After hitting recent highs, “WWE SmackDown” viewership continues to decline during the college football season. It October 23 issue of Blue Brand saw new women’s tag team champions as well as a surprise six-man main event, but viewers were still down from last week.
According to WrestlenomicsThe Oct. 23 edition of SmackDown averaged 1.1 million viewers, down 17 percent. 1,327,000 viewers last week. The show earned a 0.24 rating in 18-49, down 25 percent from the Oct. 16 episode’s 0.32 rating.
Viewership was down 17 percent from its four-week average of 1,298,000 viewers. Compared to this time last year, however, viewership is up 18 percent, with October 2026 averaging 1,257,000 viewers compared to October 2025’s 1,063,000.
The main event of the night was originally scheduled to feature WWE Undisputed Champion Sami Zayn and Johnny Gargano taking on United States Champion Tick Williams and Ray Phoenix. However, Ricky Saints and Penta interfered, and the Money in the Bank holder claimed a six-man tag. Penta, Fenix and Williams won.
Elsewhere in the show team Mychin and B-Fab won the Women’s Tag Team Championship from Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley with outside assistance from Jade Cargill. It was also revealed that Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton will take their enmity to the Crown Jewelis currently still traveling to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they will face off in a Last Man Standing match.
