WWE Smackdown, May 16 on USA Network: 1,290,000 viewers; 0.36 P18-49 rating

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TV RATINGS

WWE Smackdown on USA Network
Fri, May. 16, 2025: 8:00 to 11:00 pm
1,290,000 viewers (P2+)
P18-49 rating: 0.36

Reported earlier by Programming Insider.

Lowest total and P18-49 viewership for Smackdown since November 15, 2024.

Smackdown was #4 for the night on cable in P18-49. The Celtics vs. Knicks game on ESPN was #1 with a 1.63 P18-49 rating and 5,726,000 viewers. Pre- and post-telecasts on ESPN were #2 and #3. The NHL playoff game between the Maple Leafs and Panthers was #5 with a 0.22 demo rating and 919,000 total viewers. The UFL (Memphis vs. San Antonio) on Fox averaged 573,000 viewers and a 0.12 P18-49 rating.

P2+ comparisons:

This episode vs. last week (1,455,000): -11%
This episode vs. trailing four weeks (1,550,000): -17%
Current 2025-Q2 P2+ average (1,517,000) vs. 2024-Q2 (2,250,000): -33%
Current May 2025 P2+ average (1,384,000) vs. May 2024 (2,184,000): -37%

P18-49 comparisons:

This episode vs. last week (0.41): -12%
This episode vs. trailing four weeks (0.46): -22%
Current 2025-Q2 P18-49 average (0.45) vs. 2024-Q2 (0.64): -30%
Current May 2025 P18-49 average (0.38) vs. May 2024 (0.60): -37%

Viewer counts for this week’s episode with the difference versus the median of the last 4 non-preemption episodes in parentheses. Some viewer counts may be based on the national rating for that demo:

P2+: 1290k (-16%)
P18-49: 483k (-22%)
F18-49: 180k (-22%)
M18-49: 296k (-23%)
Non-P18-49: 807k (-12%)

Data Subscribers have access to the Wrestlenomics Viewership Spreadsheet.

LIVE EVENTS

Data from WrestleTix

Friday, May 16, 2025
Greensboro, NC at First Horizon Coliseum
Estimated tickets distributed: 11,844

Market-to-market comparisons (Greensboro, NC):

2021-11-26 (Fri) – WWE Smackdown: 6,711 (+76% vs. 11,844) ← SAME EVENT TYPE
2021-12-22 (Wed) – AEW Dynamite: 5,593 (+112%)
2022-05-02 (Mon) – WWE Raw: 6,004 (+97%)
2022-12-28 (Wed) – WWE Live: 7,063 (+68%)
2023-05-15 (Mon) – WWE Raw: 10,012 (+18%)
2023-08-12 (Sat) – AEW Collision: 5,420 (+119%)
2024-03-03 (Sun) – AEW Revolution: 16,280 (-27%)
2024-05-20 (Mon) – WWE Raw: 9,898 (+20%)

Year-over-year comparison for this event type:
Current 2025-Q2 WWE Smackdown average: (11,041) vs. 2024-Q2 (12,370): -11%

YOUTUBE

Videos tracked since 9 PM Fri May 16 2025 as of 6 PM Mon May 19 2025 U.S. Eastern Time.

RECEPTION

As of 6:42 pm, May 19

Event rating:

Cagematch.net voter rating: 7.05 (81 votes)
This episode vs. last week (6.66): +6%
This episode vs. trailing four weeks (6.78): +4%
Current 2025-Q2 average (6.84) vs. 2024-Q2 (6.44): +6%

Match ratings:

7.69 (124 votes) – Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa)
7.52 (125 votes) – Nia Jax vs. Tiffany Stratton (c)
6.59 (102 votes) – Aleister Black vs. Carmelo Hayes
6.20 (103 votes) – Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green and Michin
5.53 (95 votes) – Solo Sikoa vs. Jimmy Uso and Rey Fenix
5.04 (94 votes) – JC Mateo vs. LA Knight