WWE SmackDown experienced a significant decline in viewership on its October 31, 2025, Halloween episode, drawing a historic low audience of approximately 933,000 viewers—a steep drop from the previous week’s 1.147 million viewers. This decline coincided with fierce competition from Game 6 of the 2025 MLB World Series, which dominated TV ratings that night[1][3].
Halloween Episode Ratings Drop Drastically
The Halloween edition of SmackDown on USA Network saw its key demographic, adults aged 18–49, slip from a 0.29 rating on October 24 to a 0.20 rating on October 31, marking a notable decrease in WWE’s core audience engagement. Despite this drop, SmackDown still managed to finish as the top cable original show for the night, highlighting WWE’s resilience even with the intense sports competition[1][4].
A WWE insider commented on the ratings dip:
“The clash with the World Series was always going to be a tough hurdle for SmackDown, especially on Halloween when many viewers had alternative plans,” said a source close to WWE programming. “We expected some impact, but these numbers remind us how crucial scheduling and event timing can be for viewership.”
World Series Dominates TV Ratings
The major ratings competitor on October 31 was Game 6 of the MLB World Series, broadcast on FOX. The baseball event drew a staggering 17.429 million viewers, accompanied by a 3.52 demo rating in the 18–49 demographic, effectively drawing the lion’s share of the available audience and overshadowing SmackDown’s broadcast[1]. This substantial disparity in viewership numbers highlights the challenges WWE faced airing on the same night as one of the most-watched sporting events of the year.
Key SmackDown Moments That Engaged Fans Online
While television ratings dropped, WWE’s official YouTube channel revealed notable fan interest in certain segments from the Halloween show. The top five most-viewed clips included:
- Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre’s intense contract signing (559,000 views)
- Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill’s tense face-off (378,000 views)
- Alexa Bliss surprising victory over Nia Jax (287,000 views)
- Chelsea Green’s challenge to Giulia (283,000 views)
- Tama Tonga confronting Ilja Dragunov (247,000 views)[1]
These numbers suggest that while live TV viewership dipped, specific storylines and star performers like Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre still captured significant attention through digital platforms, indicating a diverse consumption of SmackDown content beyond traditional television.
WWE’s Strategic Response and Future Considerations
Insiders reveal that WWE is actively analyzing the impact of major sporting events on SmackDown’s ratings. A senior source within WWE’s creative team explained:
“We are always looking for ways to maximize audience engagement. Major sports clashes like the World Series force us to rethink timing or promotional strategies to maintain momentum on show nights.”
As WWE continues to expand its digital footprint and adapt to changing viewer habits, future SmackDown episodes may benefit from a stronger push on streaming and social media to offset potential losses in traditional cable viewership.
Conclusion
The October 31, 2025, Halloween episode of WWE SmackDown faced an uphill battle in ratings, registering a historic low of 933,000 viewers amid the overpowering draw of the MLB World Series Game 6. Despite this, the show’s digital viewership highlights that WWE’s brand and talent maintain strong fan interest. How WWE leverages this multi-platform engagement will be crucial as they navigate scheduling conflicts with major national events in the future[1][3][4].