WWE SmackDown Viewership: Ratings Rise Despite Olympics Competition

WWE’s Friday Night SmackDown viewership reached 1.459 million last week, accompanied by a 0.35 rating in the 18-49 demographic, according to Wrestlenomics. The figures represent an increase from the prior week’s 1.260 million viewers and 0.29 rating.

Despite direct competition from NBC’s coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, SmackDown secured the top spot on cable television for the night among viewers in the key 18-49 demographic. This performance comes as the program prepares for a temporary shift in broadcast networks.

The next two episodes of SmackDown, scheduled for February 13 and February 20, will air on Syfy, a move necessitated by USA Network’s contractual obligations to provide 24/7 coverage of the Winter Olympics, which run from February 6 through February 22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. A USA Network spokesperson confirmed the schedule change to POST Wrestling.

Despite the network change, SmackDown will maintain its regular three-hour format, airing from 8 p.m. To 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The February 13 broadcast is slated to originate from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, while the February 20 episode will be held at the FLA Live Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

WWE programming is scheduled to return to USA Network on February 27, with an episode from the KFC Yum! Arena in Louisville, Kentucky. That broadcast will serve as the final event before the Elimination Chamber premium live event, scheduled for February 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Kentucky demonstrate will be used to finalize the card for the Elimination Chamber matches, which determine top title challengers for WrestleMania.

The shift to Syfy is a temporary measure, with SmackDown expected to resume its regular broadcast schedule on USA Network following the conclusion of the Winter Olympics coverage. The USA Network is the domestic broadcaster for the games.