It is no secret that WWE is struggling with its product right now, especially in its poor decision-making around roster management. Whether it’s the mishandling of talent, recent reports of requested pay cuts, or the shocking departures of stars like Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods last week, the creative direction remains deeply questionable, and fans are feeling the impact, especially on WWE SmackDown.
Things are a bit rocky overall, but Raw seems to be doing much better lately, thanks to the fresh talent that has quickly caught on with the crowd.
To add to the long list of problems plaguing the company, WWE SmackDown is dealing with its own issues. And not to sound like Becky Lynch, but it isn’t just the fans who are saying it; the declining ratings clearly reflect this widespread viewer dissatisfaction.
For example, the latest episode of WWE SmackDown drew just 1.153 million viewers, along with a P18-49 rating of 0.25. For context, this 18 to 49 demographic rating measures the size of the core target audience, specifically, viewers between the ages of 18 and 49.
To give additional context, WWE SmackDown’s most recent episode was down 9% in total viewership from the 1.267 million viewers who tuned in the prior week. It also fell 22% in the 18–49 demographic, while year-over-year figures show total viewership down 17% compared to the same time in 2025.
WWE SmackDown kicked off with a bang when it returned to a 3-hour format on January 2, 2026. Fans were treated to an Ambulance Match between Damian Priest and Aleister Black, Giulia defeating Chelsea Green for the Women’s United States Championship, Trick Williams making his first official appearance, and the unexpected but thrilling return of Matt Cardona, to name a few highlights.
Within just a few weeks, however, the initial excitement wore off, and fans found themselves looking at their watches and waiting for the episode to end.
While we have established that the show is underperforming numerically, we should identify the specific elements driving that underperformance and then outline how WWE can correct it going forward. Ultimately, WWE SmackDown has definitely hit a rut and badly needs to make some changes to get back on track.
Stagnant World Title Picture
We’re starting things off with a bold point that might get some pushback, but we have to talk about the “vanilla” world title spot involving Cody Rhodes. Many fans were already dissatisfied with Rhodes’ second WWE Title run, dismissing it as “underwhelming” and lacking momentum.
WWE seemed to listen to the fans when they finally pulled the trigger on a title change, having Drew McIntyre defeat Rhodes on January 9, 2026, in a grueling Three Stages of Hell match. While McIntyre may not have moved the needle significantly in the ratings, the average viewer felt a renewed sense of excitement simply by having a fresh face at the top of the mountain.
The boos greeting Rhodes have grown louder since he first won the belt back from John Cena at SummerSlam, and they have only intensified since he reclaimed it from McIntyre on the March 6, 2026, episode of WWE SmackDown. Fans were clearly unhappy with the title change, feeling cheated out of the McIntyre vs. Randy Orton matchup that was advertised until the rug was unceremoniously yanked from beneath them.
WWE can start fixing things by sticking with what worked last week. The episode had a major highlight when Gunther attacked Rhodes, signaling that he’s coming for the WWE Undisputed Championship.
For fans who might be skeptical about the “Ring General” defeating “The American Nightmare,” it would actually be the perfect move, offering something fresh for the blue brand while finally providing a payoff for Gunther after retiring Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles.
