October 17 episode sees major boost after Dragunov captures United States Title
Summary
– WWE SmackDown averaged 1.18 million viewers, up 15% from the previous week
– The show drew a 0.28 rating in the key P18–49 demographic
– Ilja Dragunov returned after a year to defeat Sami Zayn and win the U.S. Title
WWE SmackDown’s October 17 episode delivered a major surge in viewership, driven by Ilja Dragunov’s dramatic comeback and championship win. According to Programming Insider, the show averaged 1.18 million viewers on USA Network — a solid jump from 1.02 million the week before. The P18–49 demo also climbed to 0.28, a 27% increase.
Dragunov’s shocking return after more than a year electrified fans as he defeated Sami Zayn to become the new WWE United States Champion. The hard-hitting match capped off a night full of energy and unexpected twists.
The episode also featured storyline developments involving Jacob Fatu, written off television before his match with Drew McIntyre, adding intrigue to his future. With strong matches and returns, SmackDown’s momentum appears to be building again heading into November’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.
With Dragunov’s title win marking one of the standout moments of the fall season, the blue brand’s renewed buzz is reflected clearly in the numbers.
