The February 6 episode of WWE SmackDown on USA Network attracted 1.459 million viewers, marking its highest audience count so far in 2026 and rising from 1.26 million viewers the previous week. The program also improved its standing among adults aged 18–49 with a 0.35 rating, up from 0.29. This growth was fueled by significant storyline developments following the Royal Rumble event, sparking increased interest in the show.
Top SmackDown Highlights Captivate Online Audiences
SmackDown’s digital engagement remained strong, with several key moments from the February 6 broadcast receiving high viewership on YouTube. The segment featuring Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace confronting Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez led with 729,000 views. Other popular clips included Oba Femi dominating Kit Wilson (515,000 views), Jacob Fatu launching a second assault on Drew McIntyre (511,000 views), and a tag team match between Cargill & Grace and Morgan & Rodriguez (466,000 views). Cody Rhodes attacking Drew McIntyre also drew 423,000 views, underlining these encounters’ appeal.
AEW Collision Experiences Decline in Broadcast Ratings
Conversely, AEW Collision saw a decrease in viewership on its February 7 TNT broadcast, pulling in 388,000 viewers compared to 492,000 the week before. The 18–49 demographic rating remained steady at 0.07. Despite this drop, Collision sustained notable interest through its major segments and matches, including a TNT Championship contest.
Notable AEW Segments Garner Moderate Online Attention
On YouTube, AEW Collision’s most-viewed clips featured Ciampa, Castagnoli, and Strong in TNT Title highlights with 89,000 views. Kris Statlander‘s confrontation involving 12 lashes from Thekla followed closely with 87,000 views. Other well-received moments included the Saturday Night Parking Lot Fight highlights (62,000 views), Death Riders versus SkyFlight (56,000 views), and MJF dismissing Brody King’s victory as a fluke (53,000 views), reflecting ongoing storylines’ digital traction.
Implications of Viewership Trends for Both Promotions
The contrasting results indicate that WWE SmackDown benefited from the post-Royal Rumble momentum, translating into higher broadcast and online numbers. Meanwhile, AEW Collision faced a week-to-week decline despite prominent matches and story progression. These figures highlight the competitive dynamics between the two wrestling programs as they seek to maintain and grow their audiences in a crowded sports entertainment landscape.
