Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/01/23/friday-night-smackdown-aew-rampage-stay-steady-in-18-49/
Friday night’s viewership figures for professional wrestling stayed steady with the week prior.
Friday Night SmackDown was the top network program for the night and second on all of television behind the NBA on ESPN. The show averaged 2,257,000 viewers and approximately 718,000 (0.55) in the 18-49 demographic. (Data from Wrestlenomics and Showbuzz Daily)
SmackDown fell by 3 percent in viewers and was even with last week’s 18-49 audience.
The show also saw a small increase of 2 percent in the 18-34 demographic.
In Canada, SmackDown had its highest audience since October 29, 2002, with an average of 234,700 viewers and 97,400 in the 25-54 demographic on Sportsnet 360. It was the most-watched sports program in the country on Friday ahead of several NHL games, an NBA game, and Australian Open tennis. SmackDown was up 21 percent in viewers and up by 4 percent in the demo from last week.
AEW Rampage on the same night averaged 464,000 viewers and approximately 168,000 (0.13) in the key demo.
Rampaged ranked #16 among cable originals and aired against the L.A. Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies that averaged 1.66 million viewers and 0.57 in the 18-49 demo, which topped everything on Friday. Rampage was fourth in its timeslot on cable behind the NBA, Love After Lockup, and On Patrol Live.
Rampage fell 10 percent in viewership with a 1 percent drop in the 18-49 demographic. The show’s overall viewership was its lowest since December 16, 2022, which averaged the same number.
The TNT program featured taped matches from Fresno including a main event between Daniel Garcia and Action Andretti.