Smackdown Ratings Dip Before Payback

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The "WWE SmackDown" episode on September 1 experienced a five-percent decrease in viewership compared to its previous week. As per Wrestlenomics, the broadcast registered an average of 2,443,000 viewers. This decline is noteworthy considering the August 25 episode, which had pulled in a robust 2,581,000 viewers, marking the highest viewership of the year to date.

The 18-49 year old demographic, a crucial segment for advertisers, exhibited a more pronounced drop. The latest episode registered 848,000 viewers with a 0.65 rating, a significant 15 percent fall from the 0.76 rating the week before.

Notably, the August 25 episode showcased heartfelt tributes to the late Windham Rotunda, better known to fans as WWE's Bray Wyatt, and wrestling legend Terry Funk.

Recent SmackDown Episode

The recent "WWE SmackDown" episode, serving as the precursor to the much-anticipated Payback event, was punctuated by the dramatic return of John Cena.

Wrestling enthusiasts will recall Cena's last WWE outing on July 1 during the Money in the Bank premium live event. During that event, Cena had a confrontation with Grayson Waller which culminated in Cena delivering the Attitude Adjustment.

However, last Friday, Cena began the evening with a face-off against another WWE heavyweight, Jimmy Uso. The episode further intensified with The Miz and L.A. Knight's segment in the run-up to their Payback bout – a match that saw L.A.

Knight triumph with Cena officiating as the special guest referee. Other key matchups included Damage CTRL's Bayley's defeat at the hands of Shotzi, a thrilling contest between Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and the Latino World Order, and a gripping main event where Solo Sikoa emerged victorious against A.J.

Styles. Shifting focus to the digital realm, Wrestlenomics highlighted that the top YouTube clip from the recent "SmackDown" was "John Cena criticized Jimmy Uso after turmoil with The Bloodline", pulling in 768,295 views. This was closely trailed by "Does Jimmy Uso want back in The Bloodline?" at 763,000 views, and "LA Knight and The Miz exchange words ahead of Payback" garnering 392,298 views.

These digital insights underscore the significance of the Cena-Uso storyline, promising exciting developments in episodes to come.