WWE SmackDown Draws Lowest Key Demo Rating In Months, Viewership Down From Last Week
Friday's live edition of WWE SmackDown drew an average of 2.142 million viewers on FOX, according to Nielsen, via Showbuzz Daily.
This final number is down 3.94% from the previous week's final viewership of 2.230 million viewers for the post-WrestleMania 38 episode.
Friday's SmackDown drew a 0.48 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. This is down 20% from the previous week's 0.60 rating. This week's 0.48 key demo rating represents 623,000 18-49 viewers, which is down 20.93% from the 788,000 18-49 viewers that the previous week's 0.60 key demo rating drew, according to Wrestlenomics.
SmackDown ranked #2 in ratings for the key 18-49 demographic on network TV, down from the previous week's #1 ranking. SmackDown ranked #1 in the 18-34 demo this week, even with the previous week's #1 ranking. SmackDown ranked #1 in the 25-54 demo, even with the previous week's #1 ranking. SmackDown came in at #6 for the night in viewership on network TV, up from the previous week's #7 ranking. Shark Tank on ABC topped the night on network TV in the key demographic this week with a 0.49 rating, also drawing 3.741 million viewers for the #2 spot. Dateline on NBC topped the night on network TV in viewership this week with 4.004 million viewers, also drawing a key demo rating of 0.47 for the #3 spot.
Friday's SmackDown drew the lowest key demo rating for a FOX episode since July 2, 2021, and the lowest total audience since February 25 of this year for the post-Elimination Chamber episode. Friday's viewership was down 3.94% from the previous week's episode, while the key demo rating was down 20% from the previous week's episode.
Viewership for Friday's SmackDown episode was up 1.09% from the same week in 2021, while Friday's 18-49 key demo rating was down 14.28% from the same week in 2021. The 2021 episode was the post-WrestleMania 37 show.
The NBA game between the Hawks and the Cavaliers on ESPN topped the night on the Cable Top 150 with a 1.12 key demo rating, also drawing 3.065 million viewers. The Five on FOX News topped the night on cable in viewership with 3.153 million viewers, also drawing a key demo rating of 0.23.
Friday's SmackDown aired live from the DCU Center in Worcester, MA with the just a few happenings advertised ahead of time – RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro hunt for SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos, Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn, WWE Intercontinental Champion Ricochet defends against Jinder Mahal, plus RAW Tag Team Champion Riddle vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champion Jimmy Uso in the main event.
Stay tuned for more ratings data. Below is our 2022 SmackDown Viewership Tracker, along with the Top 10 moments from Friday's show:
January 7 Episode: 2.271 million viewers with a 0.58 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Day 1 episode)
January 14 Episode: 2.174 million viewers with a 0.56 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 21 Episode: 2.255 million viewers with a 0.64 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 28 Episode: 2.217 million viewers with a 0.56 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 4 Episode: 2.151 million viewers with a 0.51 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Royal Rumble episode)
February 11 Episode: 2.231 million viewers with a 0.55 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 18 Episode: 2.173 million viewers with a 0.54 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Taped episode)
February 25 Episode: 2.114 million viewers with a 0.57 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Elimination Chamber episode)
March 4 Episode: 2.261 million viewers with a 0.59 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 11 Episode: 2.226 million viewers with a 0.57 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 18 Episode: 2.147 million viewers with a 0.58 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 25 Episode: 2.180 million viewers with a 0.49 rating in the 18-49 demographic
April 1 Episode: 2.359 million viewers with a 0.61 rating in the 18-49 demographic (WrestleMania SmackDown episode)
April 8 Episode: 2.230 million viewers with a 0.60 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-WrestleMania 38 episode)
April 15 Episode: 2.142 million viewers with a 0.48 rating in the 18-49 demographic
April 22 Episode:
2021 Viewership Average: 2.050 million viewers per episode (2,082,154 without Best Of episode)
2021 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.54 rating per episode (0.55 without Best Of episode)
2021 FOX Viewership Average: 2.127 million viewers per episode
2021 FOX 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.56 rating per episode
2021 FS1 Viewership Average: 758,667 viewers per episode (includes Best Of episode; 949,000 without it)
2021 FS1 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.20 rating per episode (includes Best Of episode; 0.27 without it)
2020 Viewership Average: 2.180 million viewers per episode (2 FS1 airings)
2019 Viewership Average: 2.164 million viewers per episode (1 FS1 airing)
2018 Viewership Average: 2.352 million viewers per episode
2017 Viewership Average: 2.546 million viewers per episode