WWE SmackDown Hits Best Viewership Since September

The December 17 episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown saw the show register its highest viewership since early September.

According to ShowBuzz Daily, this past week's SmackDown averaged 2.303 million viewers on FOX, which is up 7.5 per cent from the previous week's episode. This makes the most recent SmackDown the highest viewed for the blue brand since the September 10 episode, which emanated from Madison Square Garden.

SmackDown also saw a rise in the crucial 18-49 demographic, drawing a 0.52 rating which is up four per cent from the week before. The boost in the key category makes last week's SmackDown the best in the demo in December, with the show leading all network programming in the demo.

SmackDown also led the networks with a 0.32 rating in the 18-34 demo but was third overall on television behind two NBA games. That rating was up 6.7 percent from the previous week.

The blue brand was highlighted by Roman Reigns parting ways with special counsel Paul Heyman in the closing segment of the show, only for Brock Lesnar to attack The Tribal Chief ahead of their Universal Championship match at WWE Day 1.