WWE SmackDown viewership increased on December 17.
According to Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, 2.303 million viewers watched the show on Friday night, which is up from the 2.142 million fans who tuned in last week. The rating in the 18 to 49 demographic also increased; Friday’s episode scored a 0.52 rating, which marks an increase from the 0.50 rating (649,000 viewers) the December 10 episode drew.
This was the highest total viewership for Smackdown since Sep 10, and highest 18-49 since Nov 26.
Rampage was highest in 18-49 since Oct 26 and highest in P2+ since Nov 5.
Smackdown ranked #2 in the demo on Friday, behind Lakers-Timberwolves.
— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) December 20, 2021
Thurston noted that Friday’s viewership number was SmackDown’s highest figure since the September 10 show at Madison Square Garden. Likewise, the demographic rating was the highest since the November 26 episode; with this rating, SmackDown ranked second in the demographic on Friday night.
This week‘s episode featured the return of WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns after he was absent from the December 10 episode. Plus, The Usos faced The New Day, and Sasha Banks teamed up with Toni Storm to take on Shotzi and Charlotte Flair.
