Since SummerSlam, both RAW and SmackDown Live’s weekly programs have seen a gradual, slow decrease in the ratings each week and have both taken drops in the Cable Top 150 Rankings, despite maintaining right around their average for the 18-49 demographic. That trend continued for RAW this week, but how did SmackDown Live hold up?

The ratings for last night’s post-Hell In A Cell edition of the blue brand are in with a 2.281, good for a 2.3% increase over last week and the first time since the post-SummerSlam episode that saw a higher number than the week previous. Here’s a look at the last four weeks worth of SmackDown Live ratings:

• August 28th: 2.350
• September 4th: 2.319
• September 11th: 2.229
• September 18th: 2.281

While SmackDown Live’s stranglehold over the number one spot in the Cable Top 150 Rankings for the 18-49 demographic is no longer, they have remained in the hunt for it. This week, the blue brand remained at number two while closing the gap even further with the recent number one:

1. Mayans MC – FX – 0.79
2. SmackDown Live – USA Network – 0.78
3. The Challenge: Final Reckoning – MTV – 0.51
4. The Purge – USA Network – 0.44
5. Sweet Home Sextuplets – TLC – 0.37

EA’s Take: Albeit an unfair comparison, SmackDown Live turns things around before RAW. It’s all about the competition and as I said with the RAW ratings yesterday, they aren’t ever going to catch the huge numbers the NFL is putting up. Just isn’t going to happen. Therefore, the important piece is the share of the 18-49 demographic, which has largely remained untouched for both RAW and SmackDown Live. That’s the part people should be pointing at and not the actual ratings. Fans are still too quick to compare wrestling’s ratings today to that of yesteryear. Just to point out, Clash Of The Champion VI did a 4.3 rating and it was considered a disappointment. Hardly anything these days pulls that kind of a rating, so get with the times.

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