed results was due to the large gain from their Over 50 viewership demographic group, which its percentage was not given. This reportedly mostly offset the decline from their overall key demographic group, which was down 9% compared to last week’s show.

In regards to notable head-to-head competition, the MLB game of New York Mets vs. New York Yankees drew 676,000 viewers on TBS, Secret of Skinwalker Ranch drew 1,327,000 viewers on History Channel, Deadliest Catch drew 943,000 viewers on Discovery Channel, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta drew 364,000 viewers on MTV, Chopped drew 541,000 viewers on Food Network, and Real Housewives of Dubai drew 305,000 viewers on BRAVO.

In terms of key demographic viewership, NXT had 244,000 viewers.

In terms of yearly comparisons, NXT was down 10% in overall viewership and down 17.5% in key demographic viewership.