Fox’s “Friday Night SmackDown” got humbled a little bit last night, when the WWE pro-wrestling series attracted the smallest TV audience (2.441 million total viewers) of any other show on the Big 4 broadcast networks, which refers to CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC.
That said, and despite a 30% week to week drop in the important adults 18-49 demographic, “SmackDown” was the highest-rated series of the night, which means Fox was still the No. 1 network on Friday. But it was close this time: Fox’s (and “SmackDown’s”) 0.7 rating in the key demo just squeaked by CBS’ 0.6, according to Nielsen’s Live + Same Day ratings.
In terms of total viewers, “SmackDown” declined 16% from the prior Friday. CBS attracted the most overall eyeballs again, this time reeling in a primetime average of 6.4 million viewers.
On an individual series basis, the second-smallest overall audience went to ABC sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat,” which had 2.474 million total viewers. To be fair to Fox, “SmackDown” had to maintain its 2.4 million viewer-average from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., while “FOTB” only needed to keep the attention of its 2.5 million viewers from 8:30 to 9 p.m.
A trio of shows averaged 0.6 ratings among adults 18-49 last night: “Hawaii Five-0,” “Blue Bloods” and “American Housewife.” In case you’re wondering, “Fresh Off the Boat” posted a 0.5 rating. (Only NBC’s “The Blacklist” and ABC’s “20/20” performed worse, with 0.4s.)
Fox’s “Friday Night SmackDown” premiered on Oct. 4 to a 1.4 demo rating and 3.888 million total viewers. Simple math tells us that by Week 3, the series has already halved its debut’s big “live” demo rating.
It was not unexpected that “SmackDown” would slip from Week 1 to Week 2 and then again from Week 2 to Week 3, but the steepness of the trajectory is not what WWE would like to see.
And unfortunately, delayed viewing doesn’t really help a live “sports” show like WWE’s fare. By the time Nielsen’s Live + 3 Day viewing results come out, expect Fox and “SmackDown” to no longer be the gold-medal winners, just like last time.
Read an in-depth analysis of “SmackDown’s” earliest Fox contributions here.
Every WWE Champion Ever, Ranked by Number of Reigns (Photos)
Pro-wrestling championship belts change hands (or waists) like grapplers change ring gear these days, though it wasn't always that way. Bobby Lashley is the current WWE Championship after an incredibly short-lived reign by The Miz. It is Lashley's first-ever stint as WWE Champion, and it comes at a cool time: a month and change ahead of WrestleMania 37.
Scroll through our gallery to see every WWE Champion ever, ranked by their number(s) of title wins. Remember: this is a list of those who won the WWWF Championship, the WWF Championship or the WWE Championship. So don't come after us, Universal Champions, et al.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Jinder Mahal # of Reigns: 1
Shortly before this publishing, the "Modern-Day Maharaja" dropped the title to A.J. Styles, ending a somewhat confusing run right before the WWE went to India.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: John "Bradshaw" Layfield # of Reigns: 1
JBL has taken his heel persona from the ring to the announce table. Never without a cowboy hat, Layfield thankfully leaves his lariat clothesline at home.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: The Ultimate Warrior # of Reigns: 1
The muscle-bound maniac who handed Hulk Hogan his first-ever "WrestleMania" loss died after suffering a heart attack three days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Pedro Morales # of Reigns: 1
History lesson: Back in the WWWF days, Morales became the first guy in wrestling history to win all three of the major men's titles -- the WWF Championship, the Intercontinental Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championship -- in the company.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Bobby Lashley # of Reigns: 1
Rank: 16 (tie) Wrestler: The Miz # of Reigns: 2
The kid from "The Real World" made good on his over-the-top MTV promos. One of the best on the mic, Miz has been holding down the Intercontinental Championship more than any other Superstar of the past few years.
Rank: 16 (tie) Wrestler: Bob Backlund # of Reigns: 2
Backlund couldn't "Make Darren Young Great Again" -- or even keep the guy employed -- but the master of the cross-face chicken wing had a pretty incredible career of his own.
From Buddy Rogers to Bobby Lashley, here are all the guys from the old WWWF and WWF days — and beyond
Pro-wrestling championship belts change hands (or waists) like grapplers change ring gear these days, though it wasn't always that way. Bobby Lashley is the current WWE Championship after an incredibly short-lived reign by The Miz. It is Lashley's first-ever stint as WWE Champion, and it comes at a cool time: a month and change ahead of WrestleMania 37.
Scroll through our gallery to see every WWE Champion ever, ranked by their number(s) of title wins. Remember: this is a list of those who won the WWWF Championship, the WWF Championship or the WWE Championship. So don't come after us, Universal Champions, et al.
