SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The Dec. 5 WWE Smackdown Live on USA Network drew a 1.76 rating among live and same-night-DVR viewers, down from the 1.86 rating the previous three weeks. It’s the lowest non-holiday rating since Oct. 17.
This week’s rating matches the 2017 average so far of 1.76. It’s above the rolling ten week average of 1.75. Both stats are still above the 1.72 average of 2016 through this week.
Keller’s Analysis: No surprise here, but not a huge story either. This show featured only a video feature on A.J. Styles vs. Jinder Mahal, and was built around Sami Zayn in the main event, and he hasn’t been treated as a top tier force on the roster lately. If people stopped watching after the Riott Squad segment, I wouldn’t blame them. That was truly terrible scripting with perhaps even worse execution, especially by Sarah Logan.
If people stopped watching the show because these ladies are struggling to find their footing then good riddance. Real fans will stick it out. I found the show enjoyable from start to finish. To paraphrase Donald Trump (heaven help me)Smackdown Live is becoming great again………