Smackdown Ratings: Key metrics including comparisons to one and two years ago, plus Smackdown ranking among all cable shows last week

Last night’s episode of WWE Smackdown drew a 1.71 rating on USA Network, down from the 1.80 rating last week and below the ten week rolling average headed into this week of 1.76. The show headlined with an announced A.J. Styles vs. Dolph Zigger and then an unannounced impromptu five-way match with five of the six wrestlers headlining WWE Fastlane on Sunday.

The show drew 2.590 million viewers.

One year ago this week Smackdown drew a 1.94 rating. Two years ago this week Smackdown drew a 1.64 rating. One year ago Smackdown was live on Tuesday nights on USA Network with exclusive use of nearly half of the roster. Two years ago, Smackdown was tape-delayed show with the same wrestlers as appeared on Raw earlier in the week.

Last week’s Smackdown was the no. 9 ranked program among adults 18-49 on cable (week of Feb. 24-Mar. 6), ahead of any sports program by the NBA or NHL. It beat out a Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers game which finished one spot below it and a  Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards game that finished tied for no. 11. The top rated cable show last week, “The Walking Dead,” drew 3.5 times as many viewers as Smackdown in the adult 18-34 demo.

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