Smackdown Rating: Key metrics on a post-Under Siege era as WWE finalizes hype for Clash of Champions (w/Keller’s Analysis)

WWE Smackdown Live on USA Network this week drew a 1.72 rating, down from last week’s 1.76 and the lowest non-holiday rating since Oct. 17. One year ago this week Smackdown drew a nearly identical 1.71 rating. The 2017 average so far is 1.76 and the rolling ten-week average headed into this week was 1.76. Viewership was 2.461 million.

Keller’s Analysis: The selling point of this show was built around Kevin Owens vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and the Shane McMahon-Daniel Bryan dynamic, and it wasn’t enough to regain some lost momentum from the stretch of five straight non-holiday Tuesday nights they drew 1.86 or higher. The Survivor Series angle with Raw, for all it’s groan-inducing moments, was a boost to Smackdown as the interaction with Raw led to a higher ratings level for a six week stretch. From the start to the finish of Survivor Series, Smackdown averaged 1.87 (not counting Halloween night’s 1.53 aberration), whereas the five prior weeks it averaged a 1.70 and the two weeks since have averaged 1 .74.