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Roman Reigns return long-term storyline plans - 5 reasons why last week s WWE SmackDown was a ratings hit

By Ken Modified 27 Sep 2022 Follow Us 1 Comment Share Roman Reigns was featured on the latest episode of WWE SmackDown To say Roman Reigns, Friday Night SmackDown, and WWE programming is a hit right now is a major understatement. Despite the rocky scandals that plagued the company earlier this summer, leading to Vince McMahon's retirement, it seems to be firing on all cylinders now. The latest episode of Friday Night SmackDown, which aired at 8 PM EST on September 23rd, had a staggering 2.535 million viewers, according to Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics. For context, this is the most viewers the show has had since 2020. Excluding one show with an NFL lead-in, SmackDown drew the best viewership in almost two and a half years, dating back to March 2020. Except when Monday Night RAW faced stiff competition last week, the ratings for WWE programming have been up year-over-year compared to 2021. SmackDown featured several big moments and matches, some directly promoted and others not so much. What led fans to check out the latest show from the blue brand? What contributed to the big rating? Below are five reasons why last week's SmackDown was a rating hit.

#5 Roman Reigns and The Bloodline appeared on the show

Roman Reigns' The Bloodline The most apparent reason fans tuned into SmackDown last week came down to Roman Reigns. The Tribal Chief was joined by the rest of The Bloodline - The Usos, Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman, and Sami Zayn. Roman Reigns is the biggest star in professional wrestling today, and his two-year championship reign is incredible. When he's on television, fans tune in. With his reduced schedule, his appearances are lesser, making him feel even more important. The segment featuring Roman Reigns and The Bloodline was incredible. It received rave reviews from fans and critics alike, with Sami Zayn's interactions with Roman Reigns being a particular highlight. The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion officially made Zayn an "Honorary Uce" in a must-see segment.

#4 Braun Strowman made his big in-ring return last week

Braun Strowman On the September 5th edition of Monday Night RAW, Braun Strowman made his return to World Wrestling Entertainment after being let go in 2021. The big man attacked several tag teams and security, immediately putting every superstar on notice. The Monster Among Men continued his rampage over the next few shows, culminating with a match against The Alpha Academy's Otis on Friday Night SmackDown. The bout was Braun's in-ring return after his absence from the company. Many fans tuned in to see what would happen as the massive Strowman took on the powerful Otis, who was joined ringside by Chad Gable. The two had a competitive bout which ended with Braun Strowman power bombing the former amateur wrestler and picking up the win.

#3 The White Rabbit teases are building intrigue for fans

Ryan Satin@ryansatinThe latest White Rabbit clue from tonight’s #WWERaw

wwe.com/930YWG?utm_sou…1254203The latest White Rabbit clue from tonight’s #WWERaw wwe.com/930YWG?utm_sou… https://t.co/BzGN1mm8dB A major reason fans likely tuned into SmackDown wasn't even directly advertised on TV, streaming platforms, social media, or on WWE.com's home page. Due to viral marketing, many fans were intrigued by the blue brand's latest episode. The White Rabbit teases have fans on their toes. "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane has been playing between commercials and at live events. Mysterious QR codes have popped up, sending fans on confusing Easter egg hunts. The QR code from last week's episode of RAW teased 9:23. Fans quickly realized that it was the date of WWE SmackDown. Many fans were curious if Bray Wyatt was returning to the company or at least hoping the mystery would be solved. Instead, new clues popped up, which will keep the mystery alive for the time being.

#2 The overall direction of both SmackDown and WWE is enticing fans to keep tuning in

Triple H has changed the game There were several major reasons for fans to tune into SmackDown, which is part of why so many did. The WWE Universe wasn't just treated to an appearance from Roman Reigns or a return match for Braun Strowman. They have many reasons to watch. Most fans seem to believe that the WWE television product has improved tremendously over the past few months since Vince McMahon retired. The structuring of the shows has felt fresher, and a variety of talent is featured. Another aspect fans have enjoyed about the product is the returns. Stars from NXT, RAW, and SmackDown who had their contracts expire or were released during the previous regime have been popping up semi-regularly. WWE's current programming is plain exciting to watch, and fans are tuning in for it.

#1 SmackDown featured an incredible tag team main event

WWE@WWETHIS MATCH IS CHAOS!

@WWEUsos @PeteDunneYxB @RidgeWWE #SmackDown2396429THIS MATCH IS CHAOS!@WWEUsos @PeteDunneYxB @RidgeWWE #SmackDown https://t.co/0OwKLEB9eh While Roman Reigns is the face of World Wrestling Entertainment and the mere hint of Bray Wyatt returning electrifies fans all around the world, there are plenty of other positives to find with WWE programming. One notable change made during the new regime is a heavy focus on championships. The United States Championship and the Intercontinental Championship have been two titles to gain prominence in Triple H's era. Still, the Unified WWE Tag Team Titles have also been boosted as of late. In fact, The Usos defended their titles in the main event of Friday Night SmackDown. Jimmy and Jey took on The Brawling Brutes' Butch and Ridge Holland. The two teams put on a great match, and the Brutes were seemingly destined to dethrone the champions before Imperium distracted the bruisers. While the titles didn't change hands, fans were treated to an epic tag team bout. There has been a lot to love about WWE in recent months. Roman Reigns remains the face of the company, but each show currently offers new and exciting stories with growing rosters. Hopefully, the company can keep the momentum going. Is Bray Wyatt coming back with a faction? A Bloodline member thinks so Poll : 0 votes Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Angana Roy × Feedback Thank You! 1 comment Follow Us Share Show More Comments GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? No thanks Delete GIF Cancel Update GIF Cancel Reply ❮ ❯ GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? No thanks Delete GIF Cancel Update GIF Cancel Reply ❮ ❯ Be the first one to comment on this story More from Sportskeeda Fetching more content... 1 Manage your profile Editing Story Queue Video Queue Editing Stats Writer Home SEO Redirection Admin Wiki Edits Taxonomy Home Edit Site Menu Mapping Dashboard Tag Pages Community Social Feed Queue Feed Center Notification Center Affiliate Home Manage Pages Bottom Tagline Dash Timeless Stories Logout No Results Found Get the free App now Manage notifications Popular ‍ Sports (30+) CricketCricket HomeScheduleT20 World CupT20 warm upIND vs SAENG vs PAKAUS vs ENGLegends LeagueECS T10 CroatiaWBBL 2022ECC T10SMAT 2022Bukhatir LeagueNZ T20 Tri-SeriesWomen's Asia Cup 2022ECT10 FootballFootball HomeNewslettersSK Experts ScheduleEPLNations LeagueLa LigaLigue 1Champions LeagueFIFA WCMLS Bundesliga Serie A WWEWWE HomeNewslettersRumor RoundupRAWSmackDownResultsRosterChampionsWWE Crown Jewel 2022PPV ScheduleAEW EsportsEsports HomeMinecraftOverwatch 2RobloxGenshin ImpactFortniteGTAStreamersFree FirePUBGValorantBGMIPop CultureAnimeGaming TechWiki Guides TennisTennis HomeTennis calendarTennis Results TodayATP RankingsWTA RankingsRoger FedererRafael NadalNovak DjokovicSerena Williams MMAMMA HomeUFC NewsONE ChampionshipUFC Fight NightScheduleRankingsResultsUFC Fights TonightONE Championship ResultsONE Championship ScheduleONE Championship Rankings KabaddiKabaddi HomePKL 2022PKL SchedulePKL Points TableKabaddi Rules WikiWiki HomeMinecraft WikiNaruto WikiTikTok WikiYoutube WikiGTA WikiTerraria WikiOne Piece Wiki MoreSportsBasketballIndian FootballNFLMinecraftFormula 1NascarPop CultureCollege FootballHockeyGolfAthleticsBadmintonGymnasticsWrestlingSwimmingTennisShootingBoxingArcheryWinter SportsRobloxFree PicksSkateboardingKho KhoLifestyle LINKS About Us Write For Us Policies Editorial Standards Journalism Awards Fact Check Affiliate Program Careers CSR Privacy Policy Contact Us Edition: English हिन्दी