SmackDown ratings (Jan. 2, 2017): Viewers climb for the third straight week

Does Daniel Bryan versus Shane McMahon equal ratings? Despite fighting fan’s attention with Holiday activities or maybe because fans want to escape from Holiday actives, viewership for SmackDown rose for the third consecutive week.

Featuring an AJ Styles versus Sami Zayn main event, Jan. 2’s edition of SmackDown netted 2.72 million viewers. Featuring a commercial free first hour, the Dec. 26’s episode drew 2.65 million viewers.

Last Tuesday night SmackDown Live on the USA Network checked in as the number two program on cable in the 18-49 year-old demographic. The blue brand was only one of two sport’s program to make the top ten and was only bested by Curse of Oak Island on the History Channel.

Courtesy of Show Buzz Daily below is the top 50 original cable telecasts from Jan. 2.

showbuzzdaily.com

So how do you explain SmackDown’s recent run of rating success? Just that time of year? AJ Styles as champion? McMahon vs. Bryan? Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn’s awesome friendship?

For complete results and the live blog for SmackDown this week click here. To read a complete recap and review of all the night’s events click here. For a full playlist of the show click here.