Very concerning ratings for last SmackDown

[JTG]

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor


WWE Smackdown on Friday, May 13 dipped a little lower to a 1.69 rating, down from the previous week's year-low 1.72 rating.

Outside of the holiday season at the end of 2010, it was Smackdown's lowest rating on Syfy since October on Halloween weekend.

Smackdown averaged 2.6 million viewers, which was dwarfed by the NBA Playoffs on ESPN averaging 4.7 million viewers.

On cable TV Friday night, Smackdown ranked #9 overall, #13 in males 18-34, and #5 in males 18-49. The one positive note on a bad week for Smackdown was ranking #2 in m18-49 during the 8:00 p.m. EST timeslot.

The bad news continues with Smackdown scoring its lowest non-holiday rating among males 18-49 & males 18-34 since moving to Syfy.

The following are some comparisons of the May 12 episode's decline vs. two weeks ago on April 29, which scored an overall rating at the 2011 average.

-- Overall rating: 12.5% decline
-- Males 18-34: 49.5% decline
-- Males 18-49: 26.% decline

pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_50103.shtml

That's very, very concerning for WWE. And it shows again that Randy Orton is a rating killer. RAW ratings were dreadful when he was WWE Champion, and it's going on the same way for SD

[Cam]

Which is a shame really considering SmackDown is better than Raw atm.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

Wow. That's brutal. Guess it goes to show that Orton really is ratings poison

[Deleted]

Or it also could be that Smackdown is marketed as the inferior show with inferior wrestlers and a inferior title so there is no reason to watch.

Edit: Also the Christian Coalition is pissed off.

[baresolid]

I think Vince is now so pleased with all these lucrative deals he's doing with the likes of K-Mart that he is willing to allow the televised programming to slump in the ratings. Remember in the dark days of 2004? I didn't think WWE's ratings could slip lower than they were then but these are simply horrendous.

[Cavs for Mavs Mafia]

At this rate SmackDown will be getting Impact like ratings in a couple of months.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Orton's overness is bizarre. Gets massive reactions, connects really well with the live fanbase, but give him the title and ratings sink EVERY FREAKING TIME.

I actually don't get it. I really like Orton and think he makes a decent face champion. Unless his beating Christian was a lot more offensive to a lot more fans than assumed, I can't quite understand what happened here.

[woowoowoox]

The peeps are pissed!

[BigWill]

So I guess Orton as champion /= ratings. Which is kind of surprising seeing what a huge pop he got when he first showed up on Smackdown. But at least this will silence those people who said that the week before's low ratings were Christians fault.

[The Cole Mine]

It's because people saw Daniel Bryan and turned off their TVs.

[Michael Coello]

Wait, wasn't there a playoff game on Friday?

[lovingway]

May 16, 2011 18:23:39 GMT -5 Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby said:

Orton's overness is bizarre. Gets massive reactions, connects really well with the live fanbase, but give him the title and ratings sink EVERY FREAKING TIME.

I actually don't get it. I really like Orton and think he makes a decent face champion. Unless his beating Christian was a lot more offensive to a lot more fans than assumed, I can't quite understand what happened here.

Maybe it is the Sycho Sid Syndrome. He was over huge but never drew ratings

[The Cole Mine]

May 16, 2011 18:27:27 GMT -5 lovingway said:

May 16, 2011 18:23:39 GMT -5 Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby said:

Orton's overness is bizarre. Gets massive reactions, connects really well with the live fanbase, but give him the title and ratings sink EVERY FREAKING TIME.

I actually don't get it. I really like Orton and think he makes a decent face champion. Unless his beating Christian was a lot more offensive to a lot more fans than assumed, I can't quite understand what happened here.

Maybe it is the Sycho Sid Syndrome. He was over huge but never drew ratings

Shawn Michaels didn't draw either, hell if I remember, Sid outdrew HBK.

[DavidArquette]

And I thought this week's Smackdown was great!

[Citizen Zero]

Ratings Killer Orton strikes again.

[Krimzon]

WHADDYA THINK, VINCE? WHADDYA THINK? WHADDYA THINK, VINCE? WHADDYA THINK? WHADDYA THINK, VINCE? WHADDYA THINK?

Another Orton title run...Another ratings bomb...

[funkyjesus]

or people saw Christian was still main eventing and turned off?

I love how last week was not Christian's fault and yet this is all Orton's fault, despite the same two people being involved.

Funny how some wrestlers are immune to criticism, isn't it?

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Wasn't Rey the biggest draw on Smackdown? That can't help either.

[The Cole Mine]

May 16, 2011 18:32:17 GMT -5 funkyjesus said:

or people saw Christian was still main eventing and turned off?

I love how last week was not Christian's fault and yet this is all Orton's fault, despite the same two people being involved.

Funny how some wrestlers are immune to criticism, isn't it?

And those people have no proof that Orton is the reason why the ratings are low.

[lewis1711]

May 16, 2011 18:32:17 GMT -5 funkyjesus said:

or people saw Christian was still main eventing and turned off?

I love how last week was not Christian's fault and yet this is all Orton's fault, despite the same two people being involved.

Funny how some wrestlers are immune to criticism, isn't it?

I love how people use the phrase "I love" when they're being passive aggressive. Funny how people also use "funny isn't it" isn't it?

...wait