The January 16, 2026 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on USA Network featured several standout moments and that included Cody Rhodes declaring himself for the Royal Rumble.
According to Programming Insider, the broadcast averaged 968,000 viewers on USA Network, down from 990,000 viewers the previous week. That represents a decline of 22,000 viewers, translating to a 2.2% decrease week over week.
The downturn was more pronounced in the key P18–49 demographic, where SmackDown posted a 0.21 rating, falling from 0.26 on the January 9 episode. This marks a 19.2% drop in the demo.
These figures reflect traditional linear TV viewership on USA Network and do not account for Peacock or delayed viewing.
WWE SmackDown January 16, 2026: Viewership and Highlights
This week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown saw Cody Rhodes cut a scathing promo after Jacob Fatu cost him the WWE Undisputed Title and he ended up declaring himself for the Royal Rumble.
Leon Slater also answered Carmelo Hayes’ United States Championship open challenge and he had a great match against Hayes. This and many other moments took place throughout the night.
WWE SmackDown Week-to-Week Viewership Comparison
| Metric | January 9, 2026 | January 16, 2026 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Viewers | 990,000 | 968,000 | −22,00 | −2.2% |
| P18–49 Demo Rating | 0.26 | 0.21 | −0.05 | −19.2% |
Ringside News will continue to provide the latest viewership data and key developments from Friday Night SmackDown as WWE builds momentum towards Saturday Night’s Main Event.
What do you think about last week’s episode of SmackDown seeing a decrease in viewership? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below.
