The ratings for the first episodes of SmackDown and AEW Rampage have been published. On average, 2.257 million watched SmackDown and 551,000 people watched Rampage. The viewing figures have been obtained via Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics:

WWE Smackdown, Friday on Fox (8-10pm):
2,257,000 viewers
P18-49 rating: 0.53

AEW Rampage, Friday on TNT (10-11pm):
551,000 viewers
P18-49 rating: 0.15
#30 cable original in P18-49
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— Wrestlenomics (@wrestlenomics) January 9, 2023

Compared to the previous week, SmackDown has seen a drop in viewers while Rampage has seen an increase. As the December 30th SmackDown saw a record rating of 2.629 million, the drop calculates to approximately 14.1%. SmackDown obtained a key demographic rating of 0.53, also down from the 0.64 rating from the previous week.

The December 30th episode of AEW Rampage drew an average audience of 470,000, meaning that the increase calculates to approximately 17.2%. Rampage obtained an 18-49 rating of 0.15, also up from the 0.12 rating from December 30th.

SmackDown continued the build to the Royal Rumble by having more entrants qualify for the Royal Rumble matches.

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