WWE SmackDown’s Fox finale hits record low viewership, still tops primetime ratings in key demographic
The final episode of WWE SmackDown on Fox, which aired on September 6, drew an average of 1,770,000 viewers. This marked a record low for live broadcasts of SmackDown during its five-year run on Fox. The viewership dropped 14% compared to the previous week’s show from Germany. Only a re-aired episode from December 2023 had lower numbers on Fox.
In the key 18-49 demographic, SmackDown also hit a record low with a 0.45 rating, down 15% from the previous week. Despite these low numbers, SmackDown still managed to top the primetime TV ratings for the 18-49 audience. However, it came in second overall when factoring in an NFL game on Peacock, which attracted 14 million viewers.
While SmackDown couldn’t compete with the NFL game’s viewership, it did outperform AEW Collision, which aired at the same time. The show’s move to USA Network on September 13 marks the end of its run on Fox and the beginning of a new era for the WWE’s blue brand.
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