The January 30, 2026 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on USA Network featured several incredible moments—including AJ Styles boldly promising to beat GUNTHER at the upcoming Royal Rumble.
According to Programming Insider, SmackDown averaged 1.26 million viewers, up from 943,000 viewers the previous week. In the key P18–49 demographic, SmackDown posted a 0.29 rating, an increase from 0.22 on the January 23 episode.
This marks a +34% jump in total viewership and a +32% increase in the demo, making SmackDown the #1 cable show in primetime for the 18–49 demographic that night.
WWE SmackDown January 30, 2026: Viewership and Highlights
This week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown saw AJ Styles come out and cut a scathing promo, promising to beat GUNTHER and kick off his own Phenomenal Farewell Tour.
Johnny Gargano and Axiom’s feud finally came to an end as Axiom managed to defeat Gargano and take back his mask once and for all. This and many other moments took place throughout the night.
WWE SmackDown Week-to-Week Viewership Comparison
| Metric | January 23, 2026 | January 30, 2026 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Viewers | 943,000 | 1,260,000 | +317,000 | +33.6% |
| P18–49 Demo Rating | 0.22 | 0.29 | +0.07 | +31.8% |
Ringside News will continue to provide the latest viewership data and key developments from Friday Night SmackDown as WWE builds momentum towards the Royal Rumble.
Are you surprised the viewership was up this much for WWE Smack Down last week? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.