WWE SmackDown received a seismic jolt of excitement with the electrifying return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, accompanied by the charismatic Pat McAfee, on the September 15th episode. The result was not only a thrilling night for fans but also a notable uptick in viewership. Let’s delve into the numbers and see how the recent episode fared compared to previous editions.
According to Alfred Konuwa, the September 15th episode of SmackDown brought in an overnight average of 2.445 million viewers, with a significant 834,000 falling within the coveted 18 to 49 demographic. This episode was marked by high-octane action, including The Rock delivering a spinebuster and his iconic People’s Elbow to Austin Theory during the adrenaline-pumping opening segment that lasted nearly twenty minutes. While The Rock made another appearance just before the close of the first hour, his presence was limited during the second hour, except for a highlight clip.
Now, let’s rewind a bit to gauge the momentum leading up to this episode. The September 8th episode of WWE SmackDown, which served as the aftermath following WWE Payback, recorded an overnight viewership of 1.969 million, with a .47 in the 18 to 49 demographic.
The September 1st episode, the go-home show before WWE Payback, drew an average of 2.28 million viewers, along with a .6 in the 18 to 49 demographic.
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Going back to August 25th, SmackDown averaged 2.505 million viewers and scored a .71 in the 18 to 49 demographic. This episode was particularly emotional as it paid tribute to Bray Wyatt and wrestling legend Terry Funk.
The August 18th episode brought in 2.233 million viewers, accompanied by a .53 in the 18 to 49 demographic. While it didn’t feature any Bloodline members, the focus was squarely on the charismatic Edge.
On August 11th, SmackDown recorded an overnight average of 2.650 million viewers, securing a .6 in the 18 to 49 demographic. Notably, some markets aired a game instead, affecting the viewership.
Moving to August 4th, the episode registered an overnight viewership of 2.15 million, with 744,000 in the 18 to 49 demographic, ranking #1 in their demographic for the night.
On July 28th, SmackDown’s fast national number was 2.17 million viewers, with projections ranging between 2.23 million and 2.34 million viewers.
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A standout was the July 21st episode on FS1, which brought in 1.182 million viewers, a 31% increase from their previous FS1 appearance, with 448,000 in the coveted 18 to 49 demographic.
As we step into the earlier part of July, the July 14th episode averaged 2.157 million viewers, with a .54 in the 18 to 49 demographic.
On July 7th, SmackDown garnered an overnight viewership of 2.375 million, buoyed by a .7 in the 18 to 49 demographic. This episode followed Money in the Bank, with the Bloodline’s segment kicking off the broadcast.
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Lastly, the June 30th episode posted an overnight average of 2,510,000 viewers, accompanied by a .69 in the 18 to 49 demographic.
The return of The Rock alongside Pat McAfee has undoubtedly sparked a surge of interest among WWE SmackDown viewers. With electrifying moments and memorable segments, the show continues to be a highlight of the wrestling calendar.
