Show draws lower numbers despite major tournament finale
Summary
– SmackDown averaged 1.063 million viewers with a 0.24 rating
– GUNTHER defeated LA Knight to earn a match with John Cena
– Cody Rhodes pushed for Drew McIntyre’s reinstatement
WWE SmackDown delivered a packed episode on December 5, highlighted by GUNTHER’s hard fought win in the Last Time Is Now tournament. Even with a strong lineup, the show recorded a decrease in linear viewership compared to the previous week.
Jed I Goodman reported that SmackDown drew 1.063 million viewers, down from the 1.142 million recorded on November 28. The P18–49 demographic also declined, shifting from a 0.28 to a 0.24 rating. These numbers reflect traditional television only.
The tournament finals saw GUNTHER defeat LA Knight, securing a major clash against John Cena at next week’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. The match will serve as Cena’s final bout, adding historic weight to the announcement.
Cody Rhodes continued his issues with Drew McIntyre by calling for McIntyre’s reinstatement after his suspension. The episode featured additional developments that kept storylines moving toward the upcoming card.
