NFL Draft and playoff sports pull viewers away from Friday night SmackDown
Summary
– WWE SmackDown drew 1.267 million viewers as NFL Draft coverage and playoff games hurt ratings
– The 18-49 demo dropped to a 0.32 rating, matching its lowest mark since March 6
– SmackDown still ranked second on cable despite strong competition from football, NBA, and NHL broadcasts
Last Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown saw a noticeable decline in television ratings, as the show faced major competition from the NFL Draft and NBA and NHL playoff coverage.
The April 24 broadcast averaged 1.267 million viewers on USA Network. That marked a 19.8 percent drop from the previous week’s 1.580 million viewers and became the lowest total audience for the blue brand since March 6.
SmackDown also posted a 0.32 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. That number was down 23.8 percent from the prior week’s 0.42 and tied the show’s lowest demo rating since early March.
Much of the decline came from direct competition with NFL Draft programming on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Those broadcasts dominated both cable and network television for the night, pushing SmackDown to second place on cable and third overall.
The NBA and NHL playoffs also added pressure across multiple networks and streaming platforms, creating one of the most competitive Friday nights for wrestling television this year.
Compared to the same week in 2025, overall SmackDown viewership was down 20.8 percent, while the 18-49 demo rating fell by 37.3 percent.
Despite the drop, SmackDown’s recent ten-week average remains steady at 1.339 million viewers with a 0.33 demo rating, showing that the brand continues to hold strong even during major sports-heavy weekends.
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