Generally speaking, we stopped posting information on the “most popular” shows on WWE Network. There’s no actual viewing numbers to work with and posting a weekly, vague list gets quickly repetitive.

However, sites have recently begun posting lists with incomplete data and using them to push the narrative that 205 Live is a resounding (viewership) flop. Most recently, sites are highlighting how the cancelled Talking Smack trounces it every week. Some even state that the Cruiserweight show doesn’t even reach the top 20. This is incorrect and misleading. Allow me to explain why.

For those unaware, the WWE Network UI has a “most popular” top 20 list built into it. It gets updated roughly 5-6 days a week, and only includes on demand viewing. This includes any livestream programming restarted by a user as well as videos directly picked from the VOD library. The quirk is that the list is updated on a 24-hour delay. When sites check the list on a Wednesday morning (for example)

The quirk is that the list is updated on a 24-hour delay. When sites check the list on a Wednesday morning (for example) it doesn’t include Tuesday night’s data yet. Furthermore, the data is accumulative. If you check on Wednesday, you have 2 days worth of information. If you check on Saturday, you get a full 5 days worth of data and can see the big picture.

To prove the point, here is the full, 20 show listing of “most popular” programming when you incorporate a full week of data:

NXT 401 (07/12/2017) WWE Great Balls of Fire WWE 24: Kurt Angle – Homecoming WWE 24: Finn Balor 205 Live 33 (07/11/207) WWE Talking Smack (07/11/2017) WrestleMania 33 NXT 400 (07/05/2017 WWE Ride Along (Wilkes-Barre Way) Music Power 10 WWE Money in the Bank 2017 WWE vs ECW: Head to Head WWE Royal Rumble 2017 WWE Ride Along (Jeri-KO’s Last Ride) WWE ECW 01 NXT 399 (06/28/2017) Table For 3 (Team Eck RAW Talk (Great Balls of Fire First Look (Kevin Owens Raw 1255

This list isn’t designed to sway anyone in a specific direction. This is presented merely to offer the facts in as unbiased a way as possible. Feel free to discuss any talking points in the comments.