Big viewership test tonight for WWE Smackdown after alarmingly low rating for episode advertising John Cena last week – full ratings details

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

Despite an advertised appearance by John Cena, last Friday night’s (8/29) episode of WWE Smackdown on USA Network averaged 1,147,000 viewers heading into Memorial Day Weekend, compared to 1,258,000 the prior week and the 1,430,000 the week before that. The prior ten-week rolling average is 1,453,000

Although the holiday can partially explain this dropoff, it is part of a larger downward trend. Smackdown drew 1.707 million on July 25, so this latest viewership number is over 550,000 lower one month later. On the Fourth of July holiday two months ago, it drew 1.116 million and then rebounded the next week to 1.399 million, still below the 1.450 million it drew the week before, but solid.

The key 1849 demo was even worse, drawing a 0.28. compared to 0.35 the prior two weeks and as recently as July 25 and Aug. 8, it drew 0.48 ratings. On the Fourth of July, it drew a 0.32 rating, so last Friday was the worst demo rating of the year.

There will be a lot of eyes on Smackdown’s rating this week to see if it was blip or part of a concerning trend for WWE losing viewer interest. It’s especially concerning since John Cena was advertised for the show, and his return this year was supposed to be a boost to WWE viewership.

WWE is advertising the following tonight:

• John Cena makes final appearance in Chicago
• C.M. Punk returns to SmackDown
• Sami Zayn returns to Smackdown as new U.S. Champion

There is also some hope and anticipation of possible appearances by A.J. Lee and Brock Lesnar.

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

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MORE PERSPECTIVE – COMPARING PAST TWO YEARS

One year ago this week, Smackdown on Fox drew 2,054,000 viewers on Fox. The ten-week rolling average a year ago was 2,204,000.

Two years ago this week, Smackdown on Fox drew 2,647,000. Then ten-week rolling average was 2,237,000.

In the key 18-49 demo, Smackdown drew a 0.28 rating, compared to 0.35 and 0.35 the prior two weeks. The prior ten-week rolling average was 0.41.

One year ago, Smackdown drew a a 0.53 rating with a ten-week rolling average of 0.61.

Two years ago, it drew a 0.78 rating with a ten-week rolling average of 0.61.

The announced matches and segments were…

• Solo Sikoa vs. Sami Zayn – United States Championship match
• The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. Melo Don’t Miz (Carmelo Hayes & The Miz) – WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender’s match
• Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. The Secret Hervice (Piper Niven & Alba Fyre) – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match
• Michin vs. Kiana James
• John Cena to address Logan Paul’s blindside attack

Check out our RATINGS HEADQUARTERS PAGE for more ratings reports.

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