Friday’s live post-Backlash edition of WWE SmackDown drew an average of 2.149 million viewers on FOX, according to Nielsen, via Showbuzz Daily.
This final number is up 4.37% from the previous week’s final viewership of 2.059 million viewers for the post-Draft and Backlash go-home show.
Friday’s SmackDown drew a 0.56 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. This is up 7.69% from the previous week’s 0.52 rating. This past week’s 0.56 key demo rating represents 731,000 18-49 viewers, which is up 7.82% from the 678,000 18-49 viewers that the previous week’s 0.52 key demo rating drew, according to Wrestlenomics.
SmackDown ranked #1 in ratings for the key 18-49 demographic on network TV, even with the previous week’s #1 ranking. SmackDown ranked #2 in the 18-34 demo this week, down from the previous week’s #1 ranking. SmackDown ranked #1 in the 25-54 demo, even with the previous week’s #1 ranking. SmackDown came in at #6 for the night in viewership on network TV, up from the previous week’s #7 ranking. Blue Bloods on CBS topped the night on network TV in viewership with an average of 5.461 million viewers, also drawing a 0.28 key demo rating.
SmackDown drew the second-lowest total audience of the year so far, and the fourth-lowest key demo rating of the year so far. Friday’s show drew over the 2022 FOX average in viewership and the key demo rating. Friday’s SmackDown viewership was up 4.37% from the previous week, and the key demo rating was up 7.69% from the previous week.
Viewership for Friday’s SmackDown episode was up 13.52% from the same week in 2022, while Friday’s 18-49 key demo rating was up 40% from the same week in 2022. The 2022 show was the post-WrestleMania Backlash episode.
The NBA Playoffs game between the Warriors and the Lakers on ESPN at 10:18pm topped the day on the Cable Top 150 with a 3.15 key demo rating. The Warriors vs. Lakers NBA game also topped the day on cable in viewership with 8.640 million viewers.
Friday’s live post-Backlash edition of SmackDown aired from the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee, with the following line-up advertised ahead of time – WWE Backlash fallout, the post-Draft roster officially going into effect, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns making his first appearance since RAW After WrestleMania, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez defending against Bayley and Dakota Kai, a WWE World Heavyweight Title Tournament First Round Triple Threat with Edge vs. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles, and a WWE World Heavyweight Title Tournament First Round Triple Threat with Sheamus vs. Bobby Lashley vs. WWE United States Champion Austin Theory. The main event ended up being Styles vs. Lashley.
Below is our 2023 SmackDown Viewership Tracker, along with the Top 10 moments from Friday’s show:
January 6 Episode: 2.257 million viewers with a 0.53 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 13 Episode: 2.326 million viewers with a 0.55 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 20 Episode: 2.257 million viewers with a 0.55 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 27 Episode: 2.544 million viewers with a 0.67 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 3 Episode: 2.384 million viewers with a 0.61 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Royal Rumble episode)
February 10 Episode: 2.468 million viewers with a 0.64 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 17 Episode: 2.383 million viewers with a 0.58 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 24 Episode: 2.408 million viewers with a 0.62 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Elimination Chamber episode)
March 3 Episode: 2.451 million viewers with a 0.59 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 10 Episode: 2.320 million viewers with a 0.63 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 17 Episode: 2.258 million viewers with a 0.59 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 24 Episode: 2.219 million viewers with a 0.58 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 31 Episode: 2.484 million viewers with a 0.69 rating in the 18-49 demographic
April 7 Episode: 2.468 million viewers with a 0.69 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-WrestleMania 39 episode)
April 14 Episode: 2.265 million viewers with a 0.58 rating in the 18-49 demographic
April 21 Episode: 2.175 million viewers with a 0.54 rating in the 18-49 demographic
April 28 Episode: 2.473 million viewers with a 0.67 rating in the 18-49 demographic (WWE Draft episode)
May 5 Episode: 2.059 million viewers with a 0.52 rating in the 18-49 demographic
May 12 Episode: 2.149 million viewers with a 0.56 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Backlash episode)
May 19 Episode:
2022 Viewership Average: 2.123 million viewers per episode over 52 episodes
2022 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.51 rating per episode over 52 episodes
2022 FOX Viewership Average:
2.173 million viewers per episode over 50 episodes2022 FOX 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.53 rating per episode over 50 episodes
2021 Viewership Average: 2.050 million viewers per episode over 52 episodes (2,082,154 without Best Of episode)
2021 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.54 rating per episode over 52 episodes (0.55 without Best Of episode)
2021 FOX Viewership Average: 2.127 million viewers per episode over 50 episodes
2021 FOX 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.56 rating per episode over 50 episodes
2021 FS1 Viewership Average: 758,667 viewers per episode (includes Best Of episode; 949,000 without it)
2021 FS1 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.20 rating per episode (includes Best Of episode; 0.27 without it)
2020 Viewership Average: 2.180 million viewers per episode (2 FS1 airings)
2019 Viewership Average: 2.164 million viewers per episode (1 FS1 airing)
2018 Viewership Average: 2.352 million viewers per episode
2017 Viewership Average: 2.546 million viewers per episode
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