By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown finished with an average of 1.03 million viewers for USA Network, according to ProgrammingInsider.com. The number was down compared to the previous episode’s 1.238 million viewership average.
Powell’s POV: Friday’s Smackdown finished with a 0.23 rating in the 18-49 demographic, down compared to the previous week’s 0.35 rating. The WNBA Finals game one topped the ratings with 1.858 million viewers and a 0.44 rating for ESPN. The numbers continue to be way down for pro wrestling television shows following the recent Nielsen switch to the new “Big Data + Panel” system. If you want to learn more about the Nielsen change, check out the new Pro Wrestling Boom podcast with my guest Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics.com. One year earlier, the October 4, 2024, edition of Smackdown produced 1.518 million viewers and a 0.45 rating for USA Network for the Bad Blood go-home show.
(Jason Powell, founder and editor of ProWrestling.net, has covered pro wrestling full-time dating back to 1997. He hosts a weekly podcast, Pro Wrestling Boom, and also appears regularly on the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast. Reach him via email at dotnetjason@gmail.com and on social media via @prowrestlingnet.bsky.social or x.com/prowrestlingnet. For his full bio and information on this website, click here.)
The Smackdown rating is actually a 4 year low. Odd that wasn’t mentioned, even though I think the “new” rating system is the issue.
And there is LITERALLY no way the WNBA finished first, either.
Yes, Angry Mike, the deep state conspired to boost the WNBA television ratings.