The final numbers are in for Friday’s WWE Draft edition of SmackDown and the show drew an average of 2.877 million viewers, according to Showbuzz Daily.
The early overnight numbers released on Saturday had the show averaging 2.899 million viewers across both hours – 2.925 million in the first hour and 2.872 million viewers in the second hour. The new numbers have the show doing an average of 2.877 million viewers, down from the overnight estimate of 2.899 million viewers.
SmackDown drew a 0.7 rating in the 18-34 demographic, a 1.0 rating in the coveted 18-49 demo, and a 1.1 rating in the 25-45 demographic. SmackDown topped the night on network TV in the 18-49 demographic. Hawaii Five-O was next with a 0.7 rating.
Friday’s viewership is down from last week’s 3.888 million viewers for the FOX premiere, which was also the 20th anniversary special. The FOX premiere drew a 1.0 rating in the 18-34 demo, a 1.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic, and a 1.6 rating in the 25-54 demo.
Blue Bloods on CBS topped the night with 7.637 million viewers from 10-11pm. ABC’s Hawaii Five-O drew 7.094 million viewers in the 8pm hour, up from the overnight number of 6.946 million.
The MLB NLCS game topped the night on cable in viewership and the Cable Top 150 18-49 demographic with 4.646 million viewers and a 1.13 rating.
To compare, last week’s pro wrestling viewership looks like this – Monday’s post-Hell In a Cell RAW episode drew an average of 2.334 million viewers, down from 2.571 million viewers for the season premiere; Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite drew 1.018 million viewers, down from 1.409 million viewers for the series premiere; WWE NXT drew 790,000 viewers, down from 891,000 viewers for the season premiere; Friday’s SmackDown drew an average of 2.877 million viewers, down from 3.888 million viewers for the FOX premiere.
Below is our 2019 SmackDown Viewership Tracker:
January 1 Episode: 2.091 million viewers (New Year’s episode, taped)
January 8 Episode: 2.032 million viewers
January 15 Episode: 2.143 million viewers
January 22 Episode: 2.142 million viewers
January 29 Episode: 2.137 million viewers (post-Royal Rumble episode)
February 5 Episode: 1.841 million viewers (State of the Union competition)
February 12 Episode: 2.034 million viewers
February 19 Episode: 2.269 million viewers (post-Elimination Chamber episode)
February 26 Episode: 2.150 million viewers
March 5 Episode: 2.155 million viewers
March 12 Episode: 2.198 million viewers (post-Fastlane episode)
March 19 Episode: 2.208 million viewers
March 26 Episode: 2.393 million viewers
April 2 Episode: 2.141 million viewers
April 9 Episode: 2.199 million viewers (post-WrestleMania 35 episode)
April 16 Episode: 2.219 million viewers (Superstar Shakeup episode)
April 23 Episode: 2.072 million viewers
April 30 Episode: 1.833 million viewers
May 7 Episode: 1.931 million viewers
May 14 Episode: 1.827 million viewers (taped episode from London)
May 21 Episode: 1.983 million viewers (post-Money In the Bank episode)
May 28 Episode: 2.072 million viewers
June 4 Episode: 2.016 million viewers
June 11 Episode: 1.930 million viewers (post-Super ShowDown episode)
June 18 Episode: 1.859 million viewers
June 25 Episode: 1.921 million viewers (post-Stomping Grounds episode)
July 2 Episode: 1.890 million viewers
July 9 Episode: 1.853 million viewers
July 16 Episode: 2.122 million viewers (post-Extreme Rules episode)
July 23 Episode: 2.162 million viewers
July 30 Episode: 1.911 million viewers
August 6 Episode: 2.088 million viewers
August 13 Episode: 2.164 million viewers (post-SummerSlam episode)
August 20 Episode: 2.142 million viewers
August 27 Episode: 2.088 million viewers
September 3 Episode: 2.130 million viewers
September 10 Episode: 2.061 million viewers
September 17 Episode: 2.064 million viewers (post-Clash of Champions episode)
September 24 Episode: 2.099 million viewers (final USA Network episode)
October 4 Episode: 3.888 million viewers (FOX premiere)
October 11 Episode: 2.877 million viewers (WWE Draft episode)
October 18 Episode:
2018 Total: 122.304 million viewers
2018 Average: 2.352 million viewers per episode
2017 Total: 132.401 million viewers
2017 Average: 2.546 million viewers per episode
