The May 23, 2025 episode of WWE SmackDown brought a night of intense action on the USA Network as the blue brand geared up for Saturday Night’s Main Event. The latest viewership numbers are in, and the show saw a small rise in total viewers.
According to Programming Insider, SmackDown drew 1.383 million viewers, up from the 1.290 million viewers recorded on May 16. In the key 18–49 demographic, the show scored a 0.33 rating, a slight drop from last week’s 0.36 rating.
Despite the minor dip in the key demo, the increase in total viewership signals healthy momentum as WWE pushes forward with post-Backlash storylines and marquee returns.
This week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown included a lot of memorable moments and that included the Wyatt Sicks making their shocking return as they absolutely destroyed DIY, The Street Profits and Fraxiom.
That’s not all as R-Truth compared John Cena to Lord of the Rings’ Gollum ahead of their highly anticipated match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. This and many other moments took place throughout the night for fans to enjoy.
| Date | Viewers (P2+) | P18–49 Rating | Change in Viewers | Change in Demo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2025 | 1.290 million | 0.36 | — | — |
| May 23, 2025 | 1.383 million | 0.33 | ▲ +93,000 | ▼ -0.03 |
Ringside News will continue to provide the latest viewership data and key developments from Friday Night SmackDown as WWE builds momentum towards WrestleMania 41 this year.
Are you surprised the WWE Smackdown viewership was up for last week? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.