NFL Preseason Games Give WWE’s Flagship Show a Ratings Boost
WWE SmackDown’s episode on August 11, 2023, experienced a touchdown in ratings, thanks to the overlap with preseason NFL games in several markets. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported an average viewership of 2.650 million for the episode, a notable increase from the previous week’s 2.151 million. The first hour pulled in 2.585 million viewers, while the second hour saw a spike with 2.715 million.
This episode, which delved into the aftermath of WWE’s marquee event, SummerSlam, witnessed a significant rise in the P18-49 demographic, scoring an overnight preliminary rating of 0.63. In comparison, the previous week’s rating stood at 0.57.
Interestingly, while SmackDown’s ratings were on the rise, “Secret Celebrity Renovation” clinched the top spot for the night, drawing 3.10 million viewers.