Friday Night SmackDown was the number one show on television for its night while AEW Rampage dropped out of the top fifty cable programs.
The November 11th edition of SmackDown coming off Crown Jewel averaged 2,264,000 viewers and approximately 757,000 (0.58) in the 18-49 demographic, ranking first among all broadcast and cable networks on Friday. (With data from Brandon Thurston at Wrestlenomics and Showbuzz Daily).
It was SmackDown’s highest viewership and 18-49 audience since September 23rd for the show teasing the return of Bray Wyatt during the white rabbit campaign.
The show grew 12% among adults 18-34 and increased 25% with adults 35-49 from last week’s episode.
In Canada, SmackDown averaged 146,700 viewers and 69,900 in 25-54 on Sportsnet 360, which was its normal range. It ranked eighth among sports programs airing against both a Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors game.
AEW Rampage fell out of the top fifty cable originals for the night, ranking #55 with 456,000 viewers and 143,000 (0.11) in the 18-49 demographic.
Despite the huge drop in 18-49, the show’s overall viewership was virtually identical to last week but the show fell 24% in the key demo, its lowest mark in the demo since July 29th. In its regular timeslot at 10 p.m. ET, this would be Rampage’s second-lowest 18-49 audience in the history of the program.
Rampage aired against the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies game on ESPN that averaged 913,000 viewers and 0.33 in the 18-49 demo, finishing second on cable for the night. There was also a college football game on ESPN 2 between Carolina and Cincinnati that averaged 803,000 and 0.18 respectively along with cable news coverage of the midterm elections.
Due to the show finishing outside of the top fifty cable programs, we don’t have more detailed demo breakdowns yet.
Rampage was back to a taped format this past Friday, headlined by Orange Cassidy against Lee Johnson for the All-Atlantic Championship, and two matches from the ongoing World Title Eliminator Tournament.
The second week of Young Rock on Friday nights did not provide better results. The second episode of the new season averaged 1,426,000 viewers and 0.22 in the 18-49 demographic, which was a decrease of 21% in viewers and 15% in the demo. Among the big four networks, the show was last in total viewers and second last among 18-49, only topping a replay of Blue Bloods on CBS.
