1/21 WWE SmackDown Viewership Declines Amid March Madness Competition – The March 21 episode of WWE SmackDown experienced a drop in viewership, facing stiff competition from NCAA March Madness games.
According to Programming Insider, SmackDown averaged 1.459 million viewers, marking a decline from the previous week’s 1.571 million. The show also saw a decrease in the key 18-49 demographic, drawing a 0.39 rating compared to last week’s 0.52.
Several high-profile NCAA basketball games aired that night, affecting SmackDown’s numbers. On CBS, Troy vs. Kentucky drew 3.8 million viewers with a 0.79 rating in the 18-49 demo. Oklahoma vs. Connecticut on TNT recorded 2.7 million viewers and a 0.81 rating, while New Mexico vs. Marquette on TBS averaged 2.5 million viewers with a 0.75 rating.
Highlights from SmackDown (March 21)
- The show opened with Randy Orton cutting a promo before being interrupted by Kevin Owens, leading to the setup of their WrestleMania match.
- Braun Strowman defeated Jacob Fatu by disqualification after interference from Solo Sikoa and Toma Tonga. Strowman is set to challenge LA Knight for the United States Championship next week.
- Liv Morgan secured a victory over Jade Cargill, thanks to interference from Naomi.
- The night ended with Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk engaging in a chaotic brawl following a brief verbal exchange.
Most Viewed SmackDown (3/21) YouTube Clips
- Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins’ Brawl – 1.7 million views
- Naomi helps Liv Morgan steal a win from Jade Cargill – 635K views
- Italy sings with Randy Orton – 528K views
- Cody Rhodes and John Cena face off – 465K views
- Naomi attacks Jade Cargill – 465K views
Despite the drop in numbers, SmackDown continued to generate strong engagement on YouTube, with the Reigns-Punk-Rollins segment leading the way.
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