WWE SmackDown viewership gets big boost with CM Punk return
Last Friday’s WWE SmackDown averaged 1.212 million viewers on USA, up 13.9% from the previous week and its largest audience since May 22.
The show averaged a 0.24 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 4% from last week but still tying the third-highest rating it has done in that category since May 22.
The episode topped the primetime cable charts in the 18-49 demo and was third on all television, finishing 50% higher than any other cable show. It was fifth on the night in terms of total viewers on cable.
It was the first SmackDown since CM Punk won the WWE title and made an appearance on the show, setting up a big Saturday Night’s Main Event match.
As compared to the same week in 2025, overall viewership was down 13.4% while the 18-49 rating was down 35.1%.
Recent WWE SmackDown TV ratings
Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for WWE SmackDown on USA as well as the 10-week average in both categories. Last week’s show was up 4.6% in overall viewers but down 4% in 18-49 as compared to recent averages.
| Date | 18-49 | Total viewers |
| 5/1/2026 | 0.25 | 1,153,000 |
| 5/8/2026 | 0.29 | 1,279,000 |
| 5/15/2026 | 0.23 | 1,184,000 |
| 5/22/2026 | 0.29 | 1,258,000 |
| 5/29/2026 | 0.23 | 1,096,000 |
| 6/5/2026 | 0.24 | 1,089,000 |
| 6/12/2026 | 0.20 | 1,038,000 |
| 6/19/2026 | 0.25 | 1,191,000 |
| 6/26/2026 | 0.22 | 1,206,000 |
| 7/3/2026 | 0.25 | 1,064,000 |
| 7/10/2026 | 0.24 | 1,212,000 |
| 10 week average (through 7/3) | 0.25 | 1,155,800 |
