WWE Smackdown is launching on the USA Network this January, and as part of that change, it could end up being redesigned as a hybrid of Raw and NXT. Mauro Ranallo, the former voice of PRIDE, signed with WWE as a commentator for Smackdown this past week, and has told Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden that I get the sense they want to make it kind of a hybrid between Raw, the flagship show with all the storylines and great performances from our Superstars in the ring, and whats happening in NXT." A concept change is definitely needed, as Smackdown has been stale for years now. Ever since the brand split ended, it has been left with no unique selling point. But with the USA move, WWE have big plans to reinvigorate it. Signing Ranallo was part of that, and it now sounds like the actual style of the show is going to change. A hybrid of Raw and NXT sounds very exciting. NXT has been a critical success story in 2015, featuring a focus on in-ring performance. It doesn't have the commercial appeal of Raw, and that's why Smackdown will blend the best of NXT with the Monday night format. It simply wouldn't work to just have Thursday Night NXT on USA, as the gold brand simply isn't over enough with mass WWE audience. Ratings are expected to go up with Smackdown on USA, and WWE are likely to have several big angles and matches featured in the first few months.
