Blue brand numbers climb heading into Survivor Series season
Summary
– SmackDown gained viewers on November 14 after #ZackRyder returned
– Demo rating improved from 0.26 to 0.27
– Show ranked second on cable behind ESPN’s Clemson vs Louisville
WWE SmackDown delivered a noticeable ratings bump on November 14 as fans tuned in for a packed episode highlighted by Zack Ryder’s unexpected return to the blue brand. The show averaged 1.158 million viewers on USA Network, improving from the 1.141 million recorded the previous week.
The P18–49 demo also moved upward with a 0.27 rating. Last week’s broadcast drew a 0.26 rating. SmackDown finished second on cable for the night, with only ESPN’s Clemson vs Louisville surpassing it in total viewers and demo performance.
The episode featured Ryder stepping back into the spotlight in the Last Time Is Now tournament, where he faced LA Knight. Ryder’s return brought buzz, but LA Knight secured the victory and advanced. The show continued with story buildup for Survivor Series, including Drew McIntyre ignoring his suspension and aligning with the Vision to escalate tensions further ahead of WarGames.
This week’s broadcast combined strong in-ring action with storyline twists that helped push the audience upward as the road to Survivor Series intensified.
