WWE SmackDown 2/16 Achieves Historic Ratings as Highest-Rated Show on Network TV

Friday Night SmackDown is WWE’s biggest program, attracting a sizable weekly audience. Last Friday’s episode of Smackdown had an amazing 2.555 million viewers. It was the night’s highest-rated show, although it ranked sixth in viewership. Now, it appears that the February 16th episode reached a major milestone in terms viewership for a wrestling show.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the show created history by being first wrestling show to be the highest-rated program for the week on network television. To reach this milestone, Smackdown outperformed other top-rated series on CBS, including the season premieres of Ghosts (0.67) and Young Sheldon (0.63). Smackdown had a 0.75 in the key 18-49 demographic .

It should be noted, while it ranked first on network TV for the week, it finished third overall due to NBA All-Star Weekend programming on cable. Saturday’s coverage and Sunday’s game both averaged 1.55. Smackdown previously come close, with one edition ranking second behind Univision, which was airing soccer at the time.

However, this is the first time a wrestling program has topped the weekly ratings on network television. The WON anticipates that it will top weekly ratings again before August. Stay tuned to Ringside News for more!

What do you think of WWE Friday Night SmackDown recent boost in ratings? Did you catch the show last week? Let us know in the comments section below!