• Last Week’s SmackDown Sets Record For Lowest Viewership
WWE’s blue brand had a rough night in the ratings this past Friday. The October 31st edition of SmackDown brought in just 933,000 viewers on USA Network, which is a sharp drop from the 1.15 million who tuned in the previous Friday.
The episode also saw a noticeable decline in the key 18–49 demographic, slipping to a 0.20 rating, down from 0.29 the week before.
Despite managing to top all cable programming for the night, the numbers officially mark the lowest-rated episode in the SmackDown’s history, not counting the occasional FS1 broadcasts that traditionally underperform due to limited reach.
The disappointing turnout came on a tough night for television overall, as Game 6 of the World Series dominated the airwaves on FOX. The championship game pulled in an enormous 17.43 million viewers and an eye-popping 3.52 demo rating, leaving every other program in its shadow.
While SmackDown still maintained its position as the leading cable program, the week-to-week drop signals that WWE will need to regain momentum quickly heading into Survivor Series.
This Friday’s SmackDown will feature the aftermath of Saturday Night’s Main Event, where Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre in controversial fashion and Jade Cargill destroyed Tiffany Stratton to capture the WWE Women’s Championship. Below is the official advertised card:
– Giulia (c) vs. Chelsea Green for the Women’s United States Championship
– Ilja Dragunov’s U.S. Title Open Challenge
– Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax
– Talla Tonga vs. Rey Fenix
RELATED: WWE Officials Were Upset After Last Week’s SmackDown
• Reason Behind WWE Teasing AEW Stars For John Cena’s Final Match
John Cena’s farewell tour is nearing its end, and WWE has officially announced the details of his final match. The 17-time World Champion is set to retire at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. on December 13, where his last opponent will be determined through a 16-man “Last Time Is Now” tournament.
The tournament will feature stars from RAW, SmackDown, NXT and even other wrestling promotions. It will kick off next week on RAW in Cena’s hometown of Boston, marking his fourth last appearance before he hangs up his boots.
WWE’s announcement that “faces from other companies” could appear in the tournament has fueled major speculation online. Fans immediately began wondering if AEW stars Adam Copeland (Edge) or Chris Jericho could be involved. Copeland, one of Cena’s greatest rivals, remains under AEW contract, while Jericho’s deal is reportedly set to expire at the end of 2025, with rumors suggesting that he plans to return to WWE for a Hall of Fame induction and retirement tour.
According to the Wrestling Observer, WWE is intentionally teasing the possibility of AEW stars showing up to generate buzz around Cena’s farewell. The company reportedly has no real expectation of securing those names, but they are using the speculation as a strategic move to spark fan discussion and drive major social media engagement ahead of Cena’s final match.
Also Read: WWE Recently Discussed John Cena’s 18th World Title Win
