WWE SmackDown ratings go down despite Roman Reigns' return

Many WWE SmackDown fans were waiting for Roman Reigns to return to the show. However, his appearance did not help the company do outstanding numbers during its USA Network premiere.

SmackDown has become WWE’s flagship show with many of the company’s top titles and superstars featuring on the brand. It has regularly drawn better ratings than RAW, which had dominated ratings earlier on.

The season premiere of SmackDown on the USA Network on September 13, 2024, had many surprises in store for fans. Roman Reigns and Randy Orton returned to the screens, while Cody Rhodes, Nia Jax, and Bayley were also featured on the show.

However, Roman Reigns and Randy Orton’s return could not save the show from drawing fewer viewers than the week before. According to WrestleNomics, the September 13th edition of the show saw a decrease in viewership, attracting 1.723 million viewers, while the previous week’s show received 1.770 million viewers. However, the show achieved a 0.55 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, an increase from the previous week’s 0.45.

The Original Tribal Chief signed a contract that will see him return to in-ring competition for the first time since WrestleMania XL. RVD and other legends also appeared on the USA Network premiere of SmackDown to make it a memorable show.

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Roman Reigns will return to the ring at WWE Bad Blood

It’s been months since fans have seen The OTC appear for an in-ring match. He last competed at WrestleMania XL, where he took a loss from Cody Rhodes.

Roman Reigns will team up with archrival Cody Rhodes to face Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu at Bad Blood. The two men will look to do everything in their power to overcome the new Bloodline that has been trying to take over SmackDown.

Rhodes is trying to shake off Solo Sikoa in his current Undisputed WWE Championship reign. Meanwhile, Roman Reigns wants to take back control of The Bloodline and prove that he is indeed the Original Tribal Chief.

Meanwhile, Drew McIntyre and CM Punk will compete in the third match of their current rivalry inside Hell in a Cell. The contest could main event the show and give fans some memorable moments.

Many WWE fans are hoping to see AJ Lee and Larry get involved in the contest and make it even more emotional. WWE has planned some more big matches for the PLE.