WWE SmackDown Viewership Dips On 2/28, Demo Rating Rises
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WWE SmackDown saw a decrease in viewership on February 28 heading into Elimination Chamber, but the demographic rating rose.
According to Wrestlenomics (via Programming Insider), SmackDown averaged 1.731 million viewers on Friday. The show drew a 0.52 rating in the 18 to 49 demographic. The viewership is down from last week’s episode, when an average of 1.736 million viewers tuned in. The demo rating is slightly up from last week’s show (0.51 rating in the same demographic), and this marked its highest number since the show returned to USA Network in September.
SmackDown ranked #1 in the 18 to 49 demographic on cable and broadcast on Friday. The NBA game between the Celtics and the Cavaliers on ESPN ranked second with a 0.51 rating.
This week’s show kicked off with a promo from Trish Stratus and Tiffany Stratton. They are interrupted by Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. This set up a match that saw Stratton defeat Green via disqualification when Nia Jax got involved.
Jacob Fatu, LA Knight, and Carmelo Hayes won individual matches to advance to a triple threat to crown a new #1 contender to the United States Championship. Knight won that matchup.
Elsewhere on the show, Los Garza and The Street Profits ended in a no-contest when the entire SmackDown tag team division interfered.
In the closing segment of the evening, Cody Rhodes was interviewed in the ring by Michael Cole regarding the decision he needs to make the following night at Elimination Chamber.
