Friday Night SmackDown fell to its lowest viewership since August for its live episode from Puerto Rico.
The May 5th edition of SmackDown in San Juan averaged 2,059,000 viewers and approximately 678,000 (0.52) in the 18-49 demographic and ranked first among network programs and fifth overall on Friday night. (Showbuzz Daily and Wrestlenomics)
The 16.5 percent drop in viewership results in the lowest audience for the program since August 26, 2022, and its lowest audience in the 18-49 demographic since December 16, 2022.
SmackDown also fell 29 percent in the 18-34 demographic (also its lowest since December 16) and dropped by 19 percent among adults 35-49.
WWE aired against a big NBA playoff game with the Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers averaging 5,035,000 viewers and 1.65 in the key demo. In the NHL, the New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes did 1.22 million viewers and 0.35 in the demo on TNT.
In Canada, the show was back on Sportsnet 360 after airing on OLN the previous week. Returning to its normal network, the show did a four-week high of 164,300 viewers and 88,200 in the 25-54 demographic. SmackDown ranked seventh for the night among sports programs and sixth in the demo with the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates topping the list.
SmackDown included an appearance by Bad Bunny on the eve of Backlash and a main event involving Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio against Zelina Vega & Rey Mysterio, which was set up earlier in the program.
