WWE SmackDown Ratings Rise Ahead Of Fastlane

The viewership for WWE SmackDown received a boost on the road to Fastlane.

As reported by Wrestlenomics, 2.319 million people watched the October 6th broadcast, also obtaining an 18-49 rating of 0.64. This is up 0.7% from the September 29th edition of SmackDown which drew an average audience of 2.303 million and obtained an 18-49 rating of 0.60.

The show’s popularity was likely boosted due to Fastlane taking place 24 later and the inclusion of multiple big names making guest appearances such as John Cena, Cody Rhodes and The Judgment Day. There is a possibility that the ratings could increase even further on October 13th as this will see both the fallout from Fastlane and the return of Roman Reigns for the first time in nearly 2 months.

What Happened On WWE SmackDown?

With The Judgment Day announcing that they would be appearing ahead of time, the faction wasted no time in asserting their dominance as they invaded The Bloodline’s locker room. Starting off on more hostile terms, Rhea Ripley pitched to Paul Heyman that both sides should work together to handle their problems, with Ripley asking Heyman to acknowledge her.

The opening match of the show saw Fastlane opponents Charlotte Flair and Asuka team up to take on Women’s Champion Iyo Sky and Bayley. Even though Flair and Asuka won the match on Friday, the alliance disintegrated in the opening seconds of the title match at the Premium Live Event when The Empress misted The Queen just after the bell rang. Sky would retain the championship thanks to assistance from Damage CTRL.