The WWE are expecting close to five million fans to tune in to see the return of The Rock during tonight's debut episode on FOX, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

Tonight's show, which will also be the 20th anniversary of SmackDown, will be the first edition of the blue brand, and has plenty of moments for fans to tune in for. 

Earlier this week, WWE confirmed that The Rock, who popularized the term SmackDown, will be making an appearance, and according to Dave Meltzer, this has set a big target for the company. 

"Whatever number they get, and I know people in the industry using 4.5 million or more as the expectation, it’ll probably end up as the all-time record for the show in its FOX incarnation because I can’t see anything they could do short of airing WrestleMania for free that could do whatever number this will end up doing. The key to Johnson is not only his value, but the value he brings to late promotions and again taking more wind out of the AEW debut sails because with Johnson, Smackdown, which already was the show getting all the media attention, becomes the can’t miss show of the week."

When FOX and WWE agreed to move SmackDown to the Network, the weekly fan estimation was set at three million fans, roughly a million more than the show currently averages. 

In addition to The Rock, tonight's show will also see Kofi Kingston defend the WWE title against Brock Lesnar, Shane McMahon face Kevin Owens in a Ladder match, and several more guest stars from legends and Hall of Famers.