10 Changes WWE Should Make To SmackDown Live On FOX
SmackDown should get a new edge now that it's in the Fox's box.
Well, Vince McMahon isn't going to be hurting for money anytime soon. As reported by outside sources months ago, and officially confirmed by both parties in recent weeks, WWE and FOX have agreed to air SmackDown Live on the latter's network starting in October of 2019. The deal is set to make WWE a cool $1 billion over five years, and combined with a similar deal they've made with NBC to keep RAW on the USA Network, WWE have planted a flag in the sand with a middle finger to anyone who said their terrible creative decisions were killing the company. They've won. Neener-neener.
WWE were swayed to join Rupert Murdoch's media family on the promise that SmackDown and the WWE brand would be heavily promoted on FOX, particularly as part of the network's Thursday and Sunday NFL broadcasts. Access to such a huge audience would be enticing to WWE, but it raises an interesting point: WWE would then become part of the Fox Sports brand.
Now obviously, WWE is entertainment first and foremost, but if SmackDown is part of a sports network with such a huge audience, here's some nifty tweaks they can make to the show to make it feel more at home.
10. New Commentary Team: Mauro Ranallo, Corey Graves, and Daniel Cormier
The cynical part of me feels like that since SmackDown is now the "A" show (more-or-less), they would just move their most trusted play-by-play announcer Michael Cole to the blue brand. However, let's assume that WWE really want to make a good impression on an audience that's potentially never seen their product.
If WWE want to feel at home with the FOX Sports branding and aesthetic, there's no better option than NXT announcer and former SmackDown play-by-play Mauro Ranallo. The Bi-Polar Rock 'n' Rolla is a proven commodity, calling some of WWE's best matches in recent years, as well as some of the most high profile fights in MMA and boxing, most notoriously the Mayweather-McGregor bout last year.
As for the token person of color WWE seem keen on having in every commentary tandem, they should reach out to current UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier.
DC is a huge WWE fan (as shown above) with the product knowledge and real-world legitimacy that could add instant credibility to the SmackDown announce team. Plus, given he's set to defend his championship against Brock Lesnar in a supposed retirement match, he'll have free time come October 2019, and there's an instant angle for the show regardless of the result.