Friday’s live post-WrestleMania Backlash edition of WWE SmackDown drew an average of 2.031 million viewers on FOX, according to Nielsen, via Showbuzz Daily.
This final number is up 7.29% from the previous week’s final viewership of 1.893 million viewers for the post-WrestleMania Backlash show.
Friday’s SmackDown drew a 0.45 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. This is up 12.50% from the previous week’s 0.40 rating. This week’s 0.45 key demo rating represents 587,000 18-49 viewers, which is up 12.45% from the 522,000 18-49 viewers that the previous week’s 0.40 key demo rating drew, according to Wrestlenomics.
SmackDown ranked #2 in ratings for the key 18-49 demographic on network TV, even with the previous week’s #2 ranking. SmackDown ranked #1 in the 18-34 demo this week, even with the previous week’s #1 ranking, for the third week in a row. SmackDown ranked #2 in the 25-54 demo, even with the previous week’s #2 ranking. SmackDown came in at #8 for the night in viewership on network TV, even with the previous week’s #8 ranking. Shark Tank on ABC topped the night in viewership on network TV this week with 3.592 million viewers, and in the 18-49 key demographic on network TV with a 0.48 rating.
Friday’s live SmackDown drew the highest total audience since April 15. The show had strong cable competition from the NHL Playoffs and the NBA Playoffs again. Friday’s viewership was up 7.29% from the previous week’s episode, while the key demo rating was up 12.50% from the previous week’s episode.
Viewership for Friday’s SmackDown episode was up 5.07% from the same week in 2021, while Friday’s 18-49 key demo rating was down 10% from the same week in 2021. The 2021 episode was the post-WrestleMania Backlash show.
The NBA Playoffs game between the Mavericks and the Warriors on ESPN topped the night on the Cable Top 150 with a 2.11 key demo rating. The Mavericks vs. Warriors NBA game also topped the night on cable in viewership with 6.765 million viewers.
Friday’s SmackDown aired live from the Vandel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with the following line-up advertised – Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn, Butch vs. Xavier Woods, plus the Winners Take All Title Unification match to crown the inaugural Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions with RK-Bro vs. The Usos, which was the main event.
Stay tuned for more ratings data. Below is our 2022 SmackDown Viewership Tracker, along with the Top 10 moments from Friday’s show:
January 7 Episode: 2.271 million viewers with a 0.58 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Day 1 episode)
January 14 Episode: 2.174 million viewers with a 0.56 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 21 Episode: 2.255 million viewers with a 0.64 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 28 Episode: 2.217 million viewers with a 0.56 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 4 Episode: 2.151 million viewers with a 0.51 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Royal Rumble episode)
February 11 Episode: 2.231 million viewers with a 0.55 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 18 Episode: 2.173 million viewers with a 0.54 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Taped episode)
February 25 Episode: 2.114 million viewers with a 0.57 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Elimination Chamber episode)
March 4 Episode: 2.261 million viewers with a 0.59 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 11 Episode: 2.226 million viewers with a 0.57 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 18 Episode: 2.147 million viewers with a 0.58 rating in the 18-49 demographic
March 25 Episode: 2.180 million viewers with a 0.49 rating in the 18-49 demographic
April 1 Episode: 2.359 million viewers with a 0.61 rating in the 18-49 demographic (WrestleMania SmackDown episode)
April 8 Episode: 2.230 million viewers with a 0.60 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-WrestleMania 38 episode)
April 15 Episode: 2.142 million viewers with a 0.48 rating in the 18-49 demographic
April 22 Episode: 1.952 million viewers with a 0.47 rating in the 18-49 demographic
April 29 Episode: 1.953 million viewers with a 0.38 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Taped episode)
May 6 Episode: 1.998 million viewers with a 0.46 rating in the 18-49 demographic
May 13 Episode: 1.893 million viewers with a 0.40 rating in the 18-49 demographic (post-WrestleMania Backlash episode)
May 20 Episode: 2.031 million viewers with a 0.45 rating in the 18-49 demographic
May 27 Episode:
2021 Viewership Average: 2.050 million viewers per episode (2,082,154 without Best Of episode)
2021 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.54 rating per episode (0.55 without Best Of episode)
2021 FOX Viewership Average: 2.127 million viewers per episode
2021 FOX 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.56 rating per episode
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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