Friday Night SmackDown scored its largest audience since April with CM Punk appearing on the episode from his hometown of Chicago.
The June 21 episode from the Allstate Arena averaged 2,336,000 viewers and 963,000 (0.73) in the 18-49 demographic on Fox, per Programming Insider and Wrestlenomics.
SmackDown ranked second among all television programs on Friday behind Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on ABC and it was SmackDown’s best figures since April 15.
The Oilers vs. Panthers game averaged 4,237,000 viewers and a 1.11 rating in the 18-49 demo.
The audience increased by 19 percent while the demo audience was up by 40 percent over the June 14 show, which was SmackDown’s lowest of the year.
In the 18-49 demographic, male viewership improved by 55 percent to 647,000 viewers while females increased by 15 percent from the previous week.
SmackDown experienced a surge in its younger audience with the 18-34 demographic growing from 212,000 to 377,000 viewers this week for a 78 percent gain.
Adults 35-49 saw an increase of 24 percent to 585,000 viewers.
Unlike the U.S., SmackDown was hit dramatically in Canada while airing against the Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers. Game 6 averaged 4,760,400 viewers in Canada while SmackDown fell to its lowest audience since July 2022 with 109,000 viewers and 32,000 in the 25-54 demographic on Sportsnet 360.
AEW Rampage ranked tenth among all television programs on Friday with 328,000 viewers and 158,000 (0.12) in the 18-49 demographic. It was the show’s highest 18-49 audience in its normal slot since March 8, per Wrestlenomics.
Last week’s show averaged 334,000 viewers and 154,000 (0.12) in the demo.
In the 18-49 demo, male viewership grew from 87,000 to 104,000 viewers this week. Female viewers dropped from 68,000 to 53,000.
The show included the opening round match of the Owen Hart Foundation Cup tournament between Willow Nightingale and Serena Deeb in the main event.
