Friday Night SmackDown remains a pivotal part of WWE’s programming, drawing significant attention every week. The January 17, 2025, episode generated plenty of discussion, especially surrounding the ongoing storyline with Solo Sikoa.
According to Programming Insider, this week’s episode of SmackDown averaged 1.403 million viewers on the USA Network, marking a 2.3% decrease from last week’s 1.436 million viewers. Despite the drop in overall viewership, SmackDown topped all of television in the 18-49 demographic with a 0.42 rating, which is a 5% increase from last week’s 0.40 rating. This marks SmackDown’s second-highest rating in the key demo since December 13, 2024.
SmackDown faced minimal sports competition, with an NBA game on ESPN averaging 1.14 million viewers and a 0.36 demo rating. While the NBA broadcast was a notable competitor, WWE still managed to outperform all other television programming in the 18-49 demo.
When comparing to the same week in 2024, when SmackDown aired on FOX, overall viewership was down 41.7%, while the 18-49 demo rating dropped 32.3%. In SmackDown’s former time slot, a college basketball game averaged 1.166 million viewers with a 0.21 demo rating, representing a 53.4% drop in overall viewers and a 66.1% decline in the 18-49 demo compared to what WWE drew in that slot last year.
WWE SmackDown January 17, 2025: Viewership and Highlights
This week’s episode featured Tiffany Stratton successfully defending the WWE Women’s Championship, adding another strong title defense to her reign. Meanwhile, Solo Sikoa’s sudden departure through the crowd left fans questioning his next move, setting up an intriguing storyline for the coming weeks.
Despite a dip in total viewership, SmackDown’s ability to dominate the key demo reinforces its stronghold on Friday night programming.
WWE SmackDown Viewership Trends and Comparison
| Metric | January 17, 2025 | January 10, 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Viewers | 1,403,000 | 1,436,000 | -2.3% |
| 18-49 Demo Rating | 0.42 | 0.40 | +5% |
| Highest SmackDown Demo Since | December 13, 2024 | — | — |
| Viewership vs. 2024 (on FOX) | -41.7% | — | — |
| 18-49 Demo vs. 2024 (on FOX) | -32.3% | — | — |
| College Basketball in WWE’s Old Time Slot | 1,166,000 viewers | 0.21 demo | -53.4% (viewers) -66.1% (demo) |
Ringside News will continue to provide the latest viewership data and key developments from Friday Night SmackDown as WWE builds momentum heading into the Royal Rumble.
January 21, 2025 11:11 pm
