Kemo
07-25-2023, 01:35 PM
:smackdown:
The July 21st edition of WWE Smackdown, which aired on FS1 due to a preemption on Fox, averaged 1.230 million viewers and did a 0.36 rating (P18-49).
Although viewership was down significantly from the previous week, which did 2.309 million viewers and a 0.62 rating (P18-49), the drop was expected, since SmackDown aired on a different channel than usual and FS1 is available in far fewer homes than Fox.
For better context, last week's SmackDown was the most-watched FS1 edition of the show in history and viewership was up 30% compared to the last time SmackDown aired on the cable network back in December.
SmackDown was built around the "Rules of Engagement" segment between Undisputed Universal WWE Champion Roman Reigns and Jey Uso. The two will square off in less than two weeks at SummerSlam.
RtFm6PZd0Pg
The segment was a hit with fans, as its highlights have surpassed over 1 million views on YouTube. In comparison, no highlights from the rest of the show or the Monday Night Raw episode on July 17 have reached the viewership of the "Rules of Engagement."
Reigns and Uso's feud heading into SummerSlam is the company's most prominent storyline and what fans have shown to be the most invested in watching.
kawTD0wtwe0
Another notable moment of the episode was the continuation of the United States Championship Invitational. Rey Mysterio defeated LA Knight, Sheamus, and Cameron Grimes to advance to the tournament finals. He will face his fellow Latino World Order member Santos Escobar, with the winner facing United States Champion Austin Theory for the title. WWE hasn't promoted when Mysterio and Escobar will take place.
6AhhF8x7LHw
Mysterio winning his match on the July 21 episode was a surprise as many believed that Knight would win. Knight's popularity has been on the rise, and WWE seems to have acknowledged it, as he has been given more screen time on Friday Night Smackdown. On the July 17 episode, he had the second most viewed highlight on YouTube, which is now over 1 million, and it was a brief promo about how he would win the United States Championship Invitational.
While Reigns and Uso have the most viewed highlight from July 21 show, Knight's promo before his match was the second most viewed highlight, with over 467,000 views on YouTube. In comparison, the highlight titled "Rey Mysterio achieves victory in the U.S. Title Invitational," which is the match Knight lost, has over 264,000 views.
WWE fans have shown interest in Knight and want to see him succeed. This may be something the company will have to evaluate moving forward to capitalize on Knight's popularity.
Regardless, WWE continues to move ahead toward SummerSlam and is putting storylines in place on Friday Night Smackdown to build an exciting card.
O9aMoV2ke0g
The July 21st edition of WWE Smackdown, which aired on FS1 due to a preemption on Fox, averaged 1.230 million viewers and did a 0.36 rating (P18-49).
Although viewership was down significantly from the previous week, which did 2.309 million viewers and a 0.62 rating (P18-49), the drop was expected, since SmackDown aired on a different channel than usual and FS1 is available in far fewer homes than Fox.
For better context, last week's SmackDown was the most-watched FS1 edition of the show in history and viewership was up 30% compared to the last time SmackDown aired on the cable network back in December.
SmackDown was built around the "Rules of Engagement" segment between Undisputed Universal WWE Champion Roman Reigns and Jey Uso. The two will square off in less than two weeks at SummerSlam.
RtFm6PZd0Pg
The segment was a hit with fans, as its highlights have surpassed over 1 million views on YouTube. In comparison, no highlights from the rest of the show or the Monday Night Raw episode on July 17 have reached the viewership of the "Rules of Engagement."
Reigns and Uso's feud heading into SummerSlam is the company's most prominent storyline and what fans have shown to be the most invested in watching.
kawTD0wtwe0
Another notable moment of the episode was the continuation of the United States Championship Invitational. Rey Mysterio defeated LA Knight, Sheamus, and Cameron Grimes to advance to the tournament finals. He will face his fellow Latino World Order member Santos Escobar, with the winner facing United States Champion Austin Theory for the title. WWE hasn't promoted when Mysterio and Escobar will take place.
6AhhF8x7LHw
Mysterio winning his match on the July 21 episode was a surprise as many believed that Knight would win. Knight's popularity has been on the rise, and WWE seems to have acknowledged it, as he has been given more screen time on Friday Night Smackdown. On the July 17 episode, he had the second most viewed highlight on YouTube, which is now over 1 million, and it was a brief promo about how he would win the United States Championship Invitational.
While Reigns and Uso have the most viewed highlight from July 21 show, Knight's promo before his match was the second most viewed highlight, with over 467,000 views on YouTube. In comparison, the highlight titled "Rey Mysterio achieves victory in the U.S. Title Invitational," which is the match Knight lost, has over 264,000 views.
WWE fans have shown interest in Knight and want to see him succeed. This may be something the company will have to evaluate moving forward to capitalize on Knight's popularity.
Regardless, WWE continues to move ahead toward SummerSlam and is putting storylines in place on Friday Night Smackdown to build an exciting card.
O9aMoV2ke0g