SmackDown landed its biggest audience in over three years as the wrestling world paid tribute to .
Fans tuned in on Friday night to see – real name Windham Rotunda – following , while the show was also in memory of Terry Funk after aged 79.
Metro.co.uk has learned that SmackDown was watched by 2.647 million people, which marked the largest audience for the blue brand since 2020.
Meanwhile, in the 18-49 demo the show scored a .8 rating, which works out at 1.022 million viewers in that age rage, which is the largest demo viewership since 2020.
It was an emotional night for fans, with plenty no doubt watching to see how WWE remembered .
Veteran commentator Michael Cole opened the show as he told viewers of the heartbreaking losses, saying: ‘Tonight’s Friday night SmackDown will honour their legacy and celebrate their lives, the lives of two incredible men who touched all of us with their passion, with their creativity, and their spirit.’
The entire roster were on the stage, including survivingwho stood front and centre alongside the likes of Cody Rhodes, Triple H and LA Knight.
After an impeccably observed moments silence from the crowd during a 10 bell salute and an emotional tribute video aired in honour of Wyatt – real name Windham Rotunda – his rocking chair was shown on the stage.
The crowd chanted ‘thank you Bray’ and loudly sang ‘he’s got the whole world in his hands’, while throughout the evening there were highlighting the best moments of his career in a brilliant nod to his 2022 return.
At the end of the show saw, the lights slowly dropped in the instantly recognisable style of The Fiend before Bray’s fireflies lit up the arena as fans chanted his name with his lantern in the middle of the ring.
The closing shot of the night had his lantern shining in the foreground, with an imagine of Bray himself from behind looking at his logo on the big screen.
WWE SmackDown airs Friday nights at 1am on TNT Sports 1.
