WWE SmackDown ratings down against big MLB playoff number

Friday night’s WWE SmackDown averaged 1.025 million viewers on USA Network, down 0.5 percent from the previous week. That sets a new record low for a SmackDown episode airing on USA Network and is the lowest overall number for the show since a November 2023 edition on FS1.

The episode took place in Australia and aired live on Netflix overseas before being shown on tape delay for the USA Network airing. In the 18-49 demo, the broadcast drew a 0.22 rating. That’s down 4.3 percent from last week and is also a record low for SmackDown on USA Network. It’s SmackDown’s lowest overall rating in that category since a Best Of special on New Year’s Eve 2021 that did a 0.08.

SmackDown finished fifth on television in the key demo. It went head-to-head with a Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers game on Fox that averaged 8.049 million viewers and drew a 1.74 rating in 18-49, making it the most-watched MLB Divisional series playoff game in 14 years. There was also competition from a WNBA Finals game on ESPN and college football on ESPN2.

As compared to the same week in 2024, when the ratings were still measured under Nielsen’s old panel-only system, SmackDown’s overall viewership was down 38 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 55.1 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for SmackDown, along with the 10-week average in both categories. Prior to October 3, the ratings were reported under the old system with Nielsen’s new Big Data + Panel method replacing it that week. Since then, wrestling numbers have taken a big hit across the board compared to what they were previously doing.