The final stop before the return of the legendary Saturday night main show was the December 13 episode of “WWE SmackDown.” Michin and Chelsea Green advancing to the finals of the WWE Women’s United States Championship tournament and the final showdown between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens were the biggest hooks in trying to get people to tune in to NBC 24 Hours Later. But how many people tuned into the USA Network to see this unfold?
“Luttenomics” confirmed with a Nielsen source that the December 13 episode of “SmackDown” averaged 1,530,000 viewers, an increase of 2 percent from the previous week, and the first time since the 22 November as the show crossed the 1.5 million viewer mark. The show also saw an 8 percent increase over the last four weeks’ average which currently stands at 1,412. 000, but is down significantly from the same period in 2023. However, the 2023 shows had the advantage of being on FOX, which reaches more households.
There was also a slight increase in the 18-49 demographic, which reached a 0.47 rating compared to 0.44 for “SmackDown” the week before. This number is up 17 percent from the last four-week average of 0.40 and places “SmackDown” at the top of the category for all primetime telecasts on cable television for that evening , with the show’s closest competition being a screening of the 1990 film “Home.” Alone” on FX, which placed second with a 0.21 rating.
Fans who watched the entirety of “SmackDown” also got to see the televised in-ring return of Braun Strowman, who crushed Carmelo Hayes, LA Knight defeated Solo Sikoa by disqualification, and Naomi volunteered her services as new partner of Bianca Belair after the match. mysterious behind-the-scenes attack on Jade Cargill on November 22.
