WWE SmackDown ratings down with NFL preemptions

Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown averaged 2.097 million viewers on Fox, down 6.7 percent from the previous week. It’s the lowest viewership total for the show since May 5.

SmackDown was preempted in several markets due to local Fox stations carrying NFL preseason football. In those markets, the show either aired on tape delay or on an alternate station.

The show drew a 0.55 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 11.3 percent from last week. It topped all network television, more than doubling the closest competition, but it was the lowest rating for a Fox broadcast of the show since May 26.

As compared to the same week in 2022, SmackDown was up 8.8 percent in overall viewers and up 25 percent in the 18-49 demo. The show had similar NFL preemptions at this point last year, so the week-to-week drops were expected and the year-over-year gains are similar to what the show has been doing of late.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for Fox airings of SmackDown, along with the 10-week averages in both categories. This week’s show was down 11.6 percent in overall viewers and down 14.1 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.