WWE News: SmackDown Live Rating Decreases Slightly, Moves Back Into Top 5 (1/8/19)

The ratings are in for last night’s SmackDown Live!

Following consecutive weeks of pre-recorded episodes, WWE’s Monday Night RAW was able to increase their viewership this week as they went back to live broadcasts by roughly 18% (see the story here), despite being pitted against the College Football National Championship.

Meanwhile, SmackDown Live was able to maintain their ratings during the holidays much better than their counterparts, so would going back to a live episode last night make a big difference? Unfortunately, the answer is no, but there could be good reason for it. Last night’s edition of the blue brand comes in with a 2.032 rating, down 2.82% from last week. Here’s how the last four weeks of numbers look for SmackDown Live:

• December 18th: 2.214
• December 25th: 1.904
• January 1st: 2.091
• January 8th: 2.032

Now as it pertains to the Cable Top 150 Rankings in the 18-49 demographic, SmackDown Live was able to get back into the top five this week, after being knocked out last week by all the College Football Bowl Games. It’s not the blue brand’s usual spot near the top though, as they only clock in at fourth. Here is the top five:

1. Hannity – FOX News – 0.90
2. Cuomo Prime Time – CNN – 0.84
3. The Curse Of Oak Island – History – 0.83
4. SmackDown Live – USA Network – 0.72
5. Below Deck – Bravo – 0.55

EA’s Take: Just like that, SmackDown’s streak of beating out RAW is over. I think you have to see these numbers as disappointing for the blue brand, but much like we saw with RAW, it’s not entirely their fault. Unfortunately for SmackDown Live this week, the President addressing the nation sneaks its way by everything to top the Cable Top 150 with multiple shows covering all of it. Since we’re politics isn’t our deal here, I’ll stay away from that. But, I still anticipate SmackDown Live will take back their usual spot next week unless there’s some other competition for them next week that I’m not remembering.