10 BOLD Predictions For WWE In 2019

4. Fox Sports Will Alter The DNA Of WWE Programming

Braun Strowman Angry
WWE.com

Fox Sports reportedly has lofty ambitions for WWE SmackDown. Eyeing a very steep viewership increase at a time when ratings are tumbling, Fox also holds its own vision for the blue brand: the network wants to align SmackDown with its existing sports output.

How this materialises remains unclear. A defiant fanbase, an inherent inability to account for injuries, and the general inattentive nature of Vince McMahon puts paid to a league ranking system. They all dropped like flies on the second season of Mixed Match Challenge, too, which rules out a round robin format. A long-form single-elimination tournament is a more practical option, but then, guess which crazy awld bastard hates the word “tournament”?

But key to this prediction is the fact that, inverse to WWE’s relationship with USA, WWE needs Fox far more than Fox needs WWE. What is clear, from the rumblings, is that Fox did not pick up an out-of-the-dox product fading in popularity. Fox picked up a sleeping giant with the intention of waking it up.

WWE has experienced such interference before in this post-monopoly era. Vince McMahon probably popped at the sight of the Zombie on ECW TV—but it wasn’t his idea.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!