A look at the YouTube performance for this week’s WWE SmackDown Live!

As we all know, social media and other outlets have become a huge means of drawing in interaction and viewers for WWE. Most people will point to television ratings like they did during the Monday Night Wars in the late 1990’s, however that can be skewed with so many various means of watching today that do not include cable television.

As you’ve become accustomed to, here is this week’s RAW YouTube Report (2:30 PM EST, 11/29/18):

1. Women’s Battle Royal for a spot at TLC – 1.044 million views
2. Rey Mysterio is ambushed by Randy Orton – 1.008 million views
3. Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair will face-off again at TLC – 1.007 million views
4. Samoa Joe ruins Jeff Hardy’s 20-year celebration – 454k views
5. AJ Styles promises Daniel Bryan will pay for his actions – 404k views
6. Shinsuke Nakamura sneak attacks Rusev – 352k views
7. The Miz confronts Shane McMahon backstage – 260k views

An unusual list this week as we had a three way tie for the top spot until I broke it down into decimal points. So sliding into the top spot this week is our main event match where the winner would be put into the Tables, Ladders and Chairs SmackDown Women’s Title Match at TLC with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. I’ve seen some wondering why you need to add a third to this, especially considering Asuka won the match and this is kind of considered a “dream match” at a “throwaway” event. I don’t see it that way. People complain that the product usually sucks this time of year, so the company gives you a huge match and they still complain. Besides, I’m betting WWE wants to protect Becky since she’s coming off a concussion, so Asuka can take some of the brutality off her.

After taking the top spot last week (see last week’s report here), the issues between Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton see a big drop in views, but only a slight drop in the rankings. Last week, Mysterio got unmasked and I still say that’s why the clip pulled over two million. This week? I think proves it, since this was merely a segment. But, Orton and Rey are still two pretty well-known names and ‘The Viper’ has been uber interesting since turning heel. Looks like other fans agree.

Everything past number three is a bit of a “flustercuck”, as I’d say in my Maine speak. Numbers four and five very easily could have swapped spots with the return of AJ Styles after a week off and then his former rival, Samoa Joe, ruining Jeff Hardy’s celebration with some pretty scathing words. I loved both of these segments, personally. The best AJ Styles is a pissed off AJ Styles and while I don’t see him regaining the WWE Title anytime soon, I think we get an even better match at TLC (even though their SmackDown Live match was tremendous). As for Joe, dude is money on the mic. I get why people get so up in arms over real life issues being used in storyline, but they work. Know why? Realism. Something I’ve been told isn’t needed in a “fake” product, but that is incredibly far from accurate.

Rounding out our list this week at six and seven is the quintessential “best of the rest”. Number six pulls away from number seven somewhat, while number seven barely gets that spot over clips such as Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz and The Usos vs. The Bar.

What do this week’s YouTube results for SmackDown Live tell you? Let us know on social media @theCHAIRSHOTcom and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!