WWE SmackDown ratings up for WrestleMania Backlash go-home show

Friday night’s WrestleMania Backlash go-home edition of SmackDown averaged 1.998 million viewers on Fox, up 2.3 percent from the previous week’s episode (which went against night two of the NFL draft in addition to the NBA playoffs).

This is the best audience for SmackDown since April 15.

In the 18-49 demo, SmackDown drew a 0.46 rating, up 21.1 percent from the previous week. It’s still the second-lowest rating the show has done on Fox since WWE’s return to touring last July.

SmackDown tied ABC’s Shark Tank for the top spot on network television in 18-49 but trailed two NBA playoff games on ESPN, as well as ESPN’s pre-game show and the post-game edition of SportsCenter.

SmackDown led network TV with a 0.34 rating in the 18-34 demo, up 54.5 percent from the previous week.

As compared to the same week in 2021, SmackDown was down 12.5 percent in viewers and down 29.2 percent in the 18-49 demo. The NBA playoffs had not yet started at this point last year.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo numbers for SmackDown. This week’s show was down 7.3 percent in viewers and down 13.2 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages in both categories.