WWE SmackDown Ratings Fall Below One Million as Halloween Competition Haunts Viewership Numbers
The October 31st edition of WWE SmackDown was no treat for the blue brand — unless you count finishing first on cable despite taking a major hit in viewership.
According to Programming Insider, the Halloween night broadcast on USA Network drew 993,000 viewers with a 0.20 rating in the coveted 18–49 demographic. That’s a noticeable drop from the previous week’s 1.15 million viewers and 0.29 demo rating, marking one of the lowest totals of the year.
While the numbers look spooky on paper, there were some obvious factors at play. SmackDown went head-to-head with Game 6 of the MLB World Series, which pulled in over 17 million viewers on FOX and a staggering 3.00+ demo rating. Combine that with the Halloween holiday itself, and it’s easy to see why WWE fans may have been distracted by candy and baseball instead of Cody Rhodes.
Despite the dip, SmackDown still finished #1 on cable for the night, meaning the show’s core audience held strong even with fierce competition.
What Led to the Decline?
SmackDown’s Halloween episode featured WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in the main event segment, but even “The American Nightmare” couldn’t outdraw the ghosts, goblins, and Game 6 drama. WWE historically sees a ratings lull when major sports or holidays overlap — a trend that even Monday Night Raw faces each fall.
The good news for WWE? The company expects a bounce-back next week with no major sports conflicts and plenty of post-Saturday Night’s Main Event buzz.
A Look Back at SmackDown’s Ratings Trend
SmackDown’s ratings have fluctuated throughout 2025, with most episodes averaging between 1.3 and 1.5 million viewers since moving to USA Network. However, this week’s number marks the first time the show has dipped below one million viewers since early October — and only the second time all year.
Still, the blue brand has consistently remained a top performer on cable, often outdrawing rival wrestling programs and network competition in the same time slot.
Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Even with the Halloween slump, WWE isn’t panicking. Sources tell Wrestling.news that internal focus remains on maintaining strong story progression through Survivor Series season rather than chasing weekly numbers. WWE officials reportedly expected the Halloween drop due to both timing and sports competition — and view this as a “one-week anomaly.”
The real test comes this Friday, when SmackDown airs free of holiday distractions and returns to a post-Main Event spotlight. With Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, and Drew McIntyre leading storylines heading into WarGames, expect a significant rebound.
