Recent Numbers Indicate a Slight Decline for the Blue Brand
WWE SmackDown, one of the flagship shows of the wrestling giant, has recorded a decrease in its viewership for the episode aired on August 11, 2023. According to a report by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, the episode garnered 2.097 million viewers, a drop from the 2.248 million viewers the previous week. The key demographic of 18-49 also saw a decline, with the show recording a 0.55 rating, down from the 0.62 rating of the August 4 episode.
Interestingly, preliminary numbers had painted a different picture. Programming Insider had reported on August 12 that the episode drew 2.650 million viewers, with the first hour attracting 2.585 million and the second hour seeing a slight increase to 2.715 million. This was an uptick from the 2.151 million preliminary viewership of the August 4 episode. The key demographic for the preliminary numbers was 0.6, which was higher than the previous week’s 0.57.
The top moments from the August 11 SmackDown episode on YouTube included:
- Jey Uso’s shocking announcement of quitting WWE.
- Rey Mysterio’s United States Championship victory.
- Edge’s challenge to Sheamus for a match marking his 25th anniversary in the business.
