WARNING: 
Lyra Valkyria has been added to a high-profile match on tonight’s WrestleMania go-home episode of Monday Night RAW, giving the already stacked show another major in-ring attraction.
If you reference any quotes from this piece, please attribute them to the original source, and kindly credit WrestlingNewsSource.com (h/t) for the transcription.
Popular Tags
Popular Articles
Join WNS Discord
Donate to WNS
Hashtag: #raw
TNA iMPACT saw a strong rebound in viewership for its April 9, 2026 episode, continuing a broader trend of stability since the move to AMC.
The show drew 257,000 viewers, a notable increase from the 200,000 viewers recorded on April 2. Despite the rise in total audience, the 18–49 demographic rating dipped slightly to 0.04, down from 0.05 the previous week. The April 9 episode also faced competition from AEW Collision during its first hour, which may have influenced the demo decline.
Looking at the full data set since the January 15 AMC debut, a clear pattern emerges.
TNA started in the 170,000 range (173K and 171K in mid-January) before gradually building momentum. By early February, the show had climbed to 241,000 viewers, and then peaked at 254,000 on February 12. That stretch represents the strongest growth period, with consistent 0.05 demo ratings supporting the increase.
From mid-February through late March, the numbers stabilized. Viewership mostly held between 233,000 and 259,000, showing consistency rather than sharp growth. The demo rating fluctuated between 0.03 and 0.05, indicating some variability in the key audience but no major drop-off.
The biggest outlier came on April 2, when viewership dropped to 200,000. However, the immediate rebound to 257,000 on April 9 suggests that decline was temporary rather than the start of a downward trend.
Overall, the trend shows three phases:
The current average since February sits roughly in the 240,000–255,000 range, which aligns with the April 9 number. That indicates TNA has found a consistent audience on AMC, even with occasional fluctuations.
While the demo rating slipped slightly this week, the strong recovery in total viewers is a positive sign. If TNA can maintain numbers in the mid-200,000 range while stabilizing the demo closer to 0.05, the overall trajectory remains steady.
TNA iMPACT Viewership Rebounds on April 9 Following Early April Drop
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Advertisement
Rhea Ripley is heading into WrestleMania 42 with confidence, but she also wants Jade Cargill to walk away from their match feeling accomplished.
Speaking on Sneaker Shopping, Ripley discussed the upcoming WWE Women’s Championship match and made her expectations clear while still showing respect for her opponent.
“This is such a big match that people have wanted since she came to the WWE, and we finally come to it at WrestleMania 42. With her, I want to go out there and I want to give her a good match. Whether she wins or loses, because let’s be honest, I’m going to take her championship at WrestleMania 42. It’s going to happen. It’s Rhea bloody Ripley’s show. I’m going to take their championship. But I want her to be proud no matter what the outcome is,” Ripley said.
Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill has been building for months, with both competitors playing key roles in the women’s division. Ripley secured her opportunity by winning the Elimination Chamber match earlier this year.
The rivalry has also included outside involvement. Cargill has aligned with Michin and B-Fab, while Ripley has brought in IYO SKY as backup in recent weeks.
The Rhea Ripley Jade Cargill WrestleMania 42 match is scheduled for night one on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium.
While Ripley made it clear she expects to leave with the title, her comments show that she is also focused on delivering a performance that reflects well on both competitors on one of WWE’s biggest stages.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Advertisement
WWE has officially started work on the WrestleMania stage, but the WrestleMania 42 setup is beginning later than usual this year.
According to PWInsider, the production team only started building the set at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday evening, giving them just about a week before the second night of the event. That timeline is shorter than in previous years, where WWE typically gets earlier access to the venue.
The delay was caused by the stadium hosting Bruno Mars and his “The Romantic Tour” shows on Friday and Saturday. With the venue occupied, WWE had to wait before beginning its large-scale production setup.
Despite the late start, there are no reports suggesting the company will have issues completing the build in time. However, the tighter schedule is expected to lead to longer working hours for the production crew as they prepare the stage, ramp, and overall presentation.
The visual presentation of WrestleMania has always been a major part of the event, with fans paying close attention to the design of the set each year. Even with less time available, WWE is still expected to deliver its usual large-scale production.
Outside the stadium, WWE is also making efforts to promote its presence in Las Vegas during WrestleMania week. One example includes placing a large WWE Championship belt display at Harry Reid International Airport, where arriving fans are being greeted as they travel into the city.
The WrestleMania 42 setup timing comes as the company continues to push ticket sales for the event. While the production schedule is tighter than usual, the expectation remains that everything will be ready before the show begins.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Advertisement
Dana White was then asked by another reporter a very simple question, of all the fighters in the UFC, why does Donald Trump love Derrick Lewis so much? Judging by his answer, White is as puzzled as most people “He’s a fan. He likes Derrick Lewis. He likes his personality. He likes the way he fights. I don’t know, I mean what makes us a fan of anybody you know? I don’t know what it is, the President loves Derrick Lewis.”
Given that there aren’t going to be any prelims for UFC Freedom 250, the inclusion of Lewis vs. Hokit is a very special scenario that White didn’t plan for. However, if he can add one fight, is there a chance he can add more? In White’s mind, no. “I shouldn’t have done this one. But when the President looks at you and says, ‘Why is Derrick Lewis not on the card?’ you put Derrick Lewis on the card immediately. Unless he calls me and tells me to do something else there will be no more fights added to the card.”
With the addition of Lewis vs. Hokit, UFC Freedom 250 is now a seven fight card with two title fights sitting at the top of the bill. With that said, as White mentioned, if Trump becomes a fan of someone else between now and June 14, the fight card has the potential to grow.
Please credit the original source when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
