WWE SmackDown Final Viewership Down For Post-Royal Rumble Episode With Edge's Return

Friday's live post-Royal Rumble edition of WWE SmackDown, featuring fallout from the pay-per-view with the return of WWE Hall of Famer Edge, drew an average of 2.257 million viewers on FOX, according to Showbuzz Daily.

This final number is up from the overnight viewership that was released on Saturday morning, which was an average of 2.126 million viewers. This number is down from last week's final SmackDown viewership of 2.304 million viewers for the Rumble go-home episode.

Friday's SmackDown drew a 0.65 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, a 0.82 rating in the 25-54 demo, and a 0.34 rating in the 18-34 demographic. Last week's SmackDown drew a 0.62 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, a 0.78 rating in the 25-54 demo, and a 0.38 rating in the 18-34 demographic.

SmackDown ranked #2 in ratings for the key 18-49 demographic on network TV, behind Shark Tank, which drew a 0.78. SmackDown also ranked #2 in the 18-34 demo this week, behind Shark Tank, which drew a 0.45. The show ranked #6 in the 25-54 demo. SmackDown came in at #8 for the night in viewership on network TV. Blue Bloods on CBS topped the night on network TV in viewership this week with 6.513 million viewers.

The NBA game on ESPN between the Celtics and the Clippers topped the night on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.44 rating in the 18-49 demographic, drawing 1.293 million viewers. Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC topped the night in cable viewership with 3.330 million viewers, ranking #11 on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.23 rating in the key demo.

Below is our 2021 SmackDown Viewership Tracker:

January 1 Episode: 2.013 million viewers with a 0.53 rating in the 18-49 demographic (New Year's episode)
January 8 Episode: 2.120 million viewers with a 0.56 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 15 Episode: 2.262 million viewers with a 0.67 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 22 Episode: 2.383 million viewers with a 0.63 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 29 Episode: 2.304 million viewers with a 0.62 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 5 Episode: 2.257 million viewers with a 0.65 rating in the 18-49 demographic (post-Royal Rumble episode)
February 12 Episode:

2020 Total: 113.372 million viewers
2020 Average: 2.180 million viewers per episode (2 FS1 airings)

2019 Total: 112.530 million viewers
2019 Average: 2.164 million viewers per episode (1 FS1 airing)

2018 Total: 122.304 million viewers
2018 Average: 2.352 million viewers per episode

2017 Total: 132.401 million viewers
2017 Average: 2.546 million viewers per episode