WWE SmackDown Viewership Rises for John Cena Farewell and AJ Lee Return – The September 5 episode of WWE SmackDown saw a strong boost in overall viewership, according to Programming Insider. The show drew 1.585 million viewers, a significant increase from the 1.147 million who tuned in on August 29.
In the 18-49 key demographic, SmackDown held steady with a 0.51 rating, matching the previous week’s number. While the demo stayed consistent, the notable rise in total viewers highlights the buzz surrounding the episode.
The September 5 broadcast, which aired live from the AllState Arena in Chicago, Illinois, was heavily promoted in advance due to two major moments. The show marked the official SmackDown farewell of John Cena, who closed out his full-time WWE run. It also featured the shocking return of former Divas Champion AJ Lee, who appeared on WWE programming for the first time in over ten years.
With Cena’s emotional goodbye and AJ’s unexpected comeback, SmackDown delivered one of its most newsworthy episodes in months, contributing to the strong viewership surge. The mix of nostalgia and surprise returns proved effective in drawing a larger audience compared to the previous week.
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WWE SmackDown Viewership Rises for John Cena Farewell and AJ Lee Return
