Smackdown Rating: Key metrics, perspective compared to past two years, draft expected to shake things up next month

The Sept. 3 WWE Smackdown drew a 1.54 rating, up from last week’s 1.50, and right in line with the ten-week rolling average of 1.50. Total viewership was 2.130 million, below ESPN’s U.S. Open Tennis and two programs on Fox News, but it topped all shows in the 18-49 target demographic with 0.7 rating. Tennis on ESPN drew a 0.5 rating in that demo to finish no. 2.

One year ago this week, Smackdown drew a 1.68 rating, and two years ago it drew a 1.74 rating.

The current 2019 average is 1.51, down from the year-ago average of 1.71 and the two-years-ago average through this week of 1.75.

WWE Smackdown moves to Fox broadcast network starting the first week of October, kicking off the new Friday timeslot with an anniversary celebration featuring big names from the past.

A roster talent reshuffle is penciled in for later in October, but WWE hasn’t officially announced it yet. It’s expected there will be a stronger delineation between Raw and Smackdown roster members than is currently the case. The NXT roster could be in the re-draft also.