The Wrestling Observer Newsletter has unveiled comprehensive insights into the business performance of WWE SummerSlam 2023, offering a detailed overview of attendance, live gate, and other key statistics. As previously highlighted, WWE celebrated the achievement of multiple record-breaking feats during the pay-per-view event, with an announced attendance figure of 59,194.
However, the WON’s analysis indicates a slightly different attendance figure, recording 51,477 attendees, of which approximately 47,000 were paid admissions, corroborating reports from WrestleTix.
The live gate generated a substantial $8.5 million, propelling SummerSlam 2023 into the ranks of the top ten highest-grossing gates in wrestling history. This milestone overtakes the record set by last year’s Clash at the Castle pay-per-view event, which accumulated $8,140,000. Although SummerSlam’s tenure at the helm of non-WrestleMania gates is predicted to be short-lived due to the anticipated surpassing by AEW All In’s $9 million gate, its achievement is a testament to the event’s strong draw.
An intriguing revelation emerges regarding the average ticket price of SummerSlam 2023, standing at an impressive $180.85. This figure positions it among the highest-priced WWE shows in history, surpassed only by WrestleMania events. To provide context, WrestleMania 39’s average ticket prices were recorded at $150.58 and $158.77 for night one and night two respectively, with WrestleMania 35 securing the record with an average of around $234.
In terms of viewership, WWE proudly declared SummerSlam 2023 as the third most-watched pay-per-view event on the Peacock platform, trailing behind this year’s WrestleMania pay-per-view event. The shift of viewers to Peacock is reflected in the decline of traditional PPV buys, which amounted to 15,900 for SummerSlam 2023, a decrease from the previous year’s 18,600. Remarkably, SummerSlam 2023 managed to achieve a cumulative viewership of over two million, a notable distinction that positions it as only the fourth pay-per-view event in history to attain such a feat.
Delving into crossover metrics, a smaller percentage of SummerSlam 2023 purchasers, specifically 4.6%, ventured into the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door realm, marking a comparatively lower crossover than Money in the Bank. Furthermore, of those who bought SummerSlam 2023, a modest 33.9% opted to also purchase Money in the Bank 2023, offering a glimpse into the intricate dynamics of viewership and fandom engagement.
