Pro wrestling is going through a booming period, and let's take a look at some of the biggest players in their advertising game.
EDO, a TV advertising analytics company, has profiled WWE and AEW, giving strong marks to both. Wrestling remains a major draw for TV advertisers due to its large, engaged audience.
WWE’s Monday Night Raw, the longest-running weekly episodic program, will move to Netflix in January 2025. This transition signifies a major shift in the platform for WWE’s flagship show. Meanwhile, AEW has established itself as a strong competitor in the wrestling world. Its Dynamite show frequently tops cable ratings on Wednesday nights, demonstrating its popularity among viewers.
WWE's rise is thanks to Endeavor merging the company with the UFC and Vince McMahon departed from the company, leaving things to Triple H and Nick Khan's vision. That momentum has been noticed all over.
AEW's ad effectiveness has seen notable growth, particularly on its Rampage program. Brands such as Bud Light and Crest have experienced increased engagement through their advertising on AEW shows.
WWE’s programs, including Raw and SmackDown, also show significant ad engagement. Top advertisers like Credible and Purple have reported impressive results from their campaigns on these shows. Advertisers benefit from the high engagement rates of these programs, making them effective platforms for brand promotion.
Top 10 AEW Advertisers
Here are the top 10 most effective advertisers on AEW programming, among brands with 10 or more airings from April 2023 through March 2024:
- Innovation Refunds (+284% more effective than the average AEW advertiser)
- Just for Men (+201%)
- Pampers (+195%)
- Ferrero Rocher (+182%)
- Bud Light (+169%)
- Crest (+108%)
- Miller Lite (+102%)
- Schwarzkopf (+97%)
- Applebee's (+93%)
- Diet Coke (+93%)
Top 10 WWE Advertisers
The top 10 most effective advertisers on WWE programming, among brands with 10 or more airings from April 2023 through March 2024, include:
- Credible (+2,978% more effective than the average WWE advertiser)
- Purple (+490%)
- Dawn (+224%)
- Depend (+215%)
- Hot Pockets (+200%)
- NyQuil (+194%)
- Mattel (+190%)
- Puffs (+180%)
- Miller Lite (+177%)
- Mr. Clean (+177%)