After many years on FOX, WWE’s SmackDown show transitioned through Raw during its FOX tenure. The blend of network television exposure and captivating Bloodline storylines made SmackDown the most-watched WWE program, frequently attracting over 2 million viewers according to Nielsen ratings. However, when SmackDown shifted back to cable on the USA Network, a decline in ratings was expected, but recent weeks have seen viewership plummet to unprecedented lows.
On January 16th, SmackDown drew fewer than 1 million viewers, with Wrestlenomics reporting a total viewership of 968,000 and a 0.21 rating in the key 18-49 age group. This marked a 2% drop from the previous week’s 990,000 viewers and a significant 10% decrease compared to the average over the last four weeks, which stood at 1,074,000 viewers. The 18-49 demographic experienced an even steeper decline of 19% since January 9th and the subsequent month.
In comparison to last year, the drop is even more alarming. SmackDown’s Friday night audience has shrunk by 32% in the first quarter year-over-year, falling from 1,532,000 to 1,044,000 viewers. From January 2025 to January 2026 alone, the show lost 29% of its audience. Even more concerning is the loss within the 18-49 demographic, where nearly half of these viewers no longer tune in—dropping from 46% in Q1 2025 to 43% in January 2026.
So, why are SmackDown’s ratings falling so dramatically?
WWE is clearly facing a crossroads in how it delivers its programming. Although Raw has moved exclusively to Netflix globally and maintains a steady 2.5 to 3 million viewers weekly, SmackDown’s international Netflix viewership has remained fairly stable around 900,000 viewers. Yet, in the United States, the switch from FOX to the USA Network triggered a sharp loss of 700,000 viewers, and an additional 500,000 viewers have left within the past year despite SmackDown staying on the same network.
Several factors contribute to these declines. WWE boasts major assets like Cody Rhodes and the WWE Championship and has expanded SmackDown to a three-hour format, but ratings continue to fall. Part of the problem stems from tough sports competition and the fact that the January 16 episode aired live in London before its U.S. broadcast, which may have affected live viewership. Beyond scheduling issues, fans have found the show repetitive and dull, hampered by unexciting title matches, uninspiring bouts aside from the United States Championship, and overreliance on disqualification finishes. Now, with the show returning to three hours, the outlook seems bleak as it’s difficult to retain viewers who are already disengaging.
Fan Take:
This steep decline in SmackDown’s ratings is a wake-up call for WWE, highlighting the urgent need to revitalize their product to keep fans engaged. If WWE fails to innovate and enhance the quality of their shows, they risk alienating a core audience, which could have lasting effects on the sport’s popularity and future growth.
