WWE SmackDown topped all cable programming on Friday while AEW Rampage received a boost heading into its pay-per-view weekend.
The October 11 edition of SmackDown from Greenville, South Carolina, averaged 1,652,000 viewers and 651,000 (0.49) in the 18-49 demographic on the USA Network, reported by Brandon Thurston at Wrestlenomics.
The audience increased by 9% and the core demographic improved by 3% as SmackDown displayed its second-highest figures since returning to USA last month behind the season premiere.
Wrestlenomics reports that it ranked first among cable programs in the 18-49 demographic and beat college football games airing on ESPN and FS1.
SmackDown followed the Bad Blood pay-per-view and included an appearance by Roman Reigns and a ‘Brother vs. Brother’ main event between Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso.
Canadian viewership figures are delayed due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and we should have those figures on Tuesday.
After posting one of the lowest numbers in its history, AEW Rampage saw an increase on Friday with 253,000 viewers and 115,000 (0.09) in the 18-49 demographic on TNT – increases of 17% and 22% respectively compared with last week, per Wrestlenomics.
In the 18-49 demo, male viewership increased from 67,000 viewers to 93,000 but females declined from 27,000 viewers and 22,000 this week.
Adults 18-34 averaged 31,000 viewers and 35-49 averaged 84,000 viewers.
It was Rampage’s highest viewership since September 27 and largest 18-49 audience since September 20.
Rampage was headlined by Bryan Keith defeating Rocky Romero and opened with Kyle O’Reilly & Orange Cassidy vs. Matt Taven & Mike Bennett.
