This week's WWE SmackDown, featuring Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Shelton Benjamin in the main event, drew 2.576 million viewers. This is down 11% from last week's 2.888 million viewers, which was the best blue brand viewership of 2018 and the best SmackDown viewership going back to the April 11th, 2017 episode.

This week's show featured fallout from Daniel Bryan getting cleared last week, The New Day vs. The Bludgeon Brothers, Bobby Roode & WWE United States Champion Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal & Sunil Singh and Nakamura vs. Benjamin advertised ahead of time. Natalya vs. SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair was also advertised but did not happen due to Flair's minor dental operation from last week.

SmackDown was #4 in viewership for the night on cable, behind Fixer Upper, Hannity and Rachel Maddow. SmackDown was #1 for the night in the 18-49 demographic, for the third week in a row.

In comparison, Monday's RAW drew 3.366 million viewers, up from last week's 3.327 million viewers.

Below is our 2018 SmackDown Viewership Tracker:

January 2nd Episode: 2.720 million viewers

January 9th Episode: 2.603 million viewers

January 16th Episode: 2.602 million viewers

January 23rd Episode: 2.580 million viewers

January 30th Episode: 2.509 million viewers (Post-Royal Rumble Episode)

February 6th Episode: 2.505 million viewers

February 13th Episode: 2.449 million viewers

February 20th Episode: 2.613 million viewers

February 27th Episode: 2.692 million viewers

March 6th Episode: 2.590 million viewers

March 13th Episode: 2.771 million viewers

March 20th Episode: 2.888 million viewers

March 27th Episode: 2.576 million viewers

April 3rd Episode:

2017 Total: 132.401 million viewers

2017 Average: 2.546 million viewers per episode

Source: ShowBuzz Daily