WWE SmackDown Could Leave Friday Nights
Friday Night SmackDown set to be no more when new TV kicks in?
WWE SmackDown could be moved from its current Friday night timeslot when the show's new television deal kicks in next year.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reports that WWE's parent company, Endeavor, has floated the idea of presenting WWE and UFC "weekenders." The group's initial concept for this was WWE on Friday, UFC on Saturday, and WWE on Monday, potentially necessitating several changes.
Saturdays have hosted many WWE premium live events in recent years, though these would need to be switched to Friday to accommodate the UFC (Sunday wasn't even mentioned as part of the UFC/WWE package). SmackDown would then need to be switched as well.
Meltzer stated that "big site fees" were Endeavor motivation for this, noting that if the organisation is being paid to host major shows on certain sites, they'll want to run Premium Live Events, not television tapings there.
SmackDown is to depart FOX for USA Network after NBC Universal secured the rights to WWE's most-watched show in a $1.4 billion deal announced this September. The blue brand will switch networks in October 2024.
WWE is yet to make any announcements on SmackDown's timeslot.