Bloodline drama does more big numbers for WWE SmackDown

The formula for WWE is simple. Roman Reigns + a big story beat in the saga of his crime family/stable = ratings.

It worked again on June 16 for the first episode of SmackDown since the end of the NBA and NHL post-seasons. Main Event Jey Uso left The Bloodline with his brother Jey, and left the Tribal Chief laying with a series of superkicks. That helped get 2,430,000 people to watch the episode, and deliver a .67 rating among 18-49 year olds.

Both numbers are up week over week. Not quite to the levels that the edition after Jimmy turned on Reigns did a couple Fridays ago, but more than enough to make the blue brand the highest rated show in the demo on all of television. NBC’s Friday night coverage of US Open golf was a distant second with a .40 — and only drew 3000 more total viewers, too.

And if you want more proof it’s not paranoia, it’s the Usos the Bloodline saga that’s responsible for these numbers, PWInsider points out that 2,765,000 people watched the final 15 minutes. The preceding quarter hour did 2,317,000 meaning The Usos Superkick Party grew the audience by almost a half million people. Acknowledge that.

Roman’s off this week, but the announcement of a Bloodline Civil War for Money in the Bank should keep interest high before his return the following Friday in London.

Here’s a rundown of the past year’s worth of SmackDown’s numbers:

• June 17 - 2.29 / .57
• June 24 - 2.23 / .53
• July 1 - 2.14 / .49
• July 8 - 2.13 / .47
• July 15 - 2.08 / .47
• July 22 - 2.26 / .62
• July 29 - 2.19 / .52
• Aug. 5 - 2.09 / .49
• Aug. 12 - 1.93 / .44
• Aug. 19 - 2.08 / .47
• Aug. 26 - 1.99 / .48
• Sept. 2 - 2.08 / .49
• Sept. 9 - 2.37 / .57
• Sept. 16 - 2.21 / .50
• Sept. 23 - 2.54 / .63
• Sept. 30 - 2.21 / .54
• Oct. 7 - 2.24 / .54
• Oct. 14 - 2.27 / .54
• Oct. 21 - 2.23 / .52
• Oct. 28* - 835K / .23
• Nov. 4 - 2.14 million / .48
• Nov. 11 - 2.26 / .58
• Nov. 18 - 2.23 / .56
• Nov. 25 - 2.17 / .54
• Dec. 2* - 902K / .25
• Dec. 9 - 2.31 million / .57
• Dec. 16 - 2.19 / .52
• Dec. 23 - 2.38 / .55
• Dec. 30 - 2.63 / .64
• Jan. 6 - 2.26 / .53
• Jan. 13 - 2.33 / .55
• Jan. 20 - 2.26 / .55
• Jan. 27 - 2.54 / .67
• Feb. 3 - 2.38 / .61
• Feb. 10 - 2.47 / .64
• Feb. 17 - 2.38 / .58
• Feb. 24 - 2.41 / .62
• Mar. 3 - 2.45 / .59
• Mar. 10 - 2.32 / .63
• Mar. 17 - 2.26 / .59
• Mar. 24 - 2.22 / .58
• Mar. 31 - 2.49 / .69
• April 7 - 2.47 / .69
• April 14 - 2.27 / .58
• April 21 - 2.18 / .54
• April 28 - 2.47 / .67
• May 5 - 2.06 / .52
• May 12 - 2.15 / .56
• May 19 - 2.13 / .53
• May 26 - 2.16 / .52
• June 2 - 2.56 / .73
• June 9 - 2.28 / .60
• June 16 - 2.43 / .67

* Aired on FS1

For complete results and this week’s SmackDown live blog click here. To read a recap & review of the night’s events click here. For video highlights of the show click here.

Numbers via Showbuzz Daily