WWE SmackDown Debuts Strong on USA Network with Surprising Ratings Boost and Unexpected Alliance

WWE SmackDown made its debut on the USA Network after five years on Fox, and the ratings for the premiere were surprisingly strong. The show drew 1.723 million total viewers and scored a 0.55 in the key 18-49 demographic. Compared to its final week on Fox, total viewership only dropped slightly by 3%, while the 18-49 demo saw a significant 22% increase. This performance was particularly impressive considering the lack of competition from the NFL, which had affected ratings in previous weeks.

The premiere episode was action-packed, featuring Cody Rhodes successfully defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Solo Sikoa in a steel cage match. The show culminated in a dramatic confrontation involving Rhodes, Sikoa, the Bloodline, and Roman Reigns. This led to an unexpected twist where Reigns and Rhodes agreed to team up for a tag team match against Sikoa and Jacob Fatu at the upcoming Bad Blood event. As SmackDown settles into its new home on USA Network, all eyes will be on whether it can maintain this strong start in the coming weeks.

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