WWE Smackdown rating: The Rock's return and Alberto Del Rio's title win boost the rating

Friday's WWE Smackdown television show delivered a 2.2 rating, up from the 1.8 rating the show did the prior week. Smackdown averaged 3.130 million viewers compared to 2.721 million the week before.

Powell's POV: Smackdown drew a 2.29 rating when it aired on USA Network on December 18, but this is a great number of a Syfy airing. The show drew more viewers than an NBA game that drew 2.3 million viewers for ESPN on Friday.