Friday Night SmackDown Ratings – March 11th

The total viewership and demo ratings for the latest instalment of Friday Night SmackDown have been revealed.

As reported by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, the March 11 edition of Friday Night SmackDown drew 2,226,000 viewers. The episode also scored a 0.57 rating in the 18-49 year-old demographic.

That figure is very slightly down on last week’s viewership where the show pulled in 2,261,000 viewers, with a 0.59 rating in the 18-49 year-old demographic.

The March 11th episode of Friday Night SmackDown was marred by a serious injury suffered by former WWE Champion Big E. During a tag team match which saw the star team with Kofi Kingston to take on Sheamus and Ridge Holland, one particular spot went badly wrong.

After falling to the outside of the ring, Big E was given an Overhead Belly-to-Belly Suplex by Holland. However, instead of the New Day star landing flat on his back, he landed on his head and neck. While Big E was taken to the backstage area on a stretcher, it was later confirmed that he had broken his neck. Although the man himself has since revealed that he won’t require surgery.

Despite this, former WWE consulting physician Dr. David Chao has warned that the injury may still result in the end of Big E’s career.

The segment leading into the match also saw the SmackDown debut of Pete Dunne. During a backstage promo, Sheamus and Holland revealed their new partner to be Dunne, who is now going by the name, Butch. As for the match, Dunne distracted Kofi Kingston helping his team grab the win.

Elsewhere, Ricochet successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Sami Zayn, while an irate Brock Lesnar chased of a Roman Reigns-less Paul Heyman to start the show.

Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair also clashed on the microphone, but the show went off the air with a wild brawl between the two backstage in full swing.

Pat McAfee got his own back on Austin Theory after being slapped by the young star previously, attacking him at ringside.